need help with orig'l spencer ammo

[Bruce Cobb 1723V]

A friend gave me a lot of rimfire 56-50 & 56-52 orig'l ammo to sell. The 56-50s have crimped bullets ( 3 places) with 2 bars/ lines marked on the base. The 56-52s are wholly unmarked. What era are these? What are the price ranges for these going for? What would be a price be per bullet that would guarantee him a sale. Thanks in advance for all your help.

[R. McAuley 3014V]

Bruce,

In reviewing Roy Marcot's book, the .56-.52 cartridge was commercially developed as an alterative to the .56-.50 by Crittenden & Tibbals Manufacturing Company in late 1865. It differed by its shorter case length, visible grease grooves, and more positive means of crimping the bullet. He also notes that the French Arsenal ammunition in .56-.50 (Type I) and .56-.52 (Type 2) is not headstamped. Many of the packages of French cartridges (8 cartridges per packet) are dated 1876 or 1877.

[Southron Sr.]

Now to make matters more confusing_ The British firm of Greenwood & Batley manufactured Spencer ammo for sale to the French government during the Franco-Prussian War. Here in the U.S., UMC kept Spencer ammo in production to the late 1920's or early 1930's!

As UMC also manufactured and sold .58 Caliber paper cartridges until the late 1920's or early 30's I have a feeling that some of that "Civil War" ammo sold at gun shows are from a much later date!

[Eggman]

I would not sell any original Spencer ammo 1930's or otherwise for less than $10 per round. If 19th Century mfg. can be verified it goes to $20. I'm probably ten years behind in my estimates here like always.