Products

Products Made by the Columbia River Arsenal

The focus of the Columbia River Arsenal is to provide authentic reproduction cartridges for reenactors and living historians who are interested in products that are faithful reproduction of originals. Blank Cartridges that are purchased from The Columbia River Arsenal, when charged with the correct amount of powder and folded properly as well as Display Cartridges that come complete will pass the authenticity standards for any event.

1.  .58 Cylinders for Live Rounds or Blank Rounds. These cylinders can be used to make live round or blank cartridges. They are made to the specifications outlined above. These are available in the 1861 Pattern only. These will not contain a Minie ball or gun powder. They will be delivered as cylinders ready to be assembled and charged with 60 or 65 grains of powder. They will then need to be folded closed making them ready for use. Williams Patent Bullet cylinders are made using blue paper. Each lot of ten comes with a percussion cap tube (does not include percussion caps), a plain wrapper, and twine.

2.  .58 Re-enactor Blank Cartridges. These blank cartridges are ideal for the reenactor who wants an authentic looking cartridge. These cartridges are made to the specifications outlined above. These look just like cartridges with live rounds, but the Minie Ball will be simulated using biodegradable materials. You can select the Small Arms, St. Louis Method, or Ordnance Manual of 1861 Pattern. Williams Patent Bullet Cartridges are made using blue paper. These will not contain gun powder. They will be delivered ready to be charged with 60 or 65 grains of powder. They will then need to be folded closed making them ready for use. Each lot of ten comes with a percussion cap tube (does not contain percussion caps), a bundle wrapper of your choice based on the options listed above, and twine.

3.  .58 Display Cartridges. Display cartridges are ideal for reenactments and living history events where authenticity matters, cartridges are on display, and reenactors are giving presentations where the attendees can see and handle the equipage of a Civil War soldier. These cartridges are made to the specifications outlined above. These look and handle just like live cartridges. They include a caste Minie Ball. Instead of gunpowder, however, these cartridges include 60 or 65 grains of fine model railroad ballast. Railroad ballast is about the same weight and looks like gunpowder. They will arrive to you complete. You can select the Small Arms, St. Louis Method, or Ordnance Manual of 1861 Pattern. Williams Patent Bullet Cartridges are made using blue paper. (The standard Minie Ball is used to make these). You can purchase these as singles or in lots of ten. You can also select to have them bundled with a specified label or a plain wrapper. These can also be purchased with an arsenal stamped wrapper without being bundled which includes twine. Bundles include a simulated package of percussion caps.