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For the past year or so I have be compiling Winchester and Western 44-40 ammo box date codes. These ink stamp codes are located on the inside of one of the flaps of each box. I began this endeavor to better date when box designs were offered/superseded from one design to the next. Although there can be a transition period, most changes are complete in just a few weeks.

The date inside the stamp code is basically a consistent "LLNN" on post 1940's boxes, meaning a Letter/Letter/Number/Number. The pre-1940s are coded but the format is a tad different. I didn't break this code, but using the translation to try and put a huge dent in the 44-40 box packing dates.

Anyhow, here is the link to the 44-40 date code spreadsheet for all to enjoy. If you have any 44-40 boxes lying around, do share the codes so we can get them added to the data.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... 1860800684

Here is an example: CC42

For those that do like to collect old ammo boxes, these date codes apply to all Winchester and Western ammo boxes. Here is what the list looks like so far just for the 44-40 ammo. This is nowhere near a complete packaging date line, but is all I have been able to document so far. The dates are separated by box label designs.
Here is the link again for the google doc file
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... 1860800684