This is a weird question, as i can't really explain it in more detail than this... but anyways..
I have a Winchester no.12 shell.
Looks like a 12 gauge shell.... Except its all brass.. The casing is brass where they are plastic these days, and where they were paper years ago.
Ive asked around and some older guy (80 or so) said he remembers them being blackpowder shells when he was a kid.
Any idea what kind of shell this is, or what gun it would be shot in?

 

I have an old double barrel 10 ga. 'Rabbit Ear' shotgun that belonged to my dad. I don't remember the exact inscription on the barrels but it is something like’ ‘Damascus steel, use black powder shells’. I've never tried to order shells for it but I would imagine they are like the ones you mentioned.

 

All brass may be a military round. Is there a head stamp on it?

Not 100% sure here, but I think "Damascus" is not to be fired, even with black powder, at this time.

Check further with a gun smith before proceeding.....

 

Whats the reason for Damascus to not be fired?
And it's all brass except for the Winchester no.12 on it I think on the primer
it may have something else on it, but I'll have to call gramps and ask him again

 

Damascus might come apart on you....not a pretty sight.

 

Early shotgun shells were all brass.
See: http://www.findarticles.com/p/articl...47/ai_74033113

As for a shotgun with a Damascus barrel. Don't try to fire it. They don't stand up to smokeless powder pressures.

 

Barrel is made from "coiled" steel, does not hold up to the higher pressures generated by modern smokeless powder.

 

RE: Damascus
Not to beat a dead horse, but just to reinforce:

Of course these things should not be fired with modern ammo--

But I would also say not to fire them with black powder, either.

Downside of a failure is destruction of the gun, loss of limb, sight or worse.

Hang it on the wall. I'd go further and remove the firing pin or otherwise disable it.

Check this out:

http://www.griffinhowe.com/damascus_twist.cfm

and this:

http://www.gunfighter.com/cgi-bin/bb...cgi?read=10925

Seems there are differing opinions on firing Damascus with black powder, but the questions raised in this and other articles and postings have to do with what may have happened with the barrel over the years with respect to corrosives in old shells and cleaning materials. These can work on the welded seams in the barrels with disasterous results.



RE: Brass

Check this out:

http://www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976366453.htm

And this, much longer and more info:

http://www.tbullock.com/bpsg.html

and more:

http://www.gunfighter.com/cgi-bin/bb...cgi?read=28318

 

Blackpowder shells were all made of paper. The all brass shell is probably a collectors item of some sort. Even military uses the plastic shells for the shotgun. The older double barrels (dating back to before 1868) were all muzzle loaders. After that they were paper shell fed, then moved on to plastic shells of today. Most likely, the brass shell that you have was given away or bought at a possible ducks unlimited convention.

 

It is a old shotgun shell can be fired in almost anything that accepts 12 gauge shells-- it is actually worth some money as they are getting harder to find. The cowboy shoots uses them heavily today in their guns. They like them not only because they are from the time period, but also because they can be altered easily. Damascus barrels on the other hand are a work of art but not made to use modern shells. They tend to play pipe bomb due to the modern shells extreme pressures. My grandfather being the old timer that he was, shot magnum loads in his double barrel damascus until he passed away(UNRELATED) in the 1980's. He was a tough old guy and often rejected science for principal. I would not recommend shooting any damscus until seeing a professional on the matter-- often you can find them at these cowboy shoots that have become so popluar.

 

This shell was givin to me by my grandfather, that he has had for atleat 50 years, and he forgot about it...

Thanks to everyone for the information.
I just didn't know a 12 guage or such was ever made in a full brass shell.