Update October 2020 The link Jeremiah provided many years ago has been changed. McPheeters sold the original linen Sharps cartridges and the link is now for post-war brass Sharps cartridges. Here is a box of original Sharps linen cartridges manufactured by the Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Co. Unlike the Washington Arsenal made Sharps cartridges, that provided a date of production, the SRMCO were undated
http://www.mcpheetersantiquemilitaria.c ... em_023.htmJeremiah,
If you go to the last page of my How to Make Sharps Cartridges article you will see a pasteboard box that has the string opener. I made up some for the Greenfield Village event, but didn't have the opportunity to try them.
You inspired me to make up some new pasteboard boxes last night because my original jewelry boxes are reaching the end of their 'field life' (8 years). I use the 3M, very thin, 6 inch wide, brown masking paper. After studying my results against the original photos, my paper still appears to be too thick. I've noticed subtle differences between the Sharps pasteboard ammo boxes produced by different manufacturers. I haven't made a point of collecting all the images and analyzing them yet, but might make for an interesting project in the future.
As promised, I am sending you along 1 'Type One' jewelry/pasteboard box, and three 'file folder' boxes (along with template so you can make more if you and your comrades so desire). I also am sending along 10 empty 'flat base' cartridge tubes and a supply of shirt tissue so you can make up a supply of Ordnance rds for Fort Geiger. Finally, I am also sending along a roll of paper with ten "10 Cartridges/Sharps Mfg. Co./Hartford" stamps--you can use this to take to a stamp maker to create your own.
I'll be very interested in hearing about your results using these cartridges instead of the 'cut off tail' version used by the majority of USSS out there.
I will soon be sending Dave my photo essay on How to Make Sharps Cartridges-in Pictures. Since I tend to be more 'right brain'-visual/pattern oriented (from skimming schematic instructions/assembling over 150 WW2 model airplanes as a kid) I thought that other Sharpshooters might find this method easier to use when making their own 'flat base' cartridges.
Bill Skillman
Hudson Squad-USSS