6.5x50 ID

[Tony Williams]

A couple of pics of my Solothurn round. Note that the bullet has a more noticeable join between the ogive and the shank by comparison with a Type 38.

 

[Jimiles]

Thanks for posting the pics Tony, that's certainly an unusual headstamp and a very strange bullet. I have a 7mm Mauser made by Solothurn and the 'S' has exactly the same distinctive serifs. I can't think who this cartridge could have been made for - are you able to post this on the IAA forum?
Jim

 

[Tony Williams]

Will do.
I notice that the rim is thicker and has a more square section as well.

 

[jonnyc]

Ken Elks has the round documented in his book on Japanese ammo, but there is no mention of why or for whom.
I can't recall my reasoning, but I have my example cataloged as a "Swiss experimental". That info might have come along with the round when I got it a few years back at SLICS.

 

[Tony Williams]

For those who don't have Ken's books, he says this:

"6.5mm Arisaka cartridges were also manufactured using cases made by Schweizerische Metallwerke Selve & Co, of Thun, Switzerland. These use the manufacturer's code letter S and are dated to 1921. These have a distinctive, almost spire-pointed, bullet with cupro-nickel-clad steel jacket. The bullet is fairly standard, 138 grains, and the propellant is 32 grains of grey nitro-cellulose flake."