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The Darksider's Den / Re: How did we get these "Calibers"?
« Last post by FriscoCounty on May 01, 2024, 04:58:10 PM »Winchester and W.C.F. were trademarked names. When UMC wanted to manufacture .38 W.C.F. and .44 W.C.F. cartridges they couldn't use the W.C.F. on the head stamp. Their solution was to use .44-40 or C.F.W. on the head stamp. In the catalog it was listed as 44 Winchester. The same for the .38 W.C.F. - .38-40 or 38 C.F.W headstamps and 38 Winchester in the catalog.
By the way the UMC 1882 catalog lists the loading for the 38 Winchester and 40 gr of BP and 160 gr bullet, The 44 Winchester was listed as 40 gr BP and a 200 gr bullet. So, the theory about 38-40 be in reverse is wrong.
As for why .44 and .38, I have never found a contemporary explanation. If I were to guess it would be that the .44 W.C.F was replacing the .44 Henry and they wanted people to associate the two. As for .38, I like the theory that .40-40 was easy to confuse with 44-40.
By the way the UMC 1882 catalog lists the loading for the 38 Winchester and 40 gr of BP and 160 gr bullet, The 44 Winchester was listed as 40 gr BP and a 200 gr bullet. So, the theory about 38-40 be in reverse is wrong.
As for why .44 and .38, I have never found a contemporary explanation. If I were to guess it would be that the .44 W.C.F was replacing the .44 Henry and they wanted people to associate the two. As for .38, I like the theory that .40-40 was easy to confuse with 44-40.