Dating Cartridge Boxes by Peters Cartridge Company

Photos and information courtesy of Randy Hedeen

Here are some typical boxes from the Peters Cartridge Company, covering most of the 20th century.
Although Peters was established in 1887, the scarcity of early boxes places those beyond the scope of this project which is to help date commonly encountered box types.

Some history on the company can be found in the International Ammunition Association Journal number 316, page 2, and in the IAA “Annual” Volume 2, number 1.

Sample Box Image
Sample Box type and Approximate date range
Clues for dating
Comments
Sample P1
circa 1903 – 1912
green label
Note that the green box is overlabeled, but one end was missed, so we have “Soft Point” on one end and “Full Jacket” on the other end. This was probably done for a military contract, as Peters used their commercial boxes for this.
Sample Box Image
Sample Box type and Approximate date range
Clues for dating
Comments
Sample P2
circa 1912-1923
no index number
Index numbers first appeared on Peters boxes about 1922-1923.
Sample Box Image
Sample Box type and Approximate date range
Clues for dating
Comments
Sample P3
circa 1923-1930

Note index number, in this case “3069” on the end label. (see note at right)

Index numbers should not be confused with date codes which appear on many labels.

Sample Box Image
Sample Box type and Approximate date range
Clues for dating
Comments
Sample P4
circa 1930-1934
Rustless and High Velocity; No Remington, and no DuPont.
“Rustless” and “High Velocity” and “Rustless-Gildkote” in the red oval appear about 1930-1932 but were never trademarked.
Sample Box Image
Sample Box type and Approximate date range
Clues for dating
Comments
Sample P5
circa 1935-1950
Rustless and High Velocity. Remington and DuPont are present
Peters became a division of Remington in 1933, and at about this time, the “Peters Cartridge Co., Cincinatti, O.” (or Kings Mills), disappears from the box front. Remington became a subsidiary of DuPont in 1934, and at about this time, the DuPont logo appears on Peters boxes, on the back.
Sample Box Image
Sample Box type and Approximate date range
Clues for dating
Comments
Sample P6
circa 1935-1941
This style “High Velocity apparently not used post-WW2.
Sample Box Image
Sample Box type and Approximate date range
Clues for dating
Comments
Sample P7
circa 1950-1962
High Velocity in red stripe
Sample Box Image
Sample Box type and Approximate date range
Clues for dating
Comments
Sample P8
circa 1962 to 1968
Red ball . Note “Warning- keep out of reach of children” required after 1962.
There have been Peters boxes marketed by Remington since 1968, but the Red Ball is the last Peters box for .30-40 Krag……..that I know of……