[jwptrek]

I found this S&B Shotshell at a garage sale this weekend and would like more information about it. It appears to be pinfire, but I've never seen a pinfire shotshell before, and the shell does not appear fired, or strong enough to fire. On the head of the cartridge, it says SELLIER&BELLOT and 16, so I assume it is 16 guage. Inside is what appears to be a percussion cap. Pictures are below. The first picture is the head of the shell; the second is a side-view of the shell; the third is the pin and the percussion cap. The fourth is the inside of the shell. It will work soon. Any info would be much appreciated. Thanks.

John Powell

 

[Charlie Petty]

Pinfire ignition bridged the gap between percussion caps and primers as we know them today and were around in the late 19th century.

I have no idea whether any are still made overseas, although I doubt it.

My reference material tends to be more recent, but I'll see what else I can dig up.