FA headstamp

[smle2009]

Hi all,
need some info on these Frankford Arsenal headstamps, a 50 cal drill round headstamped FA 4 and a 30 cal grenade blank also headstamped FA 4,why the 4 instead of the usual date?,the box that the grenade blanks are from is marked FA 89 which I don't think refers to the date,1989 a bit late for these cartridges???
Cheers
Tony

 

[TonyE]

FA

Headstamp bunters (or "bumpers" to use the correct British term) are expensive items to manufacture.

At the end of 1943 it was decided as an economy measure that the "43" bunters should have the "3" gound off and used for 1944 as just the "4". Only when these were worn out were new "44" bunters made.

The same thing happenned at the end of 1954 and 1955 cases can be found with just a "5" date.

The "89" is the ammunition Lot number and not the date. Normally US military Lot numbers run to about five digits, but since grenade cartridges are produced in relatively low numbers the Lot numbers tend to be low as well.

Regards
TonyE

 

[smle2009]

Many thanks TonyE,
This one has been puzzling me for sometime now.
Cheers
Tony

 

[Weasel]

Hi,
Found a thread here from a while ago on the same topic, the link also shows a LC ( Lake City ) .50 Drill round also dated with just a "4". I too have a couple of these .50 FA rounds with the same head stamp.
Best regards Weasel.

http://www.bocn.co.uk/vbforum/50-cal-browning-t21601.html?t=21601&highlight=Frankford+Arsenal