Blank question.

[diginit]

Just got more ammo for my collection. This box seems to read "Revolver blanks" steel cased with a taper resembleing a bullet. Headstamp is F at 11:00, A at 1:00, and a 4 at 6:00. Federal Arms? What does the 4 represent?
It chambers in my 1911 perfectly. I would expect a revolver blank to have a rim. These are rimless. Seem to be made for a semi auto 1911. When did moonclips come into play? By the style of the box, and the fact that the box of 45 ACP is WWII issue and the other 2 boxes of 45 ACP I recieved were marked "repacked in 1945", I assume these are pre 1950 blanks. Any info is appreciated. TIA

[Chief-7700]

This may help:

http://www.worldlingo.com/ma/enwiki/en/M1917_revolver

I have a Colt DA 45 and it required moon clips.

[diginit]

Wow. A S&W and a Colt revolver with half moon clips in 45 ACP in 1917? I had no idea. A friend (Gunboat) just sent me a PM with the same info. He knew this off the top of his head. An M1917 revolver used through WWII. Thank you both!
Now I want one...Or at least to fire one. These blanks are 3/16" shorter than 45 hardball and chamber in my 1911. But I doubt they will cycle a 1911 with an 18.5 lb mainspring. Any idea when this box was produced? Any value? What was the purpose of blank rounds between 1917 and 1945? Training? Fun? Should I keep it intact or can I blast a few in the backyard on new years eve? It seems that these could be a rare item.

[Chief-7700]

The Colt DA 45 that I have is huge one of the largest framed revolvers that Colt ever built. At 15 yards the accuracy surprised me.

[diginit]

Used from 1917 through Vietnam. Long military and civillian history. It must have some good points! From what I have read, handloaders can make a projectile supersonic. Complete with the extra boom.

[gunboat]

Yep, digy they are fun weapons -- I don't have a '17 but do have a 1950 which is pretty much the same --
I would save the ammo, probably worth more as collectable and certainly corossive (1944).

[diginit]

I was planning on saving the live rnds. I have the box pictured and 2 boxes marked "Repacked 1945." I assume they are WWII issue leftovers. WRA, 45AC headstamp. I'm wondering if they could be older. After all...They are loaded for a 1911 and alot of WWII issue was WWI surplus. Similar to the WWII surplus used in Korea and Vietnam. (when will we learn...) Why were they repacked in the first place?
What about the blanks? Franklin Arms 4. 1944? I can clean the gun, But I'd hate to blow off a rare item. But what good were revolver blanks in WWII?

[gunboat]

Diggee - the headstamp will normally give the date of manufacture. WCC 45 being Winchester 1945 -- F A 42 = Frankford Arsenal 1942 -- The F A 4 is 1944, the extra 4 commonly being left off, same with L C 5 being 1955.
Repacking was usually done on ammo being issued to Battalion/company stores and not used.
Older ammo is not issued to combat units except in emergency. Older ammo is kept in reserve and used for range or other training use.
In the late 50's, after Korea, lots of pre WWII and WWII ammo was sold through the DCM for virtually pennies. Like $5 per hundred.