Driftwood:
There's a thread around here somewhere recently where in the U.S. the date for semi-smokeless or smokeless was around 1890. And from a 1931 "Winchester Quality Products" publication, Winchester notes that their longarms are stamped w/ a proofmark of a "w" stamped over a "P" in an oval noted as the "Winchester Definitive Proof test". As late as 1931 Winchester was offering Staynless shotshells(non-corrosive primer w/ smokeless) in red in 2 5/8"(also trap load in 2 3/4") as well as Nublack(yellow in color) w/ backpowder for 12 bore in 2 5/8". Also, the dram equivalent is defined here by: "By an agreement between the loading companies of this country, the dram in cartridge loading was equivalent to 0.115 cubic inches." In 1887, I believe blackpowder would have been used but I'm not sure of the load as of yet.
Kind Regards,
Raimey
rse
