44S&W AMERICAN

[RG22lr]

Hi Guy's I am no ammo collector but maybe you can give a little advice. I bought some milatary ball .45 ACP from a guy and in the box was 10 rounds of 44S&W American or at least thats what I think they are. The actual head stamp is 44S&W AM. WRA CO. any help as to what these are and what they are worth will be greatly appreciated.
                                                                      Thanks in advance
                                                                                  RG22lr

[John Traveler]

Those cartridges are indeed .44 S&W American cartridges, probably from dating from the late 1930's to the early 1940's production.  The cartridge was originally a black powder number, but was loaded with smokeless for a couple generations in the 20th century.

The .44 S&W American was developed from the .44 Russian (also produced by S&W) and chambered in their break-open revolver patterned after the .45 Schofield revolver accepted by the US Army in trial quantities in the 1870's.  Both cartridges predate the .44 Special, and the .44 Magnum.  All share the same case head and rim dimensions but differ in length and power.

Value is probably $1 or $2 each.  A cartridge collector would find them interesting, but not rare.

HTH
John

[unspellable]

The 44 S&W or 44 American was the first of the center fire 44's from S&W.  It has a heeled bullet with the outside diameter the same as the case diameter (possibly a true .44?) with the heel about .429 in diameter.

The Russians didn't like it and instigated the developement of the 44 Russian, the first in the family with a nominal .429 diameter bullet.  The 44 Special, 44 Magnum, and 445 Super Mag all descend from the 44 Russian.