I believe this was answered somewhere before but I can't find it.

Who makes custom headstamps?

I want to be able to headstamp brass 10,75x52R Springer myself as I do not want to order 10,000 from starline in order to do it.

RMC will make the cases and headstamp them anyway you wish.

old colonel,
I suggest you talk to an engraver(Erik Boessler did this type work, between guns, before he passed away).If the cost is too much,maybe he would engrave enough cases cheaper.An alternate would be to talk to a machinist about making a jig to use standard number/letter stamps. The jig would have to "locate" the stamp and "index"the case.Such a jig would be very slow, but would be very adaptable for differing headstamps.
Mike

I have looked at RMC and determined cost per case is astronomical. There has to be a machine shop or such somehere who could make a die set up for a do it yourself.

I talked to Starline, but hey will only talk you buying 10,000 cases from them and they keep all the tooling you pay for extra.

I am sure someone at sometime has done this work somewhere, I just have to find them

I wonder if a trophy engraver could do them? A lot of their machines are computerized now, and once the lettering on the correct radius is saved from a trial, it should be repeatable. A simple fixture would be all that's needed to hold the case in the engraver.

Stamping them, either with individual letter and number stamps or with a one piece stamp that holds the complete mark, can upset the case head & primer pocket quite a bit.
You are displacing metal and it has to go somewhere.


It takes a lot of force to imprint with a single unit stamp having all that lettering on it.
During mfg, the case is held in a die to control deformation and additional processes are done after the marking to insure dimensions are correct.

A pantograph , either a drag or rotary cut might work OK.
As Mike says most of the equipment is computerized now, even the trophys shop stuff.

If there are existing headstamp(s) on the brass it will show under the new marking.

Try a laser engraver.

I think I am back to my initial solution which is to suck it up and order 10,000 from Starline. At least they will be stamped correctly and be properly sized so I do not have to trim them. This assumes I really want to drop the dime to do it, which as of this time is no.

What's the big deal about properly stamped ammo?
Is the rifle so marked?
Is it headed to Africa?
Many wildcats aren't properly stamped here and they shoot just fine.

Kutter,
In my "accumulation",I have an example of very early post WW2 German commercial hunting ammo, that was made from military brass. The military headstamp numbers were removed(trepanning)and new numbers stamped in their place.This resulted in numbers in a groove, but didn't seem to have bad effects. I don't know if a single stamp was used, but I guess it was, since this was a factory operation.The numbers seemed to have been lightly stamped, perhaps out of concern for displacing metal.Mike

Long term I want everything to be correct to include stampings.

Right now I am using stamped 45-70 government brass from Starline and some some 8x56R Privi brass. It works fine, but I long to have the exact right thing.

I expermented with a file on the 45-70 brass to remove the very light stamping and that work ok, but coming up with a stamp to put the right print on is another thing. My hope is to find some shop that will make a 10,75x52R Springer stamp.

The gun is not headed to Africa (at least I doubt I will ever take it there as I have no intention of going there) It will stay here in the states and maybe Canada.

It is an idea that will have to stay in the good idea bin.

In the meantime I have broken and brought another Double Rifle last night. I am afraid this one will be a bigger project gun than the first in terms of condition. For $2,900 I could not say no. When it comes in I will post on it.

try a CNC shop. We use our mill for simple engraving like file cut ribs. They will do letters too. Should not cost much if you are doing a bunch of them.
Steve

old colonel,
What caliber is your new double? BTW Steves idea to use cnc machining center makes sense, just find a machine shop with a handloading owner.
Mike

Thanks for the CNC Stamp recommendation. I used it as query and found some options and emailed them. I have acknowledgements from two different CNC Stamp Companies they can make the stamp. I am sending them both more detailed specifications for and written cost estimate.

On the new very used DR, it is another 10.75x52R. This time a Boxlock instead of sidelock. It is in very rough shape, once it arrives next week I will determine if it is even shootable and if it is 10.75x52R Springer and not another 10.75x52R.

I believe it a Springer as it appears to be a Jules Bury made gun for Louis Christophe. It was being advertised on Gunbroker as a "Louise Christople" ( http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=354467228 )and the fella I spoke to on the phone truly did not know anything. It was painful to have someone who could not answer a question clearly. I do not think it was an act. It may arrive with bad ejectors, broken firing pins, bad bore, and who know's what else wrong. That said the price was not too much ($2900) and I can afford to take on bath on it if it does not work out. My gut is worse case I have a second barrel and action to attach a transducer to for testing load pressures for reloads when I finally buy the gear to do that.

Best case though knicked up things function and I may be able to clean it up and I will have a second DR for either my brother of son to use.

It was a quality gun at one time, I suspect it has ejectors, and based on lack ammo in the market place is probably carry wear (from stalking) much more than from heavy shooting. I wish it could talk and tell its history.

Regardless other than initial testing and cleaning it will sit a long while before I have further funds for it. It will require at minimum a refinish, rechecker, possible reblue, new horn trigger guard, screws cleaned up, and the list goes on. I am focusing on the first DR and my 12ga SLE for the moment, The price and opportunity may me fall off the wagon of no gun buying.

I will post pictures with proofmarks and a detailed evaluation as to whether I have burned myself or not after it arrives next week.

You could also have the cases cut with your terminology instead of having a stamp made. A super easy set up and program to run for a competent CNC guy.