Case ID

poline · December 4, 2012, 06:14 PM

Founded some 45acp brass at the range. The color of the brass is a strange off color, almost enough to make me wonder if it is brass, but not quite. As you look down on spent primer you see the letter E on the top
left and the letter C on the top right and in the middle on the bottom you
see 42, which I guess is the year of manufactoring.
Anyone on the forum run accross this brass?

**Mike Irwin** · December 4, 2012, 06:49 PM

EC 42 I THINK is Evansville Ordnance Plant, which was operated by Chrysler, one of the first munitions plants to be set up during World War II.

Pretty common, as Evansville made something like 4 billion rounds of .45 ACP from 1942 to 1945.

poline · December 4, 2012, 06:59 PM

That is very interesting and informative, THANK YOU, VERY MUCH!

Two Old Dogs · December 4, 2012, 09:10 PM

If the brass you found is a dull silver color, it is not brass but steel cases that were plated with a zinc compound, if I recall correctly. You can determine if they are steel by checking with a magnet.

Evansville Ordnance Depot loaded steel cased .45 ACP during WWII and somewhere I still have a box of EC 43 steel cased empties stored. I recall some informattion that was published in The American Rifleman many years ago (1960's?) that explained the use of steel cases by Evansville Ordnance Depot.

**Unclenick** · December 4, 2012, 10:17 PM

I found a box of those in my grandparent's attic when I was a kid. No longer have them, but remember it gave my dad an opportunity to explain the letters were the plant and the numbers were the last two digits of the manufacturing year. Zinc-plated steel, for sure.

**Mike Irwin** · December 5, 2012, 07:52 AM

"Zinc-plated steel, for sure."

Not in 1942. At least it should not have been.

From Remington Arms (RA) or Frankford Arsenal (FA) where test batches of steel cased .45 ammo was loaded, yes, but from EC? I don't think they loaded any steel-cased ammo in 1942.

Steel case production wasn't fully authorized until 1943, and then only until the copper shortages that made steel cases a necessity eased, which it did early in 1944.

Evansville Chrysler and Evansville Sunbeam (who manufactured the cases for loading by EC) produced virtually all of the steel-cased ammo used during WW II, including quite a bit of .30 M1 Carbine ammo.

The steel cased ammo was never authorized for combat use, only stateside training.

**Mike Irwin** · December 5, 2012, 07:53 AM

Ah, crap.

I just found a reference to batches of EC 42 steel cased ammo.

Here's a very nice write up on it along with a good picture (Bob's now posting here).

http://www.firearmstalk.com/forums/f...ased-45s-6119/

poline · December 9, 2012, 10:49 PM

Oops! Can Zinc-plated steel case be reloaded, cause I reloaded two rds
in this last batch!

F. Guffey · December 10, 2012, 04:39 PM

and before EC and Sunbeam there was Eau Clair, Wisconsin, they started with the head stamp EC, then Chrysler wanted the ‘C’ for Chrysler, EC became EW.

F. Guffey · December 10, 2012, 04:42 PM

Sunbeam made the steel cases, steel cases were hauled across town and loaded at the EC plant.

F. Guffey

**Mike Irwin** · December 10, 2012, 04:51 PM

"Sunbeam made the steel cases, steel cases were hauled across town and loaded at the EC plant."

I think there's an echo in here or something...

m&p45acp10+1 · December 10, 2012, 05:47 PM

Use a magnet on the case. If it sticks it is steel. I would either pull the bullet, and recover the components, or just toss the rounds if the case was steel. The most likely thing that steel cases would do is split, and stick in the chamber. Though they can cause a lot of undue wear on dies as well.

hikingman · December 10, 2012, 06:17 PM

Mike, thanks for the link to Bob's article. Very interesting, indeed!

F. Guffey · December 11, 2012, 09:25 AM

“EC 42 I THINK is Evansville Ordnance Plant, which was operated by Chrysler, one of the first munitions plants to be set up during World War II”

I read down to “I think etc., ........” Then I started with EC was Eau Clair, Wisconsin, then Chrysler, out of vanity wanted EC for Evansville Chrysler, EC became EW, I was thinking if EC changed their head stamp to EW, EW had to be one of the first munitions plants and about the same time as DM, UT, DN, SL, LC and TW , and there were others.

F. Guffey

poline · December 13, 2012, 12:55 PM

Found the two rds that I reloaded, with the E C 42 on them and the
a magnet did not stick to them! Not steel! Even so I think I will pull them.

December 4, 2012, 06:14 PM	#1
poline Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2009 Location: Richmond,Va Posts: 292	Case ID Founded some 45acp brass at the range. The color of the brass is a strange off color, almost enough to make me wonder if it is brass, but not quite. As you look down on spent primer you see the letter E on the top left and the letter C on the top right and in the middle on the bottom you see 42, which I guess is the year of manufactoring. Anyone on the forum run accross this brass?

December 4, 2012, 06:49 PM	#2
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,381	EC 42 I THINK is Evansville Ordnance Plant, which was operated by Chrysler, one of the first munitions plants to be set up during World War II. Pretty common, as Evansville made something like 4 billion rounds of .45 ACP from 1942 to 1945. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

December 4, 2012, 10:17 PM	#5
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,061	I found a box of those in my grandparent's attic when I was a kid. No longer have them, but remember it gave my dad an opportunity to explain the letters were the plant and the numbers were the last two digits of the manufacturing year. Zinc-plated steel, for sure. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

December 5, 2012, 07:52 AM	#6
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,381	"Zinc-plated steel, for sure." Not in 1942. At least it should not have been. From Remington Arms (RA) or Frankford Arsenal (FA) where test batches of steel cased .45 ammo was loaded, yes, but from EC? I don't think they loaded any steel-cased ammo in 1942. Steel case production wasn't fully authorized until 1943, and then only until the copper shortages that made steel cases a necessity eased, which it did early in 1944. Evansville Chrysler and Evansville Sunbeam (who manufactured the cases for loading by EC) produced virtually all of the steel-cased ammo used during WW II, including quite a bit of .30 M1 Carbine ammo. The steel cased ammo was never authorized for combat use, only stateside training. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

December 5, 2012, 07:53 AM	#7
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,381	Ah, crap. I just found a reference to batches of EC 42 steel cased ammo. Here's a very nice write up on it along with a good picture (Bob's now posting here). http://www.firearmstalk.com/forums/f...ased-45s-6119/ __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

December 4, 2012, 06:59 PM	#3
poline Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2009 Location: Richmond,Va Posts: 292	That is very interesting and informative, THANK YOU, VERY MUCH!

December 4, 2012, 09:10 PM	#4
Two Old Dogs Member Join Date: November 28, 2012 Location: Eastern SC Posts: 68	If the brass you found is a dull silver color, it is not brass but steel cases that were plated with a zinc compound, if I recall correctly. You can determine if they are steel by checking with a magnet. Evansville Ordnance Depot loaded steel cased .45 ACP during WWII and somewhere I still have a box of EC 43 steel cased empties stored. I recall some informattion that was published in The American Rifleman many years ago (1960's?) that explained the use of steel cases by Evansville Ordnance Depot.

December 9, 2012, 10:49 PM	#8
poline Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2009 Location: Richmond,Va Posts: 292	Oops! Can Zinc-plated steel case be reloaded, cause I reloaded two rds in this last batch!

December 10, 2012, 04:39 PM	#9
F. Guffey Senior Member Join Date: July 18, 2008 Posts: 7,249	and before EC and Sunbeam there was Eau Clair, Wisconsin, they started with the head stamp EC, then Chrysler wanted the ‘C’ for Chrysler, EC became EW.

December 10, 2012, 04:42 PM	#10
F. Guffey Senior Member Join Date: July 18, 2008 Posts: 7,249	Sunbeam made the steel cases, steel cases were hauled across town and loaded at the EC plant. F. Guffey

December 10, 2012, 04:51 PM	#11
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,381	"Sunbeam made the steel cases, steel cases were hauled across town and loaded at the EC plant." I think there's an echo in here or something... __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

December 10, 2012, 05:47 PM	#12
m&p45acp10+1 Senior Member Join Date: May 3, 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 3,930	Use a magnet on the case. If it sticks it is steel. I would either pull the bullet, and recover the components, or just toss the rounds if the case was steel. The most likely thing that steel cases would do is split, and stick in the chamber. Though they can cause a lot of undue wear on dies as well. __________________ No matter how many times you do it and nothing happens it only takes something going wrong one time to kill you.

December 10, 2012, 06:17 PM	#13
hikingman Senior Member Join Date: August 8, 2004 Location: Alabama Posts: 301	Mike, thanks for the link to Bob's article. Very interesting, indeed! __________________ NRA Life Member

December 11, 2012, 09:25 AM	#14
F. Guffey Senior Member Join Date: July 18, 2008 Posts: 7,249	“EC 42 I THINK is Evansville Ordnance Plant, which was operated by Chrysler, one of the first munitions plants to be set up during World War II” I read down to “I think etc., ........” Then I started with EC was Eau Clair, Wisconsin, then Chrysler, out of vanity wanted EC for Evansville Chrysler, EC became EW, I was thinking if EC changed their head stamp to EW, EW had to be one of the first munitions plants and about the same time as DM, UT, DN, SL, LC and TW , and there were others. F. Guffey

December 13, 2012, 12:55 PM	#15
poline Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2009 Location: Richmond,Va Posts: 292	Found the two rds that I reloaded, with the E C 42 on them and the a magnet did not stick to them! Not steel! Even so I think I will pull them.