Old BP original BP cartridges, safe to shoot?

[barman]

Hi there,

My question is related to the fact that I've recently discovered a stash of old unused ammo. To be precise, they are original 11mm cartridges for the 1873 St Etienne Chamelot Delvigne revolver. They are military surplus from WW1, still wrapped in their blue waxed paper enveloppe.

The interesting point for me is that they're the second version of the ammo, called 11mm 73/90. They are quite rare nowadays and were designed to increase the performance and effectiveness of the revolver, by replacing the first version which had too weak of a stopping power.

I could have the opportunity to get around 60 cartridges of that kind.

I was actually wondering if it was safe to shoot a few of these (like a full cylinder), while keeping the rest for a collector's purpose.

Is there any danger firing them? Do you think the powder would still ignite after all these years?

 

[Old Fuff]

Pull the bullet in one cartridge, and see what condition the powder is in. Then fire the primed case and see if the primer goes off. If all goes well fire a cylinder load, but be aware that a sealed box of cartridges is often worth more money then the value of the individual cartridges contained within the box. If you have complete and sealed boxes you may want to save them for collectors. In any case don't expect great accuracy, as I presume any bullet lubricant has dried out.

 

[AntiqueCollector]

Check the condition of the powder as stated above first, if it looks okay try it out cautiously first. I've shot ammo made in the 1890's and it worked fine so I suspect it will be okay if the powder looks okay. It's all about storage conditions really and that can be hard to determine with such old ammo...

 

[barman]

Thanks Old Fuff.

Yeah the design of this cartridge is that there is supposed to be a greased disc made of brass right underneath the bullet, the disc separating the bullet from the powder, and the grease facing the bullet.

If I manage to buy them I will follow your advice and take apart a single cartridge in order to inspect it like you told me.

They are wrapped 6-pack style , each one kept from one another by a thin paper sheet.

 

[barman]

Thank you AntiqueCollector!