Hello Krakow Kid,
Thanks so very much for all the kind words. I have spent hundreds of hours scouring the net for info and have no less than 4 books coming. Many people here have PM'd me and I've talked with several that have really helped me with general information and loading cartridges. Thanks to all of you!
I do believe I fell into this one. Sometimes one is better off not knowing too much, and just going, "I had a hunch", so I traded.
Now that I have 20 cartridges ready for Saturday morning. I've turned my attention to trying to preserve what is left of the outside of the leather case. It has aged poorly over these many years. I will repair the handle which has the leather broken clean away at each end. (it only looks in place in the photo) I will repair the hinge which is totally split. The only thing keeping the top attached is the green felt liner. And I plan on getting brass corners to limit any further damage and hide the damage that has been done. However, I really want to preserve the paper label on the one end, if anyone has suggestions I'd sure like to hear them. I think the paper label shows this was gun number "33" of who knows how many. The trace writing peeking out at the right looks Far Eastern. I sure wish I could find out to who and where this was shipped back in 1885. Maybe some Big Time Maharajah.
