List of military headstamps

A headstamp is the markings on the bottom of a cartridge case designed for a firearm. It usually tells who manufactured the case. Military headstamps usually have only the year of manufacture .

The left cartridge's headstamp says "FC 223 REM" which means that it was made by Federal Cartridge Co. and it is in the caliber .223 Remington. The cartridge on the right has a headstamp that says "LC 99" with a symbol that consists of a cross in a circle. This cartridge was made in 1999 by the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant, in Independence, MO, USA. The symbol on this headstamp means it meets NATO specifications.

The headstamp is punched into the base of the cartridge during manufacture.

Military headstamps

Two digits are the last two digits of the year of manufacture. They can be together as two digits or opposite each other (i.e., the tens digit at 9 o'clock and the ones digit at 3 o'clock). Early 20th century cartridges may have additional digits or a letter indicating the month or yearly quarter of manufacture.

A letter, number, or alphanumeric code indicates the place of manufacture:[1] Other codes may indicate metal suppliers (like France) or the percentage of a metal in the alloy the cartridge case is made of (like Poland and Germany).

United States military cartridges

US arsenals

World War II manufactured cartridges with a single "4" as the year of production were made in 1944. The demand was so great for cartridges that most manufacturers just ground off the "3" on the "43" stamp to save time. Most wartime plants were closed by the end of the war. Some cartridges with a single "5" were made in 1955.

Civilian contractors

Commercial cartridges

The US military used commercial cartridges for its training rifles, non-standard weapons, and shotguns. These usually had different headstamps than the military ammunition (usually their civilian one) and were shipped in commercial crates rather than military packaging.

Competition-grade military cartridges

Ammunition designed for military competitive shooting was made by a variety of manufacturers.

  • MATCH Ammunition used for target shooting. It is also used by Designated Marksmen and Snipers because it is more accurate than regular rifle ammunition at long ranges.
  • NM National Match. Match ammunition specially made for the Camp Perry National Rifle and Pistol shooting matches.

Special cartridges

7.92mm Mauser

During World War II the Western Cartridge Company made 7.92mm Mauser ammunition for the Chinese Nationalists. There are Chinese characters at the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions and the year of production (42, 43 or 44) at the 6 o'clock position.

.30 Caliber (.30-06 Springfield)

In 1953, large batches of .30-06 ammunition were manufactured under unique arsenal headstamps.[4] The case had red lacquer sealant around the primer annulus.[4] The headstamp has a two-letter manufacturer code and the lot code (rather than the year) is the number 40 followed by a third numeral.[4] Collectors allege that the cartridges were intended to be aid to anti-Communist insurgents and Allied forces equipped with US weapons.

7.62x39mm M43 Soviet

During the Vietnam War in the early 1970s (July, 1970 to January, 1972) the Lake City Ordnance Plant (LC) and Frankfort Arsenal (FA) produced unmarked Boxer-primed 7.62×39mm Blank and Ball cartridges for use by American and Allied personnel. The blanks were used by the "Tigerland" simulation exercise at Fort Polk, Louisiana. The ball ammunition allowed reconnaissance and Special Operations units to utilize captured Communist Bloc weapons like the SKS carbine and AKM assault rifle. Most ball ammunition went to support Marshal Lon Nol's Cambodian Army (1970-1975), which was receiving reconditioned SKS carbines and AK-47s as military aid.

The cartridges were based on a Lapua design. The bullets had Gilding Metal (GM) or Gilding Metal Coated Steel (GMCS) jackets and Gilding Metal-clad brass cases. Lake City cartridges had red sealant on the primer annulus and Frankfort Arsenal used purple sealant. They came in 20-round cartons that were marked with special short batch numbers that lacked the contractor code and date.

Afterwards Bell Laboratories (BEL) made batches of 7.62×39mm ammo in the 1970s and 1980s for training soldiers in the familiarization and use of Communist Bloc weapons. They can be identified by the light-blue sealant used on the primer annulus.

Commonwealth military cartridges

The number in parentheses is the nation's Nation Code.

Australia (66)

Canada (20 and 21)

Arsenals

The "C"s in "DAC", "DCA", "LAC" and "VC" had a small broadshead arrowhead (/|\) inset to indicate it was Canadian Government Issue property. This mark was adopted by the Canadian government in 1867 upon its creation as a Dominion to replace the British government's broadshead arrow mark.

  • C-I-L or CIL Canadian Industries Ltd. (1955-1976). A corporation formed in 1910 from a merger of five Canadian explosives companies and their assets. It ran the Defence Industries Ltd. munitions plants from 1940 to 1946. It owned the Dominion (1955-1966), Imperial (?-1976), Monark, and Canuck commercial ammunition brands. It used the CIL headstamp on its cartridges from 1955 until 1976, when IVI bought out its commercial ammunition production.
  • DA, DAC, or DAQ Dominion Arsenal Co. - Quebec City (1882-1958) - Quebec City, Quebec; Canada.[8][9] Dominion Arsenal used the DAQ headstamp from 1914 to 1918, the DAC headstamp from 1919(?) until 1945, the DCA headstamp in 1935, the DA headstamp from 1945 to 1958, and the CIL headstamp from 1955 to 1976. From 1945 to 1986 Dominion Arsenal was under the control of a nationalised crown corporation called Canadian Arsenals Ltd that was controlled by the Department of Supply and Services. Canadian Arsenals Ltd. was privatised and bought by SNC-Lavalin in 1986.
  • DI Defence Industries Ltd. (1940-1946) - Park Avenue, Brownsburg, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. A division of Canadian Industries Ltd. formed in late 1939 to produce munitions for the projected war effort. In 1941 they began to make high-quality boxer-primed .303 "Red Label"-type ammunition for use in aircraft machineguns. In 1942 they made the first Canadian government-manufactured 9×19mm Parabellum cartridges for Commonwealth forces. They also made 7.92×57mm Mauser rifle ammunition for use in the British 7.92mm BESA machine gun and issue to European Resistance groups and the Nationalist and Communist Chinese.
  • DIV Defence Industries Ltd. - Verdun (1940-1946) - Verdun, Quebec; Canada. A division of Canadian Industries Ltd. formed in 1939 to produce munitions for the war effort.
  • IVI Industries Valcartier Inc. (1977–present) - Saint-Gabriel-de-Valcartier, Quebec, Canada. In 1935, an ammunition manufacturing facility called Val-Rose was built on the grounds of the disused World War 1-era Valcartier Military Camp.[10] From 1945 to 1967 the facility was part of Canadian Arsenals Ltd. and specialized in small arms ammunition.[10] It was privatized as Industrie Valcartier Incorporee in 1967. It bought out Imperial, CIL's commercial cartridge division, in 1976.[11] It was acquired by SNC-Lavalin (SNC Tec) in 1980, which renamed it IVI Inc.[10] The IVI plant in Valcartier ceased making commercial ammunition in 1988. IVI Inc. was later amalgamated into General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems - Canada Inc. in 1989.[12] The Valcartier plant itself finally closed in 1991.[10]
  • LAC, DAL Dominion Arsenal - Lindsay (1914-1921) - Lindsay, Ontario; Canada. A division of Dominion Arsenal Co. formed in 1914 to expand munitions production for the war effort. It used the headstamp LAC ("Lindsay Arsenal, Canada") from 1914 to 1917 and DAL ("Dominion Arsenal - Lindsay") from 1918 to 1921.
  • TR Three Rivers plant (1940-1945) - Trois Rivieres, Quebec; Canada. A division of Dominion Rubber & Munitions.
  • VC Canadian Industries Limited - Verdun Arsenal - Verdun, Quebec; Canada[8]
Civilian Contractors
Commercial Manufacturers
  • DCCO, Dominion Dominion Cartridge Co. Ltd. (1886-1955) - Brownsburg, Quebec, Canada. A division of Dominion Arsenal that produced ammunition for the civilian market from 1911 to 1955. It was made part of Canadian Industries Ltd. (CIL) in 1928. During World War II it made military ammunition for CIL under the DCCO headstamp. It changed its headstamp to DOMINION in 1947 and to CIL in 1955, but was still sold under the Dominion brand. It was sold to IVI in 1966.
  • Imperial A commercial brand of ammunition manufactured by Canadian Industries Ltd. (CIL); it later used the headstamp CIL-Imperial from 1954 to 1976. It was bought out by IVI Inc. in 1976, restarted production in 1977, and ceased production in 1991(?).

New Zealand (98)

South Africa (18)

  • M M or MUS Musgrave Manufacturers and Distributors (Pty) Ltd. (1940?-1945?) - Bloemfontein, South Africa. Safari rifle manufacturer who manufactured cartridges during the war. Manufactured 9×19mm Parabellum and 7.92×57mm Mauser cartridges for the Nationalist Chinese that were shipped through Canada.
  • SAM South African Mint (1962 - ?) - Pretoria, South Africa. Later became Pretoria Metal Pressing LTD.
  • U (1937-1961) - Pretoria Branch Mint - Pretoria, South Africa. Converted to ammunition production in 1937. Later became South African Mint (SAM) in 1962.
  • U <> (1939-1961) - Kimberley Branch Mint - Kimberley, South Africa.

United Kingdom (99)

/|\ = UK Government Property. Formerly the badge of the Sidney family, the broad arrow (or "Devil's Claws") symbol was appropriated by the British government to indicate the item was government issue.
FF = Filling Factory.
GCF = Government Cartridge Factory (1918-1919).
ROF = Royal Ordnance Factory.
SAA = Small Arms Ammunition Factory (1940-1946).

NATO manufacturers

The number in parentheses is the nation's Nation Code.

Austria (41)

  • * * Hirtenberger Patronenfabrik - Hirtenberg, Baden bei Wien, Lower Austria, Austria. "Clean" export headstamp used by Hirtenberger - with the stars at 3 o'clock and 6 o'clock, the 2-digit year at 12 o'clock, and the caliber at 6 o'clock. The marks are either two 5-point stars, two 6-point asterisks, or a 5-point star and a 6-point asterisk.
  • B Wöllersdorfer Werke - Berndorf, Bezirk Baden, Lower Austria, Austria.
  • GR Georg Roth - Vienna, Austria. Headstamp is a cypher of G & R combined.
  • H or HP Hirtenberger Patronen-, Zündhütchen-und Metallwarenfabrik A.-G. (1860-2004) - Hirtenberg, Baden bei Wien, Lower Austria, Austria. Originally a metalware and cartridge factory, it eventually concentrated on cartridge-making. In 2004 it closed down its cartridge production lines and now focuses exclusively on making mortar shells.
  • KC or K&C Keller & Co - Hirtenberg, Baden bei Wien, Lower Austria, Austria.
  • ÖJP Österreichische Jagdpatronenfabrik (1948 - ?) - Kramsach, Tirol, Austria. Founded in 1948, taken over by Hirtenberger in 1964.
German P-Codes (1938-1940) - Operated under German occupation

Belgium (13)

Bosnia-Herzegovina (75)

  • ИК, IK Igman zavod ad Konjic ("Igman Factory at Konjic") - Konjic, Bosnia. Named for the nearby Igman plateau.

Czech Republic (16)

  • bxn Sellier & Bellot - Vlasim, Czech Republic.

Denmark (22)

From 1968 to 2007 ammunition packaging was stamped or embossed with the letters HMAK ensigned by a crown - standing for Hærens Materielkommando (Army Materiel Command)

  • HL Haerens Laboratorium ("Army Laboratory") (1912-1937) - Copenhagen, Denmark.
  • AMA Ammunitionsarsenalet ("Ammunition Arsenal") (1676 - ?) - København, Denmark.

Egypt (36)

Egypt uses Arabic-language letters and numerals in its headstamp - letters and numerals are read from right to left and dates and numbers are read from left to right. (Arabic-language numerals are different from the Western "Arabic" numerals (i.e., 1, 2, 3, etc.) - also, Arabs refer to their counting system as the "Indian" numbers). At 12 o'clock is the three-letter acronym for Gomhoreyyet Maṣr el-ʿArabeyya (Arab Republic of Egypt) - which looks like the English letters ERC in cursive from left to right but represent the Egyptian Arabic letters GMA from right to left. At 4 o'clock is the two-digit Arsenal Number and at 8 o'clock is the two-digit year. The metric designation for a cartridge on the headstamp is written in reverse with the length first, followed by the bore (i.e., 7.62×54mmR M91 Russian is written as 54 × 7.62).

  • ٠١ (GMA 01) Military Factory 10 ( Abu-Kir Company for Engineering Industries) - Abu Qir, Alexandria, Egypt.
  • ٧٢ (GMA 72) Military Factory 27 (Shubra Company for Engineering Industries) (1953-Present) - Shubra, Cairo, Egypt.

Finland (58)

  • LAPUA Lapuan Patruunatehdas ("Cartridge Factory at Lapua") (1949–1998) - Lapua, Finland. It is now called Nammo Lapua (1998–present), a division of the Nammo Group.
  • SAT, SAKO Sako A. B. (Suojeluskuntain Ase-ja Konepaja Oy, "Civil Guard Weapon- and Machining-works Ltd.") (1921–present)- Riihimäki, Finland. It was later acquired by Beretta Holding Group in 2000.
  • T Oy Tikkakoski Ab (aka TIKKA) - Jyväskylä, Central Finland, Finland. Manufactured arms and various consumer goods, like sewing machines. Tikkakoski Arsenal was its arms division, the only privately-owned weapons manufacturer in the country, and operated from 1930 to 1947 and 1957 to 1987. The company was bought out by SAKO in 1983. SAKO (and through them, the TIKKA hunting rifle brand) was later acquired by Beretta in 2000.
  • VPT Valtion Patruunatehdas ("State Ammunition Factory") (1923 - 1949) - Lapua, Finland. The forerunner to Lapua. In 1949 it was absorbed by Valmet and renamed LAPUA.

France (14)

Note: French headstamps mark the 1-digit Quarter of the year of production and 2-digit Year at the 12-o'clock position (e.g. Q-YY), the letter code for the metal supplier for the case at the 3-o'clock position, the cartridge caliber and model at the 6-o'clock position, and the manufacturer at the 9-o'clock position. They are oriented so that the 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock sides are at right angles to the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock sides.

  • ALM Ateliers Legueu Meaux (Legueu Workshops of Meaux) - Meaux, France. Manufactured cartridge-cases and bullets.
  • APX Atelier de Construction de Puteaux (Manufacturing Workshop of Puteaux) - Puteaux, France.
  • ARS, RS Atelier de Construction de Rennes (Manufacturing Workshop of Rennes) - Rennes, France.
  • ATE, TE Atelier de Fabrication de Toulouse (Manufacturing Workshop of Toulouse) - Toulouse, France.
  • ATS, TS Atelier de Construction de Tarbes (Manufacturing Workshop of Tarbes) - Tarbes, France.
  • AVE, VE Cartoucherie de Valence (Cartridge Factory of Valence) (1874-1964) - town of Bourg-lès-Valence, municipality of Valence, department of Drôme, region of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France.
  • AVIS, VS Atelier de Fabrication de Vincennes (Manufacturing Workshop of Vincennes) Vincennes, France.
  • CN Ateliers Mécaniques de Normandie (Mechanical Workshops of Normandy).
  • CP Cartoucherie Leon Paulet à Marseille - Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône, France.
  • ECP Ecole Centrale de Pyrotechnie (Central School of Pyrotechnics) Bourges, France.
  • F Cartoucherie Française ("Cartridge Factory of France") - Survilliers, department of Val-d'Oise, region of Île-de-France, France. Starting as a small ammo-production firm with a dozen workers, government contracts during World War I (1914-1918) to produce military cartridges, rockets and shells caused it to grow to 332 employees. The interwar years (1919-1939) were prosperous, but the cartridge production line was shut down during the German Occupation (1940-1945). Production resumed in the mid 1940s, but munitions production was stopped in the late 1980s due to a cancelling of government contracts.
  • G Gévelot S. A. (Société Française des Munitions de Issy-les-Moulineaux) (1820-?; 1950-?) - Paris, France. Firm founded in Paris by Marin Gévelot in 1820. Merged with Gaupillat & Cie in 1883 to became Société Française des Munitions in 1884. Took the name of Gévelot S.A. in 1950.
  • LM Cartoucherie du Mans (Cartridge Factory of Le Mans) Le Mans, France.
  • MGM Manufacture Générale de Munitions ("General Ammunition Factory") (1930-1978) - Bourg-les-Valence and Clérieux, France. Bought out by Gevelot S.A. in 1974 and integrated into Société Française des Munitions in 1978. The Bourg-les-Valence site is closed and the Clérieux site is run by Cheddite France.
  • MI, SM Robert Paulet & Cie (Société Méridionale d'Industrie > "Meridian Industrial Association") - Marseille, France. Formerly Cartoucherie Leon Paulet à Marseille.
  • MR Manufacture de Machines du Haut-Rhin ("Machine-Building Factory of the Upper Rhine", or MANURHIN) (?-1990) - Mulhouse-Bourtzwiller, Haut-Rhin, Grand Est (formerly Alsace), France. Manufactured cartridges as well as the industrial machinery to make bullets and casings and load cartridges. Bought out and merged with GIAT in 1990.
  • PB (Poudrerie Belge de Clermont) - Rue de Clermont, Engis, Belgium.
  • RY Établissements Rey Frères ("Rey Brothers Enterprises") - Nîmes, France.
  • SF, SFM Société Française de Munitions de Issy-les-Moulineaux ("French Association for Munitions of Issy-les-Moulineaux") (1820-?; 1950-?) - Issy les Moulineaux, France. Firm founded in Paris by Marin Gévelot in 1820. Merged with Gaupillat & Cie in 1883 to became Société Française des Munitions in 1884. Took the name of Gévelot S.A. in 1950.

38 SPECIAL: caliber of the cartridge.

  • TH Cartoucherie de la Seine ("Cartridge Factory of the Seine") - Le Havre, France. A division of Tréfileries du Havre à Rugles ("Wire-Drawing Works of Le Havre and Rugles").
  • F Tréfileries et Laminoirs de la Méditerranée à St-Louis. ("Wire-Drawing Works and Rolling Mills of the Mediterranean of St.Louis") (1957-Present) - Île Saint-Louis, Paris, Hauts-de-Seine, Île-de-France, France. A metal-supplier for Cartoucherie Leon Paulet de Marseilles.
  • I Société de Métallurgie Franco-Belge de Issy-les-Moulineaux ("Franco-Belgian Metallurgic Society of Issy-les-Molineaux") (1895-Present) - Issy-les-Moulineaux, France. A Belgian company that supplied metal stock for Société Française de Munitions de Issy-les-Moulineaux.
  • S Compagnie Française des Métaux ("French Metals Company") - Sérifontaine, Oise, France. A metal-supplier for Tréfileries du Havre à Rugles.
French Colonial Arsenals

Germany (12)

(1919-1926)

The post-war German government assembled cartridges at the Wehrkreis ("Defense District") arsenals. War industries were reduced to monopolies: Polte was selected to supply cartridge cases and bullets and Dynamit Nobel was selected to provide explosives and propellants. Cartridge-loading machines were installed at artillery depots to train technicians in how to operate the machinery in times of emergency.

  • I (Königsberg) - Königsberg Arsenal
  • II (Stettin) - ?
  • III (Berlin) - Jüterbog Arsenal
  • IV (Dresden) - Zeithain/Riesa Arsenal
  • V (Stuttgart) - Kassel
  • VI (Münster) - ?
  • VII (Munich) - Ingolstadt
  • AI Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken A.G. - Lûbeck-Schlutup, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Headstamp used by Germany to covertly supply the Spanish Nationalists during the Spanish Civil War (1936 - 1939). The headstamp has "AI" at the 12 o'clock position (perhaps to copy the headstamp of the Dutch Artillerie-Inrichtingen munitions works), large lower-case letter "e"s at the 3- and 9-o'clock positions, and the year of production at the 6 o'clock position.
  • DWM B Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken - Berlin, Borsigwalde, Germany.
  • DWM H Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken (1940-1945) - 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands. The Nederlandsche Wapen-en Munitiefabriek NV. factory run by the German occupation forces.
  • DWM K Deutsche Waffen uund Munitionsfabriken - Karlsruhe, Germany.
  • DWM L Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken - Lübeck, Germany.
  • Mog. Deutsche Sprengchemie, Werk Moschwig - Moschwig, Germany. Made explosives and gunpowder.
  • N Rheinisch-Westfälische Sprengstoff, A.G. (RWS) - Nuremberg, Germany. Made gunpowder and complete cartridges.
  • P Polte Armaturen-und-Maschinenfabrik A.G., Werk Magdeberg - Sachsen, Magdeburg, Germany. After Versailles they were the official supplier of ammunition components to the Weimar Republic. Made cartridge cases and bullets from 1919 to 1926? and complete cartridges from 1926? to 1945.
    • Pi Hirtenberger Patronenfabrik - Hirtenberg, Austria. This was a cover-headstamp to pretend that Polte, the official contractor for the Weimar Republic, manufactured them.
    • Pu H. Burgsmüller & Söhne; Kreiensen, Germany. This was a cover-headstamp to pretend that Polte, the official contractor for the Weimar Republic, manufactured them. A small gunsmithing firm that made hunting shotguns and drillings, they later got into munitions production.
    • Pö Gehre Dampfmesser GmbH - Sebaldushof, Treuenbrietzen, Germany. This was a cover-headstamp to pretend that Polte (headstamp "P"), the official contractor for the Weimar Republic, manufactured them. Dr. Martin Böhme was an engineer whose factory made gas, steam and liquid gauges and a sideline in metalwares. In 1926 the metalware factory in the hamlet of Sebaldushof was bought out by the Kopp Brothers of Berlin and it was renamed to Metallwarenfabrik Truenbrietzen.
    • Ps - Production by the Swedish government. This was a cover-headstamp to pretend that Polte (headstamp "P"), the official contractor for the Weimar Republic, manufactured them.
  • SKD Selve-Kronbiegel-Dornheim A.-G. (1924-1945) - Sömmerda, Thuringia, Germany. A partnership between three former arms manufacturers who were turning to cartridge manufacture. Selve owned the Braun und Bloem pinfire cartridge trademarks, manufactured pinfire cartridges at the Fabrik von Braun und Bloem, and operated out of Düsseldorf. Rheinmetall owned the Dreyse und Collenbusch needlefire cartridge trademarks and operated out of Sömmerda, Thüringen; it used the name Kronbiegel for Ehrfurt merchant Friedrich Kronbiegel (?-1820) - Dreyse's first partner. G.[eorge] C.[arl] Dornheim owned the GECADO trademark, the B.STAHL Metallhulsenfabrik - Suhl ammunition plant in Suhl (which made metal cartridge cases), and the Lindender Zünderhütchen-, Patronen- und Tonwarenfabrik in Empelde, Ronnenberg, Hannover (which made percussion caps and primers, assembled cartridges, and made clay pottery and dishes). SKD manufactured ammunition under the SELKADO ammunition trademark until 1940. G.C. Dornheim A.G. sold the cartridge plant in Suhl in 1925 and sold off the factory in Empelde and the GECADO ammunition trademark to Dynamit-Nobel in 1927. Afterwards RWS began producing ammunition for G.C. Dornheim.
  • Rdf. Dynamit Nobel, Werk Reinsdorf - Reinsdorf, Germany. Made explosives and gunpowder. Absorbed by I.G. Farben in 1926, and then by WASAG (Westfälisch-Anhaltische Sprengstoff-Actien-Gesellschaft) in 1945.
    • Rdf 128 Pulverfabrik Walsrode - A cover code as a subterfuge to pretend that the powder had been made by Dynamit Nobel, the official explosives and propellant manufacturer for the Weimar Republic.
  • Rottw. Pulverfabrik Rottweil ("Gunpowder Factory at Rottweil"), Rottweil, Baden-Wurttemburg, Germany. Made gunpowder. A particular type of shotgun-cartridge propellant called "Rottweil Powder" was invented by them.
  • Walsr. Pulverfabrik Walsrode ("Gunpowder Factory at Walsrode") – Walsrode, Germany. Made gunpowder.
P-Codes (1926-1941)

The German government adopted coded headstamps for military ammunition to keep the identity of their suppliers secret. This was briefly continued during the early war and included factories in occupied countries. It was a subterfuge to pretend that Polte manufactured the items.

  • P.14A Waffenwerke Brünn A.-G. ("Armory at Brno"), Werk Povazska Bystrica - Považská Bystrica, Czechoslovakia. Operated under German occupation. Later renamed Povazske Strojárne ("Factory at Povaska").
  • P.25 Metallwarenfabrik Treuenbrietzen G.m.b.H, Werk Sebaldushof - Sebaldushof, Treuenbrietzen, Pommern, Germany. This was the first factory owned by the Kopp Brothers. They expanded to Selterhof (Treuenbrietzen) (1934), Roederhof (Belzig) (1935), Metgethen and Salzwedel.
  • P.28 Deutsche Waffen u. Munitionsfabriken A.-G. (DWM), Karlsruhe, Germany
  • P.69 Patronen-, Zündhütchen- und Metallwarenfabrik A.-G. (formerly Sellier & Bellot Schönebeck) - Schönebeck-an-der-Elbe, Salzlandkreis, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany. Made cartridges, primers and detonator caps, and metalware.
  • P.94 Kabel- und Metallwerke- Neumeyer A.-G. - Nürnberg, Germany.
  • P.120 Dynamit A.-G. (DAG), Werk Empelde (1928-1945) - Empelde, Ronnenberg, Hannover, Germany. Formerly Lindender Zünderhütchen- und Patronen-fabrik ("percussion-cap- and cartridge-factory of Linden") (?-1927); closed for a year for reorganization and then reopened in 1928.
  • P.131 Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken A.-G. (DWM), Berlin-Borsigwalde, Germany
  • P.151 Rheinisch-Westfälische Sprengstoff A.-G. (RWS) ("Rhenish-Westphalian Explosives Co."), Werk Nürnberg-Stadeln - Nürnberg-Stadeln, Germany.
  • P.154 Polte Metallwarenfabrik, Werk Grüneberg (formerly Grüneberger Metallgeselschaft G.m.b.H.) - Grüneberg (Nordbahn), Brandenburg, Germany
  • P.163 Metallwarenfabrik Treuenbrietzen G.m.b.H., Werk Selterhof - Selterhof, Treuenbrietzen, Pommern, Germany.
  • P.181 Hugo Schneider A.-G. (HASAG); Leipsig, Germany.
  • P198 Metallwarenfabriken Treuenbrietzen GmbH., Werk Röderhof (1935-?) - Roederhof, Belzig, Germany.
  • P.334 Mansfeld A.-G. Metallwarenfabrik, Werk Rothenburg - Saale, Rothenburg, Germany
  • P.369 Teuto Metallwerke G.m.b.H., Osnabrück, Germany
  • P.405 Rheinisch-Westfälische Sprengstoff A.-G. (RWS), Werk Durlach (formerly Gustav Genschow & Co.); Durlach, Germany.
  • P.413 Deutsche Waffen- und Munitions-fabriken A.G. (DWM), Lûbeck-Schlutup, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.
  • P.635 Gustloff-Werk Hirtenberg (formerly Otto Eberhardt Patronenfabrik) - Hirtenberg, Niederdonau, Austria. A division of Gustloff Werk (Gustloff Works), a division of the Wilhelm Gustloff Stiftung (Wilhelm Gustloff Foundation), a nationalized corporation composed of companies confiscated from Jewish owners or partners.
Letter Codes (1940-1945)
  • ch DWM Lüttich (formerly FN-Herstal, Liege) (occupied 1940-1944) - Liege, Belgium.
  • auy Polte Metallwarenfabrik, Werk Grüneberg (formerly Grüneberger Metallgeselschaft G.m.b.H.) - Grüneberg (Nordbahn), Brandenburg, Germany
  • cxm Gustav Genschow & Co. A.-G. (Geco) (1887-1959) - Berlin, Germany. Ammunition manufacturer and sporting arms wholesaler. They owned ammunition plants in Durlach and Wolfartsweier; a leather-goods factory in Hachenburg; associated arms factories in Zella-Mehlis, Suhl, and Liege; and had stores in Cologne, Suhl, Frankfurt am Main, Nuremberg, and Königsberg. In 1924 they bought a firearms factory in Spandau from Deutsche Werke. In 1927 they were bought out by I.G. Farben and were allied with RWS. In 1938 they were one of the firms who bought the rights to manufacture the Klein-Kaliber Wehrsportgewehr ("Small-Caliber Military Sports Rifle"), a .22-caliber competition and training rifle sold to the public. They also bored rifle-barrel blanks for the K98k Mauser and Sturmgewehr 44.
  • eej Märkisches Walzwerk GmbH - Strausberg bez., Potsdam, Germany
  • emp Dynamit A.-G., Werk Empelde - Empelde, Ronnenberg, Hannover, Germany.
  • fer Metallwerke Wandhofen GmbH - Wandhofen, Schwerte an der Ruhr, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany.
  • hhw Metallwerke Silberhütte GmbH, St-Andreasberg-im-Harz, Goslar, Lower Saxony, Germany.
  • hla Metallwarenfabrik Treuenbrietzen G.m.b.H., Werk Sebaldushof - Sebaldushof, Treuenbrietzen, Pommern, Germany.
  • hlb Metallwarenfabrik Treuenbrietzen G.m.b.H., Werk Selterhof - Selterhof, Treuenbrietzen, Pommern, Germany.
  • hlc Zieh- und Stanz-werke GmbH ("[Wire] Drawing and [Metal] Punching Works") - Schleusingen, Thüringen
  • hrn Presswerke G.m.b.H. - Metgethen, Ostpreußen, Germany (now Imeni Alexandra Kosmodemyanskogo, Kaliningrad oblast, Russian Federation)
  • kam HASAG (formerly P.W.U. Fabryka Amunicji Skarzysko-Kamienna) (occupied 1939-1944) - Skarżysko-Kamienna, Poland.
  • ndn Heinrich Bluecher Fabrik technischer Buersten ("industrial-brush-making factory") - Spremberg, Spree-Neiße, Brandenburg, Germany. A factory that manufactured 9x19mm cartridge cases to be filled elsewhere.
  • oma Ernst Mahla Blechwarenwerke ("sheetmetal-ware works") - Prague, Bohemia, Czechoslovakia. A factory that made 9x19mm ball and armor-piercing ammunition.
  • oyj Atelier de Construction de Tarbes - Tarbes, France. Produced ammunition during the German Occupation (1940-1944).
(1946–present)

The headstamp has the manufacturer code at 12 o'clock, 2-digit year of production at 3 o'clock, 2-digit week of production at 6 o'clock, and NATO interchangeability symbol at 9 o'clock. Example: MEN 79 21 (+) would mean it was manufactured by Metallwerk Elisenhütte Nassau GmbH in week 21 (i.e., May 21-27) of 1979.

Greece (23)

  • EPK, GPC, or HXP (Pyrkal) Greek Powder & Cartridge Company - Athens, Greece. (1908-2004). Manufactures cartridges and disintegrating belt links. Merged with EBO in 2004 to become EAS ("Hellenic Defense Systems").
  • P C H, PC Pouderie et Cartoucherie Hellenique (Pyrkal). Pyrkal's export and commercial headstamp during the interwar years (1920s and 1930s). Packaging was in French. The PC headstamp was used on British contract orders up until the German occupation (1941-1945).

India (72)

Israel (31)

Israel has supposedly manufactured ammunition under the S, SA, and SB headstamps. They might be new or reloaded cases acquired from Spain for the underground workshops operated before independence, ammunition produced under contract for the Spanish government, ammunition produced discreetly for special customers (like embargoed South Africa or devoutly Muslim Egypt), or "sanitized" ammunition hidden under Spanish headstamps for use by Israel's special operations forces.

  • AE Eretz Ayalon ("Ayalon Institute") (1945-1948) - Kibbutzim Hill, Rehovot, British Mandate, Palestine. An underground munitions factory hidden in the basement of a community center that had a working bakery and a laundry.[14] The copper for the casings was acquired by scrap dealers who supposedly were using it to make brass lipstick cases.[14] They made 9×19mm Parabellum and 7.92×57mm Mauser cartridges.
  • IMI, TK, TKK, or ת צ (T'aasiya Tz'vaeet, "Military Industries") Israeli Military Industries - Tel Aviv, Israel. Manufactures cartridges, clips, and disintegrating belt links.

Italy (15)

  • BPD Bombrini-Parodi-Delfino (1912-1968/1988) - Colleferro, Rome, Italy. A chemical company that made explosives and gunpowder. After World War I it expanded into fertilizer and cement and after World War II it diversified into industrial metalworking, textiles, and chemicals. In 1968 the Parodi-Delfino family sold their interest in BPD to SNIA-Viscosa. SNIA-Viscosa merged BPD with their chemical division, which was renamed SNIA-BPD. SNIA-BPD later sold its BPD holdings to Simmel Difesa in 1988 and reorganized itself as SNIA S.p.A.
  • GFL Giulio Fiocchi Lecco - Lecco, Italy.
  • HB Enrico Barthe & Cie (1883-1889) - Milan, Italy. A company created as a front for the Società Franco Italiana per la fabbricazione delle Munizioni di caccia, da tiro, da guerra, ed affini (SFIM, "Franco-Italian Corporation for the manufacture of hunting, target-shooting, warfare, and related munitions"). SFIM was the Italian sales division of Société Française des Munitions (SFM, "French Association for Muntions"), the munitions division of the French firm Gevelot. It was an Italian-registered firm created for tax purposes. The president of the firm, Henri Barthe, was an SFM employee that used to be owner of Tarbes Freres before merging with SFM in 1883. French by birth and nationality, they recorded his name as Enrico Barthe in the incorporation papers - although being an Italian citizen or of Italian birth were not prerequisites for the tax law loophole.
  • LBC Leon Beaux & Cie. (1889-1932) - Milan, Italy. A company created as a front for SFIM, the Italian sales division of SFM, the munitions division of the French firm Gevelot. It was an Italian-registered firm created for tax purposes. Leon Beaux, an SFIM salesman, took over from Henri Barthe as president of SFIM in 1889 and the front company was renamed after him.
  • MCM Munizioni e Cartucce Martignoni - Genoa, Italy.
  • PC or PECA Lo Stabilimento Pirotecnico dell'Esercito di Capua ("Army Pyrotechnical Factory at Capua") (1856–Present) - Capua, Caserta, Campania, Italy. Originally founded as part of the Sala degli Artefici ("Hall of the Arts") during the Murat regime (1808-1815). The cartridge factory and cannon foundry were moved to the Castello di Lecce in 1856 and remained until after World War Two, where the facilities were moved elsewhere to Capua. Since July, 2012 the company now manufactures 9x19mm NATO, 5.56x45mm NATO, and 7.62x51mm NATO ammunition for Fiocchi.
  • SMI Società Metallurgica Italiana (Italian Metallurgical Corporation) (1910-?) - Campo Tizzoro, San Marcello Pistoiese, Pistoia, Tuscany, Italy.

Lithuania (47)

  • L D Linkaičiai Dirbtuves ("Workshop at Linkaičiai") (1931-1940) - Linkaičiai, Lithuania. The factory originally just bought the components from Belgian companies like Fabrique Nationale and assembled them onsite from 1931. They weren't able to make their own components self-sufficiently until after 1937. The headstamp had the "L" at the 9 o'clock position and the "D" at the 3 o'clock position; the 2-digit year of production was in the 12 o'clock position and the batch number was at the 6 o'clock position.
  • GGG AB Giraitės Ginkluotes Gamykla ("Giraitės Armament Factory") (2000–present) - Giraitės km., Uzliedziu sen., Kaunas raj., Kaunas County, Lithuania. First manufactured 7.62×39mm Soviet rounds in 2002, NATO-standard 5.56×45mm NATO and 7.62×51mm NATO rounds in 2005 (earning the NATO interchangeability rating in 2006), and sporting .223 Remington and .308 Winchester rounds in 2012. The headstamp has the caliber at 12 o'clock, manufacturer's code at 6 o'clock, 2-digit year of production at 3 o'clock, and NATO interchangeability symbol at 9 o'clock.

The Netherlands (17)

Norway (25)

  • AYR A/S Raufoss Ammunisjonsfabrikker, Raufoss, Norway. Now divided into several smaller ammunition and munitions companies: Nammo, Raufoss Technologies, etc. RA headstamp.
  • BF Bakelittfabrikken Norway. The headstamp has the NATO symbol (+) at 12 o'clock, 2-digit year at 6 o'clock, BF at 9 o'clock, and 2-digit batch code at 3 o'clock.
  • R A Raufoss Ammunisjonfabrikker - Raufoss, Norway.
  • RANO Raufoss og Norma projektilfabrikk (1965-1989) - Oslo, Norway. A cooperative partnership between Raufoss and Norma that provided ammunition for Norwegian sports organizations.

Pakistan (76)

Poland (43)

Poland (1918-1939)

The cartridge manufacturer placed their code at the 12 o'clock position. Government-run factories that made ammunition for the military placed the Polish National Eagle stamp instead. The case manufacturer's code letter or numeral in the 6 o' clock position and the two digit percentage of copper in the case's brass (usually 67 for 7,9mm Mauser) was placed at the 9 o'clock position. The last two digits of year of production was placed at the 3 o'clock position.

  • I Wytwornia Amunicji (WYTW. AM., "Ammunition Factory") No.1 (Brest-Litovsk).
  • II Wytwornia Amunicji No.2 (Poznań).
  • III Wytwornia Amunicji No.3 (Warsaw).
  • IV Wytwornia Amunicji No.4 (Kraków).
  • V Wytwornia Amunicji No.5 (Przemyśl).
  • F A S Fabrika Amunicji Skarzysko ("Ammunition Plant at Skarzysko) (1925-1939) - Skarzysko-Kamienna, Poland. Civilian ammunition brand manufactured by P.W.U. Fabryka Amunicji.
  • W Wojskowa Wytwornia Amunicji Karabinowej (WWAK, "Military Rifle Ammunition Factory") (1921-1925) - Warsaw, Poland. Founded in 1921 using nationalized machinery liberated from the Georg Roth A.G. subsidiary factory in Poznań (formerly Posen). It made bullets, primers, cases, and complete cartridges. It was closed in 1925 and moved to Skarzysko.
  • SK Państwowa Wytwornia Uzbrojenia Fabryka Amunicji (P.W.U. Fabryka Amunicji, "National Armament Factory - Ammunition Plant") (1925-1939) - Skarzysko-Kamienna, Poland. Founded in 1925 by moving the WWAK's machinery from Warsaw.
  • N Norblin S.A.. Ammunition factory founded in 1922 in Warsaw. It had a metal foundry and cartridge production plant at Glownie that made cartridge brass for other firms as well. Ammunition made by Norblin had the Norblin "N" at both the 12 o'clock (cartridge manufacturer) and 6 o'clock (case manufacturer) positions.
  • Pk Zaklady Amunicyjne, Pocisk, Spolka Akcyjna ("Munitions Works, 'Bullet', Joint Stock Company"), or Z.A. Pocisk S.A. ("Ammunition Works 'Bullets' Joint Stock Company") - A Franco-Polish Joint Stock Company created in 1921 to supply the Polish Government with ammunition. Using machinery purchased from Hirtenberger of Austria, a cartridge plant was set up in Warsaw and a munitions plant was set up in Rembertów. In 1932 it was nationalized by the Polish Government, who consolidated all production at Rembertow.
  • DZ or Dz Walconie Metali "Dziedzice" S.A. (1896-Present) - Dziedzice, Silesian Voivodeship. A metalworks that also manufactured cartridge cases.
  • F or Fr Fraget - A metalworks that manufactured cartridge cases.
Poland (1939-1945)
  • kam HASAG Eisen und Metallwerke G.m.b.H., Skarzysko-Kamienna, Poland. Manufactured ammunition and small arms for the German military using slave labor. The Germans removed all the machinery in 1945, then wrecked whatever they could before they retreated.
  • DZ Metallwalzwerke A.G. Dziedzitz - Dziedzitz, Gau Schlesien. In early 1940 they originally made brass cartridge cases and copper, aluminum and zinc alloys for the war effort. The facility was later focused on only producing duraluminum sheets and all its other machinery was shipped to other factories in Poland. The machinery was later returned in 1947.
Poland (1945-1989)

The Polish headstamp for Factory 21 either has the factory number in an oval or upside-down to keep it from being confused with the Hungarian and Romanian Factory 21s. This was extended to other Polish headstamps for consistency.

  • (21) Panstwowa Fabryka Amunicji Skarzysko-Kamienna (“State Ammunition Factory at Skarzysko-Kamienna”) (1945-1948) - Skarzysko-Kamienna, Poland. Made small arms ammunition.
  • 21 Zakłady Wyrobów Metalowych Skarzysko-Kamienna ("Skarzysko-Kamienna Metal Products Works") (1948-1988) - Skarzysko-Kamienna, Poland. Made small arms ammunition and the civilian MESKO brand, along with appliances and metalware. MESKO is an acronym for Zakłady Metalowe Skarzysko Kompania ("Metal Works Company at Skarzysko"). It was merged with the PREDOM appliance brand and renamed PREDOM-MESKO S.A. in 1975. It then separated again and was renamed MESKO S.A. in 1985.
  • 21 General Sikorski Zakłady Metalowe MESKO ("General Sikorski MESKO Metal Works") (1988-1993) - Skarzysko-Kamienna, Poland. Renamed as an expression of Polish independence.
  • 54 Factory 54 - Skarzysko-Kamienna, Poland. MESKO's autocannon, rocket, and missile division. They also manufactured pistol ammunition.
  • 343 Factory 343 - Krupski Mlyn, Silesia, Poland. They made propellants and explosives. They also briefly made pistol ammunition.
  • PFA Panstwowa Fabryka Amunicji ("State Ammunition Factory") (1945-1955?) - Skarzysko-Kamienna, Poland. Skarzysko-Kamienna's headstamp until they were assigned factory numbers.
  • MESKO Marka Export Solidnosc Knokurencyjnosc Otwartosc ("Brand for Export - Reliability, Competitiveness, and Honesty"). Skarzysko-Kamienna, Poland. Civilian hunting and competitive shooting ammunition brand. In 2005 MESKO joined the PHZ Bumar Group, which consists of 22 manufacturing companies from the now privatized Pol'shi Promyshlennost' Oborony (PPO, "Polish Defense Industry").
  • NITRON - NITRON S.A. Krupski Mlyn, Silesia, Poland. The privatized version of Factory 343.

Portugal (24)

  • AE Arsenal do Exercito ("Army Arsenal") - Lisbon, Portugal.
  • BF Arsenal do Exercito ("Army Arsenal") - Lisbon, Portugal. A cover headstamp used by the Portuguese government on ammunition sent to Angola, Rhodesia, and South Africa during the Border War. The code was created from the headstamp AE by moving one letter to the left in the alphabet. The headstamp code faces the rim, with the letter code at 6 o'clock, the batch number at 12 o'clock, the NATO Interchangeability symbol (+) at 9 o'clock, and the 2-digit year at 3 o'clock.
  • FA Fabrica de Armas ("Arms Factory") - Portugal.
  • FCPQ Fábrica de Cartuchos e Pólvoras Quimicas ("Cartridge & Gunpowder Factory") - Chelas, Portugal.
  • FNM Fabrica Nacional de Municoes de Armas Ligeiras ("National Small Arms Munitions Factory") (1947-2001) - Lisbon, Portugal.
  • FPC Fábrica de Pólvora em Chellas ("Gunpowder Factory in Chelas") - Chelas, Portugal.

Romania (39)

  • CMC Uzinele Metalurgica di Copsa Mica si Cugir ("Metallurgical Works of Copsa Mica at Cugir") (1925-1944) - Cugir, Transylvania, Romania. Created in Paris in 1925 by investments by the Romanian government, the British firm Vickers-Armstrong, and the privatized Austrian firm UDR Co. (Uzinele de Fier si Domeniile Resita - "Resita Iron Works and Domains"), with production beginning in 1928. It made both small arms and ammunition. The Czech firm CZ-Brno replaced Vickers Armstrong in 1934 and CMC began producing ZB-30 machineguns and 7.92mm Mauser ammunition in 1935. In 1939 the Czechs' holdings in the company were taken over by Hermann Göring. Romania was taken over by a German-sponsored right-wing coup in 1940 and were German allies from 1941 to 1944. CMC made 9×19mm Parabellum and 7.92x57mm Mauser ammunition and the Orița submachine gun.

Serbia (73)

  • FOMU Fabryka Oruzja i Municje, Užice ("Weapons and Munitions Factory - Užice") (1935-1940) - Užice, Serbia, Yugoslavia.
  • PP, PPU, or ППУ Prvi Partizan Užice ("First Partizan [Factory] at Užice") (1941-Present) - Užice, Serbia. In September 24, 1941 the FOMU facility was liberated from the Germans, who had wrecked the machinery and burned down the administration building. The ammunition production machinery and tool shop were moved to an underground vault under the National Bank and the other machinery was dispersed to the surrounding towns. An explosion on November 22, 1941 that killed 130 workers forced its closure. The factory moved back to the FOMU facility in 1944. It was renamed Prvi Partizan - Užice (PPU) in September 5, 1947.

Singapore (32)

  • CHJ Chartered Industries of Singapore (1967-2000) - Singapore. The headstamp used a letter code for the date (O = 0, A = 1, etc.; "J" is used instead of "I"): the first two letters were the last two digits of the year and the third was the letter 'B' for "Berdan primed". FJ B would be 1969, GG B would be 1977, and JH would be 1998. When the company switched to Boxer primed cartridges in the 1980s, the third letter was dropped. Chartered Industries was merged with ST Kinetics in 2000.

Republic of South Africa (18)

South Africa left the Commonwealth of Nations in 1961 and was re-admitted in 1994. It remains a Republic.
NOTE: The manufacturer and last two digits of the year are on the upper arc of the stamp (e.g., WA 80 for Walter Annexe, 1980). The symbols on the lower arc of the stamp indicates the caliber (7.7mm, 5.56mm or 7.62mm) and R# or R#M# indicate the model (R) and mark (M) of the cartridge, like the Commonwealth L#A# stamp (e.g., R1M1 is the first model and second Mark of a cartridge). Later, the 2-digit year is in the 12 o'clock position and a digit in the 6 o'clock position on the headstamp indicated the load identification code.
  • A Factory A, Pretoria Metal Pressings. Pretoria, South Africa.
  • B Factory B, Pretoria Metal Pressings. Kimberly, South Africa.
  • LA Luther Annexe, Pretoria Metal Pressings. A factory named for Stephanus "'Fanie" Luther, a former PMP employee.[15] Produced mostly civilian ammo, but there was some military production during high volume orders.
  • WA Walter Annexe, Pretoria West factory, Pretoria Metal Pressings. A factory named for Allen Walter, a former PMP employee.[15] Produced military ammo.
  • PMP Pretoria Metal Pressings - A division of Denel Group.

South Korea (37)

  • KA Pusan Government Arsenal, Pusan, Republic of Korea. Manufactures military cartridges.
  • PS (Poong-San), Poongsan Metal Mfg. Co. Ltd. - Angang Ammunition Plant, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Manufactures military cartridges.
  • PSD (Poong-San - Dongrae), Poongsan Metal Mfg. Co. Ltd. - Dongrae Ammunition Plant, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Manufactures military cartridges.
  • PMC (Precision-Made Cartridges), a division of Poongsan Metal Mfg. Co. Ltd. - Seoul, Republic of Korea. Manufactures commercial cartridges. Note: The "M" in the headstamp looks like an upside-down "W".

Spain (33)

  • ENSB, SB, or SB-T Empresa Nacional Santa Barbara de Industrias Militares ("Saint Barbara National Military Industries Enterprise") (?-2001); Toledo, Spain. Later absorbed as part of General Dynamics in 2001.
  • FNP Fábrica Nacional de Palencia ("National Factory at Palencia"); Palencia, Spain. The FNP is at 12 o'clock and the 4-digit year is at 6 o'clock.
  • FN T Fábrica Nacional de Toledo ("National Factory at Toledo"); Toledo, Spain. The factory is famous for making blades for swords, knives, bayonets and razors. Ammunition was made at a separate cartridge plant at the factory complex. The FN is at 12 o'clock and the T is at 6 o'clock; the first 2 digits of the year (19) were at 9 o'clock and the last 2 digits were at 3 o'clock. Later reorganized as Empresa Nacional Santa Bárbara de Industrias Militares, part of Santa Bárbara Sistemas.
  • PS Pirotecnia Militar de Sevilla ("Military Explosives Factory at Seville"), Seville, Spain.
  • SBS Santa Bárbara Sistemas ("Saint Barbara Systems") (2001–present); Toledo, Spain. The new name for Empresa Nacional Santa Barbara de Industrias Militares since it was absorbed by General Dynamics in 2001.

Sweden (65)

Amf stands for Ammunitionsfabrik ("Ammunition Factory"). They used a royal crown at the 12 o'clock position for government-manufactured or foreign-contracted ammunition; this was left blank if it was made by a private Swedish contractor. The 2-digit year is displayed at the 9 o'clock (tens) and 3 o'clock (ones) positions, and the contractor letter or number at the 6 o'clock position. Early ammunition had a 4-digit year with the first 2 digits (thousands and hundreds) at 9 o'clock and the second 2 digits (tens and ones) at 3 o'clock. Ammunition with an E at the 12 o'clock position (which stands for Ersättning, or "Substitute") have a bimetallic cartridge-case (brass-clad steel) due to wartime economy measures during World War II.

The component manufacturers were marked on the packaging. Kbr. stood for Karlsborg and Mbr. stood for Marieborg, the government ammunition factories. Åker or Åbr. stood for Åkersberga, the government powdermill. Tillverkade ("assembled by") is the final manufacturer of the assembled cartridges; Krut ("gunpowder") is the propellant manufacturer, Hylsor ("cases") is the cartridge case manufacturer, Tändh ("primers") is the primer manufacturer, and Kulor ("balls") is the bullet manufacturer.

Parti ("Lot") is the Lot Number. The old method was made up of the 1-letter arsenal code (usually preceded by AMF), the lot number and 2-digit year of production, and the day and month of manufacture. (example: AMF K p3/43 2-3 is Amf Karlsborg - Lot #003 - 1943 - 2nd of March). The new method is made up of the 1-letter arsenal or 3-digit contractor code, 2-digit manufacturing year, and 3-digit (or larger) lot number, followed by the day and month of manufacture. (example: 02762614 24/08 is Amf 27 (ÅB Norma), 1962, Lot #614, 24th of August).

  • K Amf Karlsborg - Karlsborg, Sweden. Factory originally founded inside the Karlsborg fortress in 1870, then transferred to an external factory complex (Vanäsverken) in 1887. The letter code on the packaging was Kbg.
  • M Amf Marieberg (?-1950) - Marieberg, Stockholm, Sweden. The ammunition factory was closed in 1950 and production was transferred to FFV Zakrisdalsverken in Karlstad. The letter code on the packaging was Mbg.
  • H Hirtenberg bei Wien, Austria. Hirtenberg was home to a number of ammunition factories and Sweden had contracts with most of them. H is in the 12 o'clock position and the company headstamp (HP or KC) is at the 6 o'clock position.
  • 24 Norrhammars Bruk (AKA Husqvarna) - Norrhammars, Sweden. Only manufactured the brass cases.
  • 25 Vulcans Tändsticksfabrik - Tidaholm, Sweden.
  • 26, 026 ÅB Svenska Metallverken - Västerås, Sweden.
  • 27, 027 ÅB Norma Projektilfabrik - Åmotfors, Sweden
  • 28 Jönköpings Vestra Tändsticksfabrik - Jönköping, Sweden.
  • 29 Valtion Patruunatehdas (VPT) - Finland. Only contracted for 6.5x55mm Swedish Mauser ammunition during World War II.
  • 30 Deutschen Waffen- und Munitionsfabrik (DWM), Germany.
  • 31 Svenska Tändsticks - Jönköping, Sweden.
  • 32 Lidköpings Tändsticksfabrik - Lidköping, Sweden
  • 33 Waffenwerke Brünn (1939-1945) - Povázská Bystrica, Czechoslovakia. Only contracted for 7.92x57mm Mauser ammunition during World War II.
  • 34 Jönköpings Tändsticksfabrik, Jönköping, Sweden.
  • 35, 035 Svenska Metallverken (1954 - 1965) - Blikstorp, Sweden.
  • 070 FFV Vanäsverken (AKA Nammo/Vanäsverken) - Vanäsverken, Karlsborg, Sweden.
  • 071 FFV Zakrisdalsverken - Karlstad, Sweden.
  • 434 Bakelittfabrikken (1946-Present) - Aurskog, Norway. Acquired by the Nammo Group in 2005 and absorbed by Nammo Raufoss in 2017.
  • 583 Raufoss Ammunisjonsfabrikk (AKA Nammo/Raufoss) - Raufoss, Norway.
  • 586 Hirtenberger Patronenfabrik A.G. - Hirtenberg bei Wien, Austria
  • 599 Diehl Wehrtechnik (a division of Diehl Stiftung) - Germany.
  • 602 IVI Inc. (a division of SNC-Lavalin) - Saint-Gabriel-de-Valcartier, Canada. Only contracted for .50 BMG ammunition.
  • 613 Companhia Brasileira de Cartuchos - Santo Andre, Brazil.
  • 616 Winchester - East Alton, Illinois, USA.


  • CG Carl Gustav Gevärsfaktori (1812-Present) - Vanäsverken, Sweden. Reorganized and absorbed by FFV in 1943 and renamed FFV-Vanäsverken. Acquired by Bofors in 1991 as Bofors-Carl Gustav. Acquired by NAMMO Group in 1998 and renamed NAMMO Vanäsverken. Despite the name changes, the CG headstamp is still retained.
  • FFV Förenede Fabriksverken (1943-1991) - Karlsborg, Sweden.
  • N Nordiska Metallaktiebolaget - Västerås, Sweden. The N is at the 12 o'clock position, the 2-digit year is at the 9 o'clock (tens) and 3 o'clock (ones) positions, and the caliber is at the 6 o'clock position.
  • NORMA ÅB Norma Projektilfabrik - Amotfors, Sweden.

Foreign ammunition producers included Deutschen Waffen- und Munitionsfabrik (DWM) of Germany; Hirtenberger Patronen-, Zündhütchen- und Metallwarenfabrik A.G. (HP) and Keller & Co (KC or K&C) of Austria; Société Française des Munitions (SFM) of France; and Valtion Patruunatehdas (VPT) of Finland. The ammunition was repacked in Swedish-made packaging to keep the contractors anonymous.

Tändsticksfabrik means "Matchstick Factory". The government contracted match factories to manufacture gunpowder and pyrotechnic fillers like tracers. This was to prevent foreign supplies from being cut off due to embargo or war. It not only made Sweden self-sufficient but helped local industries by giving them government contracts.

Turkey (27)

  • MKE - Makina ve Kimya Endüstrisi Kurumu ("Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation"). Its munitions are distributed in North America by Zenith Quest International (ZQI), which owns the commercial Guardian Ammunition (GA) brand. Military ammunition corporation.

Warsaw Pact manufacturers (1955-1991)

Soviet Union

Imperial Russian Letter Code System (1860s to 1928)
  • П ТУЛЬСКИЙ З (P[atrony] Tulskiy Z[avod] > "Tula Cartridge Factory") (1880-1908) - Designated T (Factory "T") in 1908.
  • П Factory "P" (St.Petersburg Cartridge Factory) (1869-1918) - Petrograd (renamed Leningrad from 1924 to 1990), Russia. Plant closed in 1918 and machinery moved to facilities in Simbirsk (renamed Ulyanovsk in 1924) and Podolsk.
  • T Factory "T" (Tula Cartridge Factory) (1908-1941) - Tula, Tula Oblast, Russia. Designated Factory 38 in 1928. Plant closed in 1941 and machinery moved to Yuryuzan, Chelyabinsk, Russia to new facility designated Factory 38.
  • Л Factory "L" (Lugansk Cartridge Factory) (1895-1941) - Lugansk, Ukraine. Redesignated Factory 60 in 1928. Plant closed in 1941 and machinery moved to Frunze, Khirgizia, Russia to new facility designated Factory 60.
  • C Factory "S" (Simbirsk Cartridge Factory) (1919-1924) - Simbirsk (town renamed Ulyanovsk in 1924), Russia. Briefly redesignated Factory "U" from 1925 to 1927.
  • П Factory "P" (Podolsk Cartridge Factory) (1920 to 1927) - Podolsk, Moscow, Russia. Initial headstamp used in 1920 was first ППЗ (PPZ) and later ПП (PP) for Podolskiy Patronnyj Zavod ("Podolsk Cartridge Factory"). Changed to П (Factory "P") in 1921. Redesignated Factory 17 in 1928. Plant closed and its machinery moved to Barnaul, Altai Krai, Russia in 1941.
  • У Factory "U" (Ulyanovsk Cartridge Factory) (1925-1927) - Ulyanovsk, Ulyanovsk Oblast, Russia. Redesignated ЗВ ("ZV", Zavod Volodarskogo) in 1928.
  • ЗВ "ZV" (Zavod Volodarskogo > "Factory [named for] Volodarsky") (1928 to 1941) - Ulyanovsk, Russia. Redesignated Factory 3 in 1928 but used the ЗВ ("ZV") headstamp until 1942.
Soviet Russian Number Code System (1928 to 1990s)

The headstamp is the factory code number at 12 o'clock and the last two two digits of the year of manufacture at 6 o'clock.

Bulgaria (50)

Bulgaria is now a NATO member. It often manufactures ammunition for other NATO partners.

  • ((10)) Factory 10 (1947–present) - Kazanlak, Bulgaria. Manufactured ammunition and clips. A double ring was added around the number so that it would not be confused with the defunct Russian Factory 10 ammo plant. It was named the Universal Industrial Plant “Friedrich Engels" from 1964 to 1977 and the “Fridrikh Engels" Machine-Building Plant from 1977 to 1989. It was privatized as Arsenal JSCo in 1989.
  • B, BAO, or Д В Ф (DVF) Durjava Voenna Fabrika ("State Military Factory") (1924 - 1947) - Kazanlak, Bulgaria. Also started manufacturing commercial and agricultural products from 1944.

Czechoslovakia

Czechoslovakia declared independence from Austro-Hungary in 1918. It was divided into the Czech and Slovak Republics in 1993.

Czechoslovakia - Pre-War (1918-1939)
  • (M) Československé Muniční a Kovodělné Závody A.S. ("Czechoslovakian Munitions and Metalworking Factories") (1934-1946) - Bratislava, Czechoslovakia. The nationalized Roth factory. The "M" headstamp is embossed in either a full- or half-circle.
  • S&B Sellier & Bellot (1825-Present) - Prague, Czechoslovakia. On the headstamp the "S&B" is at the 12 o'clock position.
  • SB-P Sellier & Bellot - Prague - Prague, Czechoslovakia. Manufacturing moved to Vlasim in the mid-1920s but the international headquarters remained in Prague. On the headstamp the "SB" is at 12 o'clock and the "P" is at 6 o'clock.
  • SB-R Sellier & Bellot - Riga (1884-1940) - Krusenhof, Riga, Latvia. A satellite factory set up for sales to Northern Europe and the Baltic region. On the headstamp the "SB" is at 12 o'clock and the "R" is at 6 o'clock. It manufactured 7,92mm Mauser and .303 British military ammunition. It was bought out in 1937 by Vairogs (Latvian > "Shield"), a Latvian train-car manufacturing company (formerly Fenikss (Latvian > "Phoenix") until 1936) that had diversified into automobile production. It was later seized and nationalized by the Soviet Union in 1940 and renamed Factory 520. It manufactured 7.62x54mmR M91 Russian rifle ammunition. The machinery was evacuated to Sverdlovsk in 1941 but was returned in 1943/1944.
  • SB-S Sellier & Bellot - Schönebeck (1829-1922) - Schönebeck, Germany. A satellite factory set up for sales to Northern Europe. Sold to the Steyr-Werke A.G. in Vienna in 1922.
  • SB-Schönebeck Sellier & Bellot - Schönebeck (1922-1945) - Schönebeck, Germany. Production was initially by Steyr-Werke A.G. and a group of other Austrian investors. It was eventually bought out by senior investor Fritz Mandl of Hirtenberger A.G. The plant was confiscated from Mandl by the German government in 1933 because he was a Jew. It was then owned by Rheinmetall from 1933-1945.
  • O SB O Sellier & Bellot - Vlašim, Prague, Czechoslovakia. On the headstamp the "O"s (often referred to as "rosettes") are at the 3- and 9-o'clock positions and the SB is at the 12 o'clock position.
Czechoslovakia - German Occupation (1938-1945)
  • dou Waffenwerke Brünn A.-G., Werk Povázská Bystrica (1939-1945) - Povazska Bystrica, Czechoslovakia.
Czechoslovakia - Cold War (1945-1990)
  • PS Povazske Strojarne ("Factory at Povazska") (1946-1952) - Povazska Bystrica, Czechoslovakia (now Slovakia). The renamed National Ammunition Plant after its move from Bratislava.
  • UXA, UX (1946-1949) - Unknown. Sterile ammunition provided to communist clients like the early Israeli state (c.1947-1948). Spurious headstamp dates are 4, 44, and 45 - making it look like they were made during the latter days of the German occupation (1939-1945).
  • ZV Zbrojova Vlašim ("Vlašim Armory") - Vlašim, Czechoslovakia. Zbrojova Vlašim was the nationalized name for the Sellier & Bellot plant in Prague from 1945 to 1990.
  • aym Povazske Strojarne (1952-1998) - Povazska Bystrica, Czechoslovakia.
  • bxn Zbrojova Vlašim - Vlašim, Czechoslovakia.

Yugoslavia

  • 11 Factory 11 (Prvi Partizanki zavod ad Uzice) (1948-1956) - Uzice, Yugoslavia (now Serbia). Cover headstamp briefly used for ППУ. Headstamp had the code number at 9 o'clock, 5-point Communist Star at 12 o'clock, 2-digit Year at 3 o'clock, and a dot at 6 o'clock.
  • 12 Factory 12 (Igman zavod ad Konjic) (1952-1955) - Konjic, Yugoslavia (now Bosnia-Herzegovina). Cover headstamp briefly used for ИК. Headstamp had the code number at 9 o'clock, 5-point Communist Star at 12 o'clock, 2-digit Year at 3 o'clock, and a dot at 6 o'clock.
  • ИК, IK Igman zavod ad Konjic ("Igman Factory at Konjic") - Konjic, Yugoslavia (now Bosnia-Herzegovina).
  • ППУ (PPU) Prvi Partizanki zavod ad Užice ("First Partisan" Ammunition Plant) (1945–Present) - Užice, Yugoslavia (now Serbia).
  • В Т Ӡ (V T Z) Vojno Teknicki Zavod ("Military Technical Institute") (1853-1941; 1944-1992) - Kragujevac, Yugoslavia (now Serbia). Began as a cannon foundry and pyrotechnics laboratory in 1853. The Laboratory was spun off to manufacture munitions and pyrotechnics from 1883 to 1941. Production was halted during World War II from 1941 to 1944 due to the German occupation and again briefly in 1991 during the Yugoslavian Civil War. It is now focused on artillery ammunition and explosives manufacture. The headstamp had the В at 9 o'clock, T at 12 o'clock and Ӡ at 3 o'clock, with the two-digit year at 6 o'clock.
  • МБЛ (MBL) Milan Blagojevic namenska ad Lucani (“Milan Blajojevic memorial [plant] at Lucani") (1949–Present) - Lucani, Moravica, Yugoslavia (now Serbia). Chemical plant that manufactures propellants, primers, and explosives. It is named after Serbian partisan and war hero Milan Blagojević (also written as Milan Blagojev or Miloje Blagojevic). The МБЛ acronym is found as the propellant supplier on the cartridge packaging.

Caribbean manufacturers

Cuba

Early Cuban ammunition didn't use a headstamp code until the late 1970s.

South American manufacturers

Argentina (29)

  • FLB, FMFLB Fábrica Militar Fray Luís Beltran (Military Factory - "Brother Louis Beltran") (1961-Present) - San Lorenzo, Argentina. A military supply and ammunition factory named after a friar who took care of General José de San Martín's wounded after the Battle of San Lorenzo. The headstamp has the caliber on the upper arc. The lower arc contains the factory's initials flanked by the two-digit month on the left side and the last two digits of the production year on the right side (e.g., 03FLB82 means March-Fabrica Militar Frey Luis Beltran-1982).
  • FM Fabrica de Munición para Armas Portátiles ("Small Arms Munitions Factory") (1935-1937) - San Lorenzo, Argentina. A military cartridge factory that was originally on the grounds of the San Lorenzo Arsenal cantonment. It was built between 1933 and 1935 with machinery and technical aid from Fritz Werner Manufacturing. It was separated into its own facilities in 1936 and was made part of the Dirección de Fabricas Militares del Ejercito Argentino ("Argentinean Army - Directorate of Military Manufacturing"). Its name was changed to Fabrica Militar de Municion de Armas Portatiles de Puerto Borghi in 1937.
  • FMC-SL Fábrica Militar de Cartuchos de San Lorenzo (Military Cartridge Factory at San Lorenzo) (1950-1955) - San Lorenzo, Argentina.
  • FMSL Fábrica Militar de San Lorenzo (1955-1961) - A merger of the Fábrica Militar de Cartuchos de San Lorenzo and Fabrica Militar de Munición de Artillería. The previous name of Fábrica Militar Fray Luís Beltran.
  • SF, FMSF Fábrica Militar de Cartuchos de San Francisco (Military Cartridge Factory at San Francisco) - San Francisco, Córdoba, Argentina.
  • FMMAP-B Fabrica [Argentina] Militar de Municion de Armas Portatiles de Puerto Borghi (1937-1950) - Puerto Borghi, San Lorenzo, Argentina.
  • FMMAP-DM Fabrica Militar de Municion de Armas Portátiles "Domingo Matheu" de Rosario ("Military Factory for Munitions for Small Arms at Rosario") (1942-?) - Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina.
  • FMMAP-SF Fabrica [Argentina] Militar de Municion de Armas Portatiles de San Francisco ("Military Factory for Small Arms Ammunition at San Francisco") - San Francisco, Córdoba, Argentina.
  • IMPA Industria Metalurgica y Plastica Argentina (1961-Present) - The co-operative briefly made cartridge cases for the military.
  • ORBEA Cartucheria Orbea (1906-?) - Buenos Aires, Argentina. Private Spanish ammunition manufacturer (Orbea Hermanos y Cía.) originally headquartered in Eibar, Spain.

Brazil (19)

Chile (52)

Colombia (80)

Paraguay

  • F D FAMAE & DIMABEL. Made in Chile by FAMAE for the Paraguayan Armed Forces' Armaments Directorate (Direccion de Material Belico - DIMABEL).
    NOTE: On its headstamp, F is in the 9 o'clock position and D is in the 3 o'clock position; the 2-digit year is at the 6 o'clock position and the metric caliber (7.62×51mm, 9×19mm) is at the 12 o'clock position.
  • IMP Industrias Militares de Paraguay ("Military Industries of Paraguay"), a division of DIMABEL - Piribebuy, Paraguay (1988-1993; 1995–present). Originally set up with Fabrique National equipment and assistance; reformed and reorganized with help from FAMAE from 1993 to 1995. It manufactures small arms ammunition and owns the Yaguareté (Guarani > "Jaguar") civilian ammo brand.
  • ##MDRP Ministerio de Defencia, Republica Del Paraguay ("Ministry of Defense, Republic of Paraguay"). Made in France by Gevelot / Société Française des Munitions and in Israel by IMI, supposedly for the Paraguayan military. Some ammunition with this headstamp was seized before it could be diverted to South Africa in violation of the arms embargo. Headstamp has the 2-digit year of production in front of it. Gevelot-made ammunition was Berdan-primed and IMI-made ammunition was Boxer-primed.

Venezuela

  • CAVIM Compañía Anónima Venezolana de Industrias Militares ("Venezuelan Military Industries Limited Company") - Caracas, Venezuela. (1975–present) The headstamp follows ComBloc pattern with CAVIM at 6 o'clock and the 2-digit year of production at 12 o'clock.
  • VEN Ministerio de la Defensa, Servicio de Armamento, Arsenal y Fábrica de Municiones ("Ministry of Defense, Armaments Service, Arsenal and Munitions Factory") - Caracas, Venezuela.

African manufacturers

Burkina Faso

  • SIVAM Societe Industrielle Voltaique d'Armes et Munitions ("Industrial Society for Arms and Munitions of the Volta ") - Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

Nigeria

Nigeria produces its own .303 British, 7.62 x 51mm NATO, and 9 x 19mm Parabellum cartridges. The cartridges are made using ammunition equipment sold by Fritz Werner Manufacturing, which is why the headstamp's font and markings look German-made. .303 British was phased out for 7.62mm NATO since the mid-1960s. 7.62x39mm Soviet production will supplement (or could even replace) 7.62mm NATO in the near future. The headstamps have 3-letter codes (OFN and AFN) but the packaging has 2-letter codes (OF or AF). It also made licensed copies of the Mills M36M handgrenade, Beretta M12 submachinegun, Beretta BM59 and FN FAL battle rifles, and FN MAG machinegun. A copy of the AK-47 assault rifle is produced for the Security Service.

  • AFN Ammunition Factory of Nigeria (1986-Present) - Kaduna, Nigeria.
  • OFN Ordnance Factory of Nigeria (1964 - 1986) - Kaduna, Nigeria. The Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICoN) was set up by Act of Parliament in 1964. The Ordnance Factory was designed, laid-out, and set up within the year by Fritz Werner Manufacturing. After the end of the Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970), the factory diversified to produce civilian items like rural water supply equipment, industrial spare parts, and furniture.

Zimbabwe

  • Z28 Unknown factory - Zimbabwe.
  • ZI Zimbabwe Defense Industries - Harare, Zimbabwe City, Zimbabwe. Headstamp has the 2-digit production year at 12-o'clock and ZI at 6-o'clock. It sold surplus military ammunition under the civilian Cheetah brand through Vector Arms, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA from 1993 to 2005.

Central Asian Manufacturers

Uzbekistan

  • 601 Factory 601 (Vostok Cartridge Plant) (2002 - ?) - Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Set up began after independence in 1999 - with full production commencing in 2002. The loading machinery was provided by Manhurin and the packing machinery was subcontracted out to a German firm. On the headstamp, the factory number "601" is at 12 o'clock, the 2-digit year of production is at 6 o'clock, and an eight-point star is at 9 o'clock. The ammo code letter is at 3 o'clock; this is in the Cyrillic alphabet for export within the former Soviet sphere and Warsaw Pact. Early test-batch cartridges were made with Latinate letters and might be used for domestic production (as Uzbekistan uses both alphabets) and commercial sales to Europe and the Americas. A ("A") stands for 7,62x39mm M43 Soviet and is packed in 30-round cartons. б ("B") stands for 7,62x54mmR M91 Russian and is packed in 20-round cartons. Ц ("C") stands for 5,45x39mm M74 Soviet and is packed in 30-round cartons. Д ("D") stands for 9x18mm Makarov and is packed in 16-round plastic trays in 16-round cartons. E ("E") stands for 9x19mm Parabellum and is packed in plastic trays in 90-round cartons. The Vostok company logo on the packaging is a Cyrillic letter B ("V", for Vostok) with a shooting star in its stem. Some of its ammunition has been found in Sellier & Bellot packaging and sold in Europe.

East Asian manufacturers

China

NORINCO (North Industries Corporation - Beijing, People's Republic of China. Operates several state arsenals that produce weapons and munitions for both the military and civilian markets. Ammunition headstamp has the arsenal number at 12 o'clock and the last 2 digits of the year of manufacture at 6 o'clock. From 1912 to 1950 the communist Chinese used the Republican calendar, which numbered the years from the Xinhai Revolution of 1911 rather than the Western Anno Domini / Common Era. The following are arsenals known to exist before 1979.

  • 11 State Factory 11 - Mudanjiang, Heilongjiang province, People's Republic of China.
  • 31 or 031 State Factory 31 -
  • 41 State Factory 41 -
  • 51 or 051 State Factory 51
  • 61 State Factory 61 (Long Jiang Special Equipment Company, Ltd.) - Harbin, Heilongjiang province, People's Republic of China.
  • 71 State Factory 71 -
  • 81 State Factory 81

Headstamps 1, 101, 111, 121, 131, 201, 211, 221, 141, 301, 311, 351, 391, 501 / 0501, 651, 661, 821, 846, 911, 964, 6201, 6202, 6203, 9121, and 9141 are confirmed as Chinese, while 451, 671 and 946 are unconfirmed. They are either a subterfuge method to conceal the actual locations and numbers of Chinese arsenals (e.g., 946 as a cover headstamp for State Factory 964) or a designation for annexes attached to an arsenal (i.e., 311 is an annex of State Factory 11 or State Factory 31).

  • 121 Heilongjiang North Tool Factory - Mudanjiang, Heilongjiang province, People's Republic of China.
  • 791 Changjiang Electric Industry Group Co., Ltd. - Chongqing independent municipality, (formerly part of Sichuan province), People's Republic of China. The former Nationalist Arsenal 10 at Chongqing. It also uses the former Chongqing Arsenal "Double Ring" symbol on civilian sport ammunition.

Japan (30)

  • P##S Showa Kinzoku Ltd. - Tokyo, Japan. The ## symbol stands for the last two digits of the year of manufacture (P54S would mean 1954 production). The P prefix stands for "Police" contract ammunition.
  • TE Toyo Seiki Manufacturing Company, Limited - Tokyo, Japan.
  • TS or TOYO Toyo Seiki Manufacturing Company, Limited - Japan.

Taiwan (?)

Taiwan dates are calculated from 1912, the year the KMT government came into power, rather than the Western Anno Domini / Common Era date system.

  • 60A Arsenal 60.
  • TAA 205th Arsenal, Material Production Center, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. A sub-contractor that manufactures 5.56mm NATO and 7.62mm NATO cartridges for General Dynamics.[17]

South-East Asian manufacturers

Indonesia (45)

  • AD Pabrik Alat Peralatan TNI Angkatan Darat (Pabal AD, "Army Tool and Equipment Factory") (1958-1962) - Bandung, West Java, Indonesia.
  • PSM Pabrik Senjata dan Mesiu ("Weapons and Munitions Factory") (1950 to 1958) - Bandung, West Java, Indonesia. The Javanese name for the Dutch Leger Productie Bedrijven ("Military Production Facilities") (1947-1950) - ceded to Indonesia in 1950. It was renamed to Pabrik Alat Peralatan Angkatan Darat (Pabal AD, "Army Tool and Equipment Factory") in 1958 and came under the control of the Army.
  • P, PINDAD, or PIN PT. PINDAD (Persero) (1962-Present) - Turen, Malang, East Java, Indonesia. Pabrik Alat Peralatan TNI Angkatan Darat was renamed PT. PINDAD (Perindustrian Angkatan Darat, "Army Industries") in 1962. PINDAD was briefly renamed KOPINDAD (Komando Perindustrian TNI, Angkatan Darat, "Army Industries Command") in 1972 but reverted to PINDAD in 1976. It was made into a State-Owned Enterprise in 1983. PINDAD was under management by PT. Badan Pengelola Industri Strategis (Persero) from 1989 until 1998, when BPIS was disbanded. BPIS was restructured as PT Bahana Pakarya Industri Strategis (Persero) in 1999, then was dissolved in 2002. From 2003 PT. PINDAD (Persero) came under the direct control of the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises.

Malaysia (34)

Philippines (46)

See also

References

  1. ↑ Sharpe, Philip B. Complete Guide to Handloading (1953) Funk & Wagnalls p.75
  2. ↑ Davis, William C., Jr. Handloading (1981) National Rifle Association p.21
  3. 1 2 3 The Tell-Tale Dash: James Files and the Dented Cartridge Case by Allan Eaglesham
  4. 1 2 3 [Small-Caliber Ammunition Identification Guide (U) Volume 1 (DST-1160G-514-81-Vol1)
  5. 1 2 A
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Australian Military Headstamps (1939-1945)
  7. 1 2 Hendon Ammunition Factory
  8. 1 2 Davis, William C., Jr. Handloading (1981) National Rifle Association p.12
  9. ↑ Canadian Encyclopedia Dominion Arsenal
  10. 1 2 3 4 Shannon Municipality History (Page 2)
  11. ↑ International Ammunition Association forum Canadian DI headstamp on 303 and 9x19 cases
  12. ↑ Canada Companies Info: Canadian Arsenals Ltd.
  13. ↑ Cartridge Headstamps Canada
  14. 1 2 The Ayalon Institute: Kibbutzim Hill by Yael Zisling Archived 2013-10-16 at the Wayback Machine.
  15. 1 2 IAA Forums > South African "WA" headstamp 7.62 x 51
  16. ↑
  17. ↑ Battle Over Bullets By Scott Barancik. St. Petersburg Times. Published April 12, 2007
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