HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

A headstamp is the markings on the bottom of a
cartridge Cartridge may refer to: Objects * Cartridge (firearms), a type of modern ammunition * ROM cartridge, a removable component in an electronic device * Cartridge (respirator), a type of filter used in respirators Other uses * Cartridge (surname), a ...
case designed for a firearm. It usually tells who manufactured the case. Military headstamps usually have only the year of manufacture . A letter, number, or alphanumeric code indicates the place of manufacture: Other codes may indicate metal suppliers (like France or The Netherlands) or the percentage of copper 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. * AO or KS
Allegheny Ordnance Plant Allegheny, Alleghany or Allegany may refer to: Places Geologic and geographic features * Allegheny River, in Pennsylvania and New York * Allegheny Mountains, part of the Appalachian Mountain Range in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Vir ...
(
Kelly Springfield The Kelly-Springfield Tire Company was an American manufacturer of tires for motor vehicles, it was founded in Springfield, Ohio by Edwin Kelly and Arthur Grant in 1894. It was acquired in 1935 by the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, who main ...
) (1943–1945) –
Cumberland, Maryland Cumberland is a U.S. city in and the county seat of Allegany County, Maryland. It is the primary city of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the 2020 census, the city had a population of 19,076. Located on the Potomac River, ...
; Operated by Kelly-Springfield Tire Co., a division of Goodyear Rubber. Conversion back to rubber tire production began in 1944. * CB Curtis Bay Ordnance Depot (CBOD) (1917–1957) –
Baltimore, Maryland Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, and List of United States cities by popula ...
. Used to store, examine, overhaul, and repack ammunition. * DEN Denver Ordnance Plant (1941–1945) –
Denver, Colorado Denver () is a consolidated city and county, the capital, and most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Its population was 715,522 at the 2020 census, a 19.22% increase since 2010. It is the 19th-most populous city in the Unit ...
: a division of Remington Arms. * DM Des Moines Ordnance Plant (January 1942 to July 1945) –
Des Moines, Iowa Des Moines () is the capital and the most populous city in the U.S. state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small part of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines, ...
: a division of US Rubber Co. * EC Evansville Ordnance Plant (Chrysler) (June 1942 to April 1944) –
Evansville, Indiana Evansville is a city in, and the county seat of, Vanderburgh County, Indiana, United States. The population was 118,414 at the 2020 census, making it the state's third-most populous city after Indianapolis and Fort Wayne, the largest city in ...
: a division of Chrysler-Plymouth. They manufactured brass-cased ammunition. From 1943 to 1944 it manufactured steel-cased .45 ACP ammunition. * ECS Evansville Ordnance Plant (Chrysler-Sunbeam) (1942–1944) –
Evansville, Indiana Evansville is a city in, and the county seat of, Vanderburgh County, Indiana, United States. The population was 118,414 at the 2020 census, making it the state's third-most populous city after Indianapolis and Fort Wayne, the largest city in ...
: a division of Sunbeam Electric Manufacturing Company. Chrysler bought the plant to keep up with demand. It loaded cartridges made at the Evansville-Chrysler plant across town and then packed them in shipping crates for shipment. In November, 1943 it was the first plant to package ammo in vacuum-packed metal cans. In the Spring and Summer of 1944 it was employed in inspecting and repacking .45 ACP and .30 Carbine ammunition. * EW Eau Claire Ordnance Plant (August 1942 to December 1943) –
Eau Claire, Wisconsin Eau Claire (; ) (French for "clear water") is a city mostly located in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin, of which it is the county seat, and with a small portion in Chippewa County, Wisconsin. It had a population of 69,421 in 2020, making it the stat ...
a division of US Rubber Co. * FA
Frankford Arsenal The Frankford Arsenal is a former United States Army ammunition plant located adjacent to the Bridesburg neighborhood of Northeast Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, north of the original course of Frankford Creek. History Opened in 1816 on of land p ...
(1816–1977) –
Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, largest city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the List of United States cities by population, sixth-largest city i ...
. * HAW
Hawthorne Naval Ammunition Depot Hawthorne Army Depot (HWAD) is a U.S. Army Joint Munitions Command ammunition storage depot located near the town of Hawthorne in western Nevada in the United States. It is directly south of Walker Lake. The depot covers or 226 sq. mi. and ...
(1926–1977) – Hawthorne, Nevada, USA. * HW- ''Hawthorne Army Ammunition Plant'' (1977–present) – Hawthorne Nevada, USA. From 1977 to 1992 it was designated the ''Hawthorne Army Ammunition Plant'' (HWAAP) and from 1992–present it was redesignated the ''Hawthorne Army Ammunition Depot'' (HWAD). * KOP Kingsbury Ordnance Plant (1941–1945; 1950–1959) –
Kingsbury, Indiana Kingsbury is a town in Washington Township, LaPorte County, Indiana, just northwest of the intersection of U.S. Route 35 and U.S. Route 6. The town was founded in 1835 and incorporated on March 3, 1941. During 1940 - 1941, the Kingsbury Ordnance ...
. * LC Lake City Ordnance Plant (operated by Remington Arms) (1941–1945; 1951-Present) –
Independence, Missouri Independence is the fifth-largest city in Missouri and the county seat of Jackson County. Independence is a satellite city of Kansas City, Missouri, and is the largest suburb on the Missouri side of the Kansas City metropolitan area. In 2020, ...
; A sub-contractor originally owned by Remington Arms. It is currently owned by the US Government and operated by Northrop Grumman Innovative Systems. * LM Lowell Ordnance Plant (1942–1943) –
Lowell, Massachusetts Lowell () is a city in Massachusetts, in the United States. Alongside Cambridge, It is one of two traditional seats of Middlesex County. With an estimated population of 115,554 in 2020, it was the fifth most populous city in Massachusetts as of ...
* LOD Letterkenny Ordnance Depot (1942–present) –
Letterkenny Letterkenny ( ga, Leitir Ceanainn , meaning 'hillside of the O'Cannons'), nicknamed 'the Cathedral Town', is the largest and most populous town in County Donegal, a county in Ulster, the northern province in Ireland. Letterkenny lies on the R ...
,
Franklin County, Pennsylvania Franklin County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 155,932 Its county seat is Chambersburg. Franklin County comprises the Chambersburg–Waynesboro, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area, whi ...
. It was renamed Letterkenny Army Depot in August 1962. * LOP
Louisiana Army Ammunition Plant The Louisiana Army Ammunition Plant, formerly known as the Louisiana Ordnance Plant or as The Shell Plant, is an inactive plant to load, assemble and pack ammunitions items. During production from 1942 to 1994, the Army disposed of untreated ex ...
(1942–1996) – Doyline,
Webster Parish, Louisiana Webster Parish (French: ''Paroisse de Webster'') is a parish located in the northwestern section of the U.S. state of Louisiana. The seat of the parish is Minden. As of the 2010 census, the Webster Parish population was 41,207. In 2018, the ...
, USA. * LS
Lone Star Army Ammunition Plant The Lone Star Army Ammunition Plant was a government-owned, contractor-operated ( GOCO) facility 12 miles west of Texarkana, Texas that was established in 1942. The land was purchased from local citizens through Eminent Domain by the United Stat ...
(1941–2009) – Texarkana, Texas, USA. * M Milwaukee Ordnance Plant (August 1942 to December 1943) –
Milwaukee, Wisconsin Milwaukee ( ), officially the City of Milwaukee, is both the most populous and most densely populated city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, Milwaukee County. With a population of 577,222 at th ...
: Operated by US Rubber Co. * P, PC, PCC Kings Mills Ordnance Plant (
Peters Cartridge Company The Peters Cartridge Company was a company located along the Little Miami River in Kings Mills, Ohio, which specialized in gunpowder and ammunition production. Founded in 1887 by Gershom Moore Peters, the company supplied military ammunition to va ...
) (1942–1944) –
Kings Mills, Ohio Kings Mills is a census-designated place in the southwestern corner of Deerfield Township, Warren County, Ohio, United States, on the western shore of the Little Miami River. Located along I-71 twenty miles northeast of Cincinnati, it is less ...
: A sub-contractor owned by Remington Arms from 1934 to March, 1944. It was converted to only produce .30 Carbine ammunition in 1943 and produced more than Lake City by 1944. It was closed down in March, 1944 to consolidate production at more centrally-located plants. The site was converted to press vinyl 78rpm records for Columbia Records from 1944 to 1949. It was then used for storage from 1949 to 1968. * PBA
Pine Bluff Arsenal The Pine Bluff Arsenal is a United States Army installation in Jefferson County, Arkansas, about eight miles northwest of Pine Bluff and thirty miles southeast of Little Rock. Pine Bluff Arsenal is one of nine Army installations in the United ...
(1941–present) – Pine Bluff, Arkansas, USA. * ROP Redstone Ordnance Plant
Huntsville, Alabama Huntsville is a city in Madison County, Limestone County, and Morgan County, Alabama, United States. It is the county seat of Madison County. Located in the Appalachian region of northern Alabama, Huntsville is the most populous city in ...
(1941–1949). Combined with the Huntsville Depot facility to form Redstone Arsenal in 1949. * SL St. Louis Ordnance Plant (November 1941 to June 1945) –
St. Louis, Missouri St. Louis () is the second-largest city in Missouri, United States. It sits near the confluence of the Mississippi and the Missouri Rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a population of 301,578, while the bi-state metropolitan area, which e ...
. * TW Twin Cities Ordnance Plant (1942–1945; 1950–1957; 1965–1976; 2002–2005) –
Minneapolis Minneapolis () is the largest city in Minnesota, United States, and the county seat of Hennepin County. The city is abundant in water, with thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks and waterfalls. Minneapolis has its origins ...
. * U or UT Utah Ordnance Plant (March 1942 to December 1943) –
Salt Lake City Salt Lake City (often shortened to Salt Lake and abbreviated as SLC) is the capital and most populous city of Utah, United States. It is the seat of Salt Lake County, the most populous county in Utah. With a population of 200,133 in 2020, th ...
; a division of Remington Arms.


Civilian contractors

* FC or FCC Federal Cartridge Corporation (1917-?) –
Anoka, Minnesota Anoka ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Anoka County, Minnesota, United States. Its population was 17,142 at the 2010 census. Anoka is the "Halloween Capital of the World" because it hosted one of the first Halloween parades in 1920. It ...
Davis, William C. Jr. ''Handloading'' (1981) National Rifle Association p.21 * NC National Brass & Copper Tube Co. (1917–1918) –
Hastings-on-Hudson, New York Hastings-on-Hudson is a village in Westchester County located in the southwestern part of the town of Greenburgh in the state of New York, United States. It is located on the eastern bank of the Hudson River, approximately north of midtown Manh ...
. Manufactured .303 British ammunition during World War I. * OMF Saint Marks Powder Co. (''A division of Olin-Mossberg'') – Saint Marks, Crawfordville, Florida. * RA
Remington Arms Company Remington Arms Company, LLC was an American manufacturer of firearms and ammunition, now broken into two companies, each bearing the Remington name. The firearms manufacturer is ''Remington Arms''. The ammunition business is called ''Remingto ...
Bridgeport, Connecticut * RA H
Remington Arms Company Remington Arms Company, LLC was an American manufacturer of firearms and ammunition, now broken into two companies, each bearing the Remington name. The firearms manufacturer is ''Remington Arms''. The ammunition business is called ''Remingto ...
Hoboken, New Jersey Hoboken ( ; Unami: ') is a city in Hudson County in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 U.S. census, the city's population was 60,417. The Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program calculated that the city's population was 58,690 i ...
. * RHA Co. Robin Hood Ammunition Company (?-1915; 1915–1917) – Swanton, Vermont. Bought out by Remington in 1915 (becoming Remington-UMC Swanton but retaining the old headstamp) when it received a wartime contract to produce rifle ammunition for the French government. The French-style headstamp has the yearly quarter before the 4-digit year (e.g., 4-1917 would mean 4th Quarter (October, November and December), 1917). * US United States Cartridge Company (1867–1926) –
Lowell, Massachusetts Lowell () is a city in Massachusetts, in the United States. Alongside Cambridge, It is one of two traditional seats of Middlesex County. With an estimated population of 115,554 in 2020, it was the fifth most populous city in Massachusetts as of ...
. Manufactured .303 British ammunition during World War I. * TZ ''Texas Foundries Inc.'' (1976–present) – Lufkin, Texas. * W, WC, or WCC
Western Cartridge Company The Western Cartridge Company is an American manufacturer of small arms and ammunition that is based in East Alton, Illinois. Founded in 1898, it was the forerunner of the Olin Corporation, formed in 1944, of which Western is still a subsidiary. ...
East Alton, Illinois East Alton is a village in Madison County, Illinois, United States. The population was 6,301 at the 2010 census. History East Alton was incorporated as a village in 1893 (some say 1894). William Cobb, namesake of Cobb Street, was one of the fir ...
Manufactured .30-'06 Springfield ammunition during World War I and World War II. * WRA
Winchester Repeating Arms Company The Winchester Repeating Arms Company was a prominent American manufacturer of repeating firearms and ammunition. The firm was established in 1866 by Oliver Winchester and was located in New Haven, Connecticut. The firm went into receivership ...
(''a division of Western Cartridge Company'') –
New Haven, Connecticut New Haven is a city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. It is located on New Haven Harbor on the northern shore of Long Island Sound in New Haven County, Connecticut and is part of the New York City metropolitan area. With a population of 134 ...
Manufactured .30-'06 Springfield and .303 British ammunition during World Wars I and II and .30 Carbine and .45 ACP ammunition during World War II.


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. *
Western Cartridge Company The Western Cartridge Company is an American manufacturer of small arms and ammunition that is based in East Alton, Illinois. Founded in 1898, it was the forerunner of the Olin Corporation, formed in 1944, of which Western is still a subsidiary. ...
East Alton, Illinois East Alton is a village in Madison County, Illinois, United States. The population was 6,301 at the 2010 census. History East Alton was incorporated as a village in 1893 (some say 1894). William Cobb, namesake of Cobb Street, was one of the fir ...
: * F Federal Cartridge Corporation
Anoka, Minnesota Anoka ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Anoka County, Minnesota, United States. Its population was 17,142 at the 2010 census. Anoka is the "Halloween Capital of the World" because it hosted one of the first Halloween parades in 1920. It ...
* H
Winchester Repeating Arms Company The Winchester Repeating Arms Company was a prominent American manufacturer of repeating firearms and ammunition. The firm was established in 1866 by Oliver Winchester and was located in New Haven, Connecticut. The firm went into receivership ...
New Haven, Connecticut New Haven is a city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. It is located on New Haven Harbor on the northern shore of Long Island Sound in New Haven County, Connecticut and is part of the New York City metropolitan area. With a population of 134 ...
: * P, PCCo or PETERS
Peters Cartridge Company The Peters Cartridge Company was a company located along the Little Miami River in Kings Mills, Ohio, which specialized in gunpowder and ammunition production. Founded in 1887 by Gershom Moore Peters, the company supplied military ammunition to va ...
Kings Mills, Ohio Kings Mills is a census-designated place in the southwestern corner of Deerfield Township, Warren County, Ohio, United States, on the western shore of the Little Miami River. Located along I-71 twenty miles northeast of Cincinnati, it is less ...
: * R-P Remington-Peters –
Lonoke Lonoke () is the second most populous city in Lonoke County, Arkansas, United States, and serves as its county seat. According to 2010 United States Census, the population of the city is 4,245. It is part of the Little Rock–North Little R ...
,
Arkansas Arkansas ( ) is a landlocked state in the South Central United States. It is bordered by Missouri to the north, Tennessee and Mississippi to the east, Louisiana to the south, and Texas and Oklahoma to the west. Its name is from the O ...
(1970–present). Lonoke facility only produced centerfire ammo from 1970; took over rimfire production from Bridgeport in 1989.The Tell-Tale Dash: James Files and the Dented Cartridge Case by Allan Eaglesham
/ref> * R--P Remington Peters – Bridgeport, Connecticut (1960–1989). Bridgeport facility only produced rimfire ammo from 1970, then finally closed down in 1989. * REM-UMC Remington-Union Metallic Cartridge – Bridgeport, Connecticut (1911–1960). Renamed ''Remington-Peters'' in 1960. * U
Union Metallic Cartridge Company The Union Metallic Cartridge Company (UMC) was an early manufacturer of cartridge ammunition for small arms. The company was founded in 1867 during the most rapid evolution of cartridge design to date. Following merger with Remington Arms in 1912, ...
Bridgeport, Connecticut (1873–1911): Merged with Remington Arms in 1911, but still used the "U" headstamp for shotgun shells and rimfire cartridges. * U.S.C.Co. United States Cartridge Company
Lowell, Massachusetts Lowell () is a city in Massachusetts, in the United States. Alongside Cambridge, It is one of two traditional seats of Middlesex County. With an estimated population of 115,554 in 2020, it was the fifth most populous city in Massachusetts as of ...
(1867–1926). * WRA CO
Winchester Repeating Arms Company The Winchester Repeating Arms Company was a prominent American manufacturer of repeating firearms and ammunition. The firm was established in 1866 by Oliver Winchester and was located in New Haven, Connecticut. The firm went into receivership ...
New Haven, Connecticut New Haven is a city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. It is located on New Haven Harbor on the northern shore of Long Island Sound in New Haven County, Connecticut and is part of the New York City metropolitan area. With a population of 134 ...


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 Camp Perry is a National Guard training facility located on the shore of Lake Erie in northern Ohio near Port Clinton. In addition to its regular mission as a military training base, Camp Perry also boasts the second largest outdoor rifle range ...
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. The original Ball bullets made in 1942 had Gilding-Metal-clad jackets and the later Alternate Ball versions made from 1943 to 1944 had Gilding-Metal-Coated-Steel (GMCS) jackets. The Chinese numbers 七 (''Qi'', or "7") over 九 (''Jiǔ'', or "9") at the 9 o'clock position represent the bullet's caliber (7.9mm). The Chinese character 美 (''Měi'', or "Beautiful") at the 3 o'clock position is short for 美国 (''Měi-guó'', "Beautiful Country"). (This was the term Chinese immigrants gave California in the 19th century – and, by extension, the United States). The 2-digit year of production (42, 43 or 44) is at the 6 o'clock position. The ammunition was bulk-packed in standard 20-round cartons without stripper clips to maximize the amounts delivered and the packaging was marked in the Chinese language. In 1944 there was a contract to make 30-million modified Springfield-type Mauser-compatible stripper clips which were bulk-packed in ammo cans. Due to the long transport times, the rough and mountainous terrain, and constantly changing battlelines, the order wasn't completely delivered until 1947.


.30 Caliber (.30-06 Springfield)

In 1953, large batches of .30-06 ammunition were manufactured under unique arsenal headstamps.''Small-Caliber Ammunition Identification Guide (U) Volume 1'' (DST-1160G-514-81-Vol1) The case had red lacquer sealant around the primer annulus. 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. Collectors allege that the cartridges were intended to be aid to anti-Communist insurgents and Allied forces equipped with US weapons. *AN 40# Twin Cities Ordnance Plant, Minneapolis, Minnesota. *BN 40# St. Louis Ordnance Plant,
St. Louis, Missouri St. Louis () is the second-largest city in Missouri, United States. It sits near the confluence of the Mississippi and the Missouri Rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a population of 301,578, while the bi-state metropolitan area, which e ...
. *CN 40# Lake City Ordnance Plant,
Independence, Missouri Independence is the fifth-largest city in Missouri and the county seat of Jackson County. Independence is a satellite city of Kansas City, Missouri, and is the largest suburb on the Missouri side of the Kansas City metropolitan area. In 2020, ...
.


7.62×39mm M43 Soviet

During the Vietnam War in the early 1970s (July, 1970 to January, 1972) the Lake City Ordnance Plant (code: LC) and Frankfort Arsenal (code: 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 Fort Polk is a United States Army installation located in Vernon Parish, Louisiana, Vernon Parish, Louisiana, about 10 miles (15 km) east of Leesville, Louisiana, Leesville and 30 miles (50 km) north of DeRidder, Louisiana, DeRidder in ...
. 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 The Royal Cambodian Army ( km, កងទ័ពជើងគោក, ) is a part of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces. It has ground forces which numbered 85,000 divided into eleven divisions of infantry, with integrated armour and artillery sup ...
(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 Gilding metal is a form of brass (an alloy of copper and zinc) with a much higher copper content than zinc content. Exact figures range from 95% copper and 5% zinc to “8 parts copper to 1 of zinc” (11% zinc) in British Army Dress Regulations. ...
(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 (code: 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)

* A/, \F Small Arms Ammunition Factory No.1Footscray; Melbourne, Victoria; Australia (1888–1945)A
/ref> The broadshead arrowhead between the "A" and "F" was the Government Property mark. * ADI Australian Defence Industries (1991–1993; 1994–present) – Footscray, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (1991–1993) / Benalla, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (1994–present). Moved from Footscray to Benalla in 1994. Became privatized as Thales Australia (a division of the French firm Thales Defense) in 2006. * AFF Small Arms Ammunition Factory No.2Footscray; Melbourne, Victoria; Australia (1988–1994)Australian Military Headstamps (1939-1945)
/ref> Headstamp chamged from MF to AFF in 1988, and changed to ADI in 1991. * /, \F – Military Factory Footscray – Footscray;
Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...
; Australia (1888–1945). The broadshead arrowhead before the "F" was the Government Property mark. * ICI-ANZ Imperial Chemical Industries of Australia & New Zealand (1928–1998) – An Australian subsidiary of the British chemical company Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd. Originally founded in 1928 as ICI (Australasia), it was changed to ICI (Australia and New Zealand) a year later. It owned an explosives factory at Deer Park,
Yarraville, Victoria Yarraville is an inner-city suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, west of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the City of Maribyrnong local government area. Yarraville recorded a population of 15,636 at the . Yarravil ...
through ICI's original Nobel holdings. This provided explosives during World War II. ICIANZ became a publicly traded company by ICI (UK) in 1950 and was renamed ''ICI Australia Pty Ltd'' in 1971. ICI divested itself of ICI Australia in 1997, which later becomes
Orica Orica Limited () is an Australian-based multinational corporation that is one of the world's largest providers of commercial explosives and blasting systems to the mining, quarrying, oil and gas, and construction markets, a supplier of sod ...
in 1998. * MF Small Arms Ammunition Factory No.1Footscray;
Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...
; Australia (1888–1945) * MG Small Arms Ammunition Factory No.2Footscray;
Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...
; Australia (1940–1948; 1949–1988) Headstamp changed to MF in 1949 and used until 1988. * MH Small Arms Ammunition Factory No.3Hendon; Adelaide, South Australia; Australia (1940–1945)Hendon Ammunition Factory
/ref> * MJ Small Arms Ammunition Factory No.4Hendon; Adelaide, South Australia; Australia (1940–1945) * MQ Small Arms Ammunition Factory No.5
Rocklea Rocklea is a suburb in the City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. In the , Rocklea had a population of 1,595 people. Geography Rocklea is located 9 kilometres south of the city. The west of the suburb is bordered by the Oxley Creek. The ...
;
Brisbane Brisbane ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Queensland, and the third-most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of approximately 2.6 million. Brisbane lies at the centre of the South ...
; Australia (1942–1945) * MW Small Arms Ammunition Factory No.6
Welshpool, Western Australia Welshpool is an inner southeastern suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located mostly within the City of Canning and partially within the Town of Victoria Park. The area is one of the main industrial areas of Perth, along with Kewdale, Kwi ...
; Australia (1942–1945) * SAAF Small Arms Ammunition Factory – Footscray;
Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...
; Australia (1888–1945)


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. The ammunition color code system used by Canada used the British system for .303 ammunition, the American system for .30-06 ammunition, and later the NATO system for all other ammunition. * 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 The term ''Dominion'' is used to refer to one of several self-governing nations of the British Empire. "Dominion status" was first accorded to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Newfoundland, South Africa, and the Irish Free State at the 1926 ...
Co. – Quebec City'' (1882–1958) –
Quebec City Quebec City ( or ; french: Ville de Québec), officially Québec (), is the capital city of the Canadian province of Quebec. As of July 2021, the city had a population of 549,459, and the metropolitan area had a population of 839,311. It is t ...
,
Quebec Quebec ( ; )According to the Canadian government, ''Québec'' (with the acute accent) is the official name in Canadian French and ''Quebec'' (without the accent) is the province's official name in Canadian English is one of the thirtee ...
; Canada. Davis, William C. Jr. ''Handloading'' (1981) National Rifle Association p.12 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 Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the second-most populous city in Canada and most populous city in the Canadian province of Quebec. Founded in 1642 as '' Ville-Marie'', or "City of Mary", it is named after Mount Royal, the triple ...
, 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 The Besa machine gun was a British version of the Czechoslovak ZB-53 air-cooled, belt-fed machine gun (called the TK vz. 37 in the Czechoslovak army"TK" from ''těžký kulomet'' "heavy machine gun"; "vz" from ''vzor'' "Model"). The name came ...
and issue to European Resistance groups and the Nationalist and Communist Chinese. * DIV ''Defence Industries Ltd. – Verdun'' (1940–1946) –
Verdun, Quebec Verdun (; , ) is a borough (''arrondissement'') of the city of Montreal, Quebec, located in the southwestern part of the island. Long known as a working class neighbourhood, it has experienced significant gentrification and social change in the 21 ...
; Canada. A division of Canadian Industries Ltd. formed in 1939 to produce munitions for the war effort. * IVI '' Industries Valcartier Inc.'' (1977–1991; 1989–present) –
Saint-Gabriel-de-Valcartier Saint-Gabriel-de-Valcartier () is a municipality in the Capitale-Nationale region of Quebec, Canada, located in the Jacques-Cartier River valley. It is home to the Canadian Forces Base Valcartier since World War I. History In 1647, Robert Giffa ...
,
Quebec Quebec ( ; )According to the Canadian government, ''Québec'' (with the acute accent) is the official name in Canadian French and ''Quebec'' (without the accent) is the province's official name in Canadian English is one of the thirtee ...
, Canada. In 1935, an ammunition manufacturing facility called Val-Rose was built on the grounds of the disused World War I-era Valcartier Military Camp.Shannon Municipality History (Page 2)
/ref> From 1945 to 1967 the facility was part of Canadian Arsenals Ltd. and specialized in small arms ammunition. It was privatized as ''Industrie Valcartier Incorporee'' in 1967. It bought out Imperial, CIL's commercial cartridge division, in 1976. It was acquired by SNC-Lavalin (SNC Tec) in 1980, which renamed it IVI Inc. 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. The Valcartier plant itself finally closed in 1991. * LAC, DAL ''
Dominion Arsenal The term ''Dominion'' is used to refer to one of several self-governing nations of the British Empire. "Dominion status" was first accorded to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Newfoundland, South Africa, and the Irish Free State at the 1926 ...
– Lindsay'' (1914–1921) –
Lindsay, Ontario Lindsay is a community of 22 367 people ( 2021 census) on the Scugog River in the Kawartha Lakes region of south-eastern Ontario, Canada. It is approximately west of Peterborough. It is the seat of the City of Kawartha Lakes (formerly Victori ...
; 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-Rivières, Quebec; Canada. A division of Dominion Rubber & Munitions. * VC ''Canadian Industries Limited – Verdun'' ( Verdun Arsenal) (1939–1945) –
Verdun Verdun (, , , ; official name before 1970 ''Verdun-sur-Meuse'') is a large city in the Meuse department in Grand Est, northeastern France. It is an arrondissement of the department. Verdun is the biggest city in Meuse, although the capital ...
,
Montreal, Quebec Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the second-most populous city in Canada and most populous city in the Canadian province of Quebec. Founded in 1642 as '' Ville-Marie'', or "City of Mary", it is named after Mount Royal, the triple-pe ...
, Canada ;Civilian Contractors * RR Co ''Ross Rifle Co.'' (1914–1919) –
Verdun, Quebec Verdun (; , ) is a borough (''arrondissement'') of the city of Montreal, Quebec, located in the southwestern part of the island. Long known as a working class neighbourhood, it has experienced significant gentrification and social change in the 21 ...
; Canada.Cartridge Headstamps ''Canada''
/ref> ;Commercial Manufacturers * DCCO, DOMINION ''Dominion Cartridge Co. Ltd.'' (1886–1955) – Brownsburg,
Argenteuil Argenteuil () is a commune in the northwestern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris. Argenteuil is a sub-prefecture of the Val-d'Oise department, the seat of the arrondissement of Argenteuil. Argenteuil is the sec ...
,
Quebec Quebec ( ; )According to the Canadian government, ''Québec'' (with the acute accent) is the official name in Canadian French and ''Quebec'' (without the accent) is the province's official name in Canadian English is one of the thirtee ...
, 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)

* CAC
Colonial Ammunition Company The Colonial Ammunition Company (CAC) was an ammunition manufacturer in Auckland, New Zealand. Its predecessor, Whitney & Sons, was established by John Whitney with government encouragement in 1885 during the Russian Scare. Whitney later recrui ...
– Auckland, New Zealand. (1890–1920)


South Africa (18)

* M M Musgrave Manufacturers and Distributors (Pty) Ltd. (1933–1996; 1940?-1945?) –
Bloemfontein Bloemfontein, ( ; , "fountain of flowers") also known as Bloem, is one of South Africa's three capital cities and the capital of the Free State province. It serves as the country's judicial capital, along with legislative capital Cape To ...
,
South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the Atlantic Ocean, South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the ...
. Safari rifle manufacturer who manufactured "wildcat" .303 British hunting cartridges. They manufactured military cartridges (9×19mm Parabellum and 7.92×57mm Mauser) during the war from 1940? to 1945?. Headstamp is the letter "M" at 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock facing the primer annulus and the caliber at 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock facing the rim. Musgrave went out of business in 1996. Its rifle shop was bought out by Vektor and its ammunition production was bought out by
Pretoria Metal Pressings Pretoria () is South Africa's administrative capital, serving as the seat of the executive branch of government, and as the host to all foreign embassies to South Africa. Pretoria straddles the Apies River and extends eastward into the foothi ...
(PMP). * SAM South African Mint (1961–1965) – 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 1961. * U <> (1939–1961) – Kimberley Branch Mint – Kimberley, South Africa.


United Kingdom (99)

: /, \ = UK Government Property. Formerly the badge of the
Sidney family Sidney may refer to: People * Sidney (surname), English surname * Sidney (given name), including a list of people with the given name * Sidney (footballer, born 1972), full name Sidney da Silva Souza, Brazilian football defensive midfielder * ...
, the
broad arrow A broad arrow, of which a pheon is a variant, is a stylised representation of a metal arrowhead, comprising a tang and two barbs meeting at a point. It is a symbol used traditionally in heraldry, most notably in England, and later by the Britis ...
(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). * /, \ (used 1940–1941) – ROF Radway Green SAA (ROF 13). After 1941 the use of the broad arrow was dropped and switched to the letters "RG". * /, \ /, \ (used 1940–1941) – ROF Spennymoor SAA (ROF 21). After 1941 the use of the 2 broad arrows was dropped and switched to the letters "SR". * /, \ /, \ /, \ (used 1940–1941) – ROF Steeton SAA. After 1941 the use of the 3 broad arrows was dropped and switched to the letters "ST". * B, BE, E, & BPF (1940–1946) – Royal Ordnance Factory Blackpole SAA (ROF 20), Blackpole, Worcester,
Worcestershire Worcestershire ( , ; written abbreviation: Worcs) is a county in the West Midlands of England. The area that is now Worcestershire was absorbed into the unified Kingdom of England in 927, at which time it was constituted as a county (see H ...
, UK. This Cadbury Bros. Ltd. factory was temporarily converted into an ordnance plant for the war effort. * G18F1, C18F1 (1918) – ''Government Cartridge Factory No.1'' (production overseen by Birmingham Metal and Munitions Co.) – Blackheath, Staffordshire. The digits "18" are the last two digits of the year of production. * G##F3, C##F3 (1918–1919) – ''Government Cartridge Factory No.3'' (production overseen by Kings Norton Metal Co.) – Blackpole, Worcestershire. The ## are the last two digits of the year of production. * HN (1942–1945) – ROF Hirwaun, Hirwaun,
Rhondda Cynon Taf Rhondda Cynon Taf (; RCT; also spelt as Rhondda Cynon Taff) is a county borough in the south-east of Wales. It consists of five valleys: the Rhondda Fawr, Rhondda Fach, Cynon, Taff (Welsh: ''Taf'') and Ely valleys, plus a number of towns and vill ...
, South Wales, UK. * RG (1940–present) Royal Ordnance Factory Radway Green
Radway Green Radway is a village and civil parish in Warwickshire, England, about north-west of Banbury in neighbouring Oxfordshire. The population taken at the 2011 census had reduced to 238. The village is at the foot of Edge Hill and is notable for the ...
, Cheshire; England, United Kingdom. * R^L
Royal Laboratory The Royal Arsenal, Woolwich is an establishment on the south bank of the River Thames in Woolwich in south-east London, England, that was used for the manufacture of armaments and ammunition, proofing, and explosives research for the Bri ...
(1696–1965). –
Woolwich Woolwich () is a district in southeast London, England, within the Royal Borough of Greenwich. The district's location on the River Thames led to its status as an important naval, military and industrial area; a role that was maintained thr ...
,
Greenwich Greenwich ( , ,) is a town in south-east London, England, within the ceremonial county of Greater London. It is situated east-southeast of Charing Cross. Greenwich is notable for its maritime history and for giving its name to the Greenwich ...
, London, United Kingdom. * RNADC
Royal Naval Armaments Depot A Royal Naval Armament Depot (RNAD) is an armament depot (or a group of depots) dedicated to supplying the Royal Navy (as well as, at various times, the Royal Air Force, the British Army and foreign and Commonwealth forces). They were sister de ...
,
Caerwent Caerwent ( cy, Caer-went) is a village and community in Monmouthshire, Wales. It is located about five miles west of Chepstow and 11 miles east of Newport. It was founded by the Romans as the market town of ''Venta Silurum'', an important sett ...
,
Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the Bristol Channel to the south. It had a population in ...
, United Kingdom. * ST Royal Ordnance Factory Steeton, Steeton, West Yorkshire * SWN Royal Ordnance Factory Swynnerton. Swynnerton, Staffordshire, United Kingdom. * TH –
ROF Thorp Arch ROF Thorp Arch was one of sixteen Second World War, UK government-owned Royal Ordnance Factory, which produced munitions by "filling" them. It was a medium-sized filling factory (Filling Factory No. 9). It was located on the banks of the Riv ...
,
Thorp Arch, West Yorkshire Thorp Arch is a village and civil parish near Wetherby, West Yorkshire, England in the City of Leeds metropolitan borough. It sits in the Wetherby ward of Leeds City Council and Elmet and Rothwell parliamentary constituency. The village is ...
, England, UK * ASL ''Aerator Systems Ltd.'' (?-1918) –
Sutton Sutton (''south settlement'' or ''south town'' in Old English) may refer to: Places United Kingdom England In alphabetical order by county: * Sutton, Bedfordshire * Sutton, Berkshire, a location * Sutton-in-the-Isle, Ely, Cambridgeshire * ...
, South London, London, UK. Made 8mm Lebel cartridge cases for France during World War I. * 'BBC' – Barking Brassware Co. Barking, Essex, UK * BMARC, BMARCo – British Manufacturing and Research Company,
Grantham, Lincolnshire Grantham () is a market and industrial town in the South Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, England, situated on the banks of the River Witham and bounded to the west by the A1 road. It lies some 23 miles (37 km) south of the Lincoln and ...
. * BMM ''Birmingham Metals and Munitions Co.'' –
Birmingham Birmingham ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands (county), West Midlands in England. It is the second-largest city in the United Kingdom with a population of 1. ...
, UK. Made 8mm Lebel cartridges for France during World War I. * C & H ''Curtis & Harvey Ltd.'' (1820–1942) –
Houndslow Houndslow is a hamlet in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland. It is situated on the A697, about west of Greenlaw, and north-east of Gordon. Immediately to the south is the former village of Bassendean, with the 17th-century Bassendean Hou ...
, Scottish Borders, Great Britain. Made black-powder for the Snider and Martini-Henry and smokeless powder for the Lee-Enfield. Manufactured high-quality "fast-burining" black-powder and black powder cartridges until 1973, when it ran out of the specialized charcoal to produce it. Had its head office in London and its factory in Hounslow, later acquiring powdermills in
Bedfont Bedfont is a suburb in the London Borough of Hounslow, approximately west of Charing Cross. Originally a distinct village, Bedfont has a large central conservation area around Bedfont Green. The majority of the housing was built at a time of ...
,
North Feltham Feltham () is a town in West London, England, from Charing Cross. Historically part of Middlesex, it became part of the London Borough of Hounslow in 1965. The parliamentary constituency of Feltham and Heston has been held by Labour Party M ...
, and
Tonbridge Tonbridge ( ) is a market town in Kent, England, on the River Medway, north of Royal Tunbridge Wells, south west of Maidstone and south east of London. In the administrative borough of Tonbridge and Malling, it had an estimated populat ...
. It was later acquired by Explosive Trades Ltd. in 1918 (later diversified into Nobel Industries in 1920), which was later made a component of Imperial Chemical Industries when it was formed in 1926. It was reorganized as part of the ICI (Explosives) division in 1932 and merged into ICI in 1942, but survived as an ICI brand until the factory closed in 1973. * C-P ''Crompton Parkinson Co. Ltd'',
Doncaster Doncaster (, ) is a city in South Yorkshire, England. Named after the River Don, it is the administrative centre of the larger City of Doncaster. It is the second largest settlement in South Yorkshire after Sheffield. Doncaster is situated in ...
,
Yorkshire Yorkshire ( ; abbreviated Yorks), formally known as the County of York, is a historic county in northern England and by far the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its large area in comparison with other English counties, functions have ...
, U.K. * E, EB ''
Eley Brothers Eley Limited is a British manufacturer of firearms cartridges. Historically the company has produced a broad variety of ammunition, but today specialises in .22 Long Rifle cartridges for competitive target shooting. At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, si ...
'' (1866–present) – Edmonton, London, UK. * GB '' Greenwood and Batley'' –
Leeds, Yorkshire Leeds () is a city and the administrative centre of the City of Leeds district in West Yorkshire, England. It is built around the River Aire and is in the eastern foothills of the Pennines. It is also the third-largest settlement (by populati ...
, UK. * GKB (1884? – ?) – ''George Kynock & Co.'' of Birmingham (later ''Kynoch Ltd.'' in 1896). Made percussion caps from 1862 and metallic cartridges from 1884. * H – Hall Telegraph Co. * K Kynoch Factories, Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd.
Birmingham Birmingham ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands (county), West Midlands in England. It is the second-largest city in the United Kingdom with a population of 1. ...
, UK. ** K – Kynoch & Co, Witton,
Birmingham Birmingham ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands (county), West Midlands in England. It is the second-largest city in the United Kingdom with a population of 1. ...
, UK. ** K2 (1943–1944) – I.C.I. (Kynoch),
Standish, Greater Manchester Standish is a small town in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, Greater Manchester, England. Within the boundaries of the historic county of Lancashire, it is on the A49 road between Chorley and Wigan, near Junction 27 of the M6 motorway. The ...
,
Lancashire Lancashire ( , ; abbreviated Lancs) is the name of a historic county, ceremonial county, and non-metropolitan county in North West England. The boundaries of these three areas differ significantly. The non-metropolitan county of Lancash ...
, UK ** K3 – There was no Kynoch factory designated K3. ** K4 (1942–1944) – I.C.I. (Kynoch),
Yeading Yeading ( ) is a settlement in west London, forming part of the London Borough of Hillingdon, having been developed after the Second World War. Etymology Yeading is very early Saxon and was originally ''Geddingas'' or ''Geddinges'', meaning "the ...
,
Middlesex Middlesex (; abbreviation: Middx) is a historic county in southeast England. Its area is almost entirely within the wider urbanised area of London and mostly within the ceremonial county of Greater London, with small sections in neighbour ...
, UK. ** K5 (1944) – I.C.I. (Kynoch),
Kidderminster Kidderminster is a large market and historic minster town and civil parish in Worcestershire, England, south-west of Birmingham and north of Worcester. Located north of the River Stour and east of the River Severn, in the 2011 census, it ha ...
,
Worcestershire Worcestershire ( , ; written abbreviation: Worcs) is a county in the West Midlands of England. The area that is now Worcestershire was absorbed into the unified Kingdom of England in 927, at which time it was constituted as a county (see H ...
, UK. * KN – Kings Norton Metal Company –
Kings Norton Kings Norton, alternatively King's Norton, is an area of Birmingham, England. Historic counties of England, Historically in Worcestershire, it was also a Birmingham City Council ward (politics), ward within the Government of Birmingham, Engl ...
,
Birmingham Birmingham ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands (county), West Midlands in England. It is the second-largest city in the United Kingdom with a population of 1. ...
,
Worcestershire Worcestershire ( , ; written abbreviation: Worcs) is a county in the West Midlands of England. The area that is now Worcestershire was absorbed into the unified Kingdom of England in 927, at which time it was constituted as a county (see H ...
, UK. * P&S – Platers & Stampers Ltd. (1936–1959) – Burnley, Lancashire. * RC, RCC, & RH (1941–1945) – Raleigh Cycle Co., Carlton, Nottingham.


NATO manufacturers

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


Austria (41)

* * * ''Hirtenberger Patronenfabrik'' – Hirtenberg, Baden bei Wien,
Lower Austria Lower Austria (german: Niederösterreich; Austro-Bavarian: ''Niedaöstareich'', ''Niedaestareich'') is one of the nine states of Austria, located in the northeastern corner of the country. Since 1986, the capital of Lower Austria has been Sankt P ...
, 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 Lower Austria (german: Niederösterreich; Austro-Bavarian: ''Niedaöstareich'', ''Niedaestareich'') is one of the nine states of Austria, located in the northeastern corner of the country. Since 1986, the capital of Lower Austria has been Sankt P ...
, Austria. * GR ''Georg Roth AG'' –
Lichtenwörth , settlement_type = , image_skyline = Lichtenw Panorma.JPG , imagesize = , image_caption = Panorama of Lichtenwörth , image_shield = AUT Lichtenwörth COA.svg , shield_size = 80x110px , shield_link = , pushpin_ma ...
, Austria. Headstamp is a cypher of G & R combined. Many of its foreign holdings were seized and nationalized after World War I. Absorbed by Hirtenberger Patronen in the 1930s. * H or HP ''Hirtenberger Patronen-, Zündhütchen-und Metallwarenfabrik A.-G.'' (1860–1938; 1957–2004) – Hirtenberg, Baden bei Wien,
Lower Austria Lower Austria (german: Niederösterreich; Austro-Bavarian: ''Niedaöstareich'', ''Niedaestareich'') is one of the nine states of Austria, located in the northeastern corner of the country. Since 1986, the capital of Lower Austria has been Sankt P ...
, 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 Lower Austria (german: Niederösterreich; Austro-Bavarian: ''Niedaöstareich'', ''Niedaestareich'') is one of the nine states of Austria, located in the northeastern corner of the country. Since 1986, the capital of Lower Austria has been Sankt P ...
, Austria. * ÖJP ''Österreichische Jagdpatronenfabrik'' (1948 – ?) –
Kramsach Kramsach is a municipality in the Kufstein district in the Austrian state of Tyrol located 27 km southwest of Kufstein and 16.5 km west of Wörgl, at the northern side of the Inn River. Its main sources of income are the marble, timber a ...
,
Tirol Tyrol (; historically the Tyrole; de-AT, Tirol ; it, Tirolo) is a historical region in the Alps - in Northern Italy and western Austria. The area was historically the core of the County of Tyrol, part of the Holy Roman Empire, Austrian Emp ...
, Austria. Founded in 1948, taken over by Hirtenberger in 1964. ; German P-Codes (1938–1940) – Operated under German occupation *P.635 ''
Otto Eberhardt Patronenfabrik Otto Eberhardt Patronenfabrik (English: "Otto Eberhardt Cartridge Factory") was a munitions company established in 1860. The company's ''Hirtenberger Patronen, Zündhütchen und Metallwarenfabrik'' (English: "cartridge, primer and metalware fab ...
'' (1938?-1945) – Hirtenberg, Niederdonau, Austria. Formerly ''Hirtenberger Patronen-, Zündhütchen- und Metallwaren-fabrik A.-G.'' until taken over after the
Anschluss The (, or , ), also known as the (, en, Annexation of Austria), was the annexation of the Federal State of Austria into the German Reich on 13 March 1938. The idea of an (a united Austria and Germany that would form a " Greater Germany ...
in 1938.


Belgium (13)

* AEP '' Anciens Ètablissements Pieper'' (1905–1950) – Herstal, Belgium. Contracted with Fabrique Nationale and other manufacturers to make ammunition under their headstamp. * FN or FNB, ''
Fabrique Nationale d'Armes de Guerre Fabrique Nationale Herstal (), trading as FN Herstal and often referred to as Fabrique Nationale or simply FN, is a leading firearms manufacturer based in Herstal, Belgium. It is currently the largest exporter of military small arms in Europe. ...
'' (FN) –
Bruges, Belgium Bruges ( , nl, Brugge ) is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium, in the northwest of the country, and the sixth-largest city of the country by population. The area of the whole city a ...
. * JA ''Jules Ancion & Cie'' – Liège, Belgium. * P ''
Fabrique Nationale d'Armes de Guerre Fabrique Nationale Herstal (), trading as FN Herstal and often referred to as Fabrique Nationale or simply FN, is a leading firearms manufacturer based in Herstal, Belgium. It is currently the largest exporter of military small arms in Europe. ...
'' (FN) – Herstal, Belgium. * PB (''Poudrerie Belge de Clermont'' > Belgian Powdermill of Clermont) (1990-Presnt) – Rue Clermont, Clermont-sous-Huy, Engis, Belgium. Powder mill that provides propellants for both French and Belgian manufacturers. Currently owned by SNPE group. Formerly ''Poudreries Réunies de Belgique'' ("Reunified Powdermills of Belgium") from 1969 to 1989.


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)

Danish headstamps have the Danish Crown at 12 o'clock, the year of production split between 9- and 3-o'clock (thousands and hundreds place at 9 and tens and ones at 3), and the manufacturer code at 6 o'clock. Reloaded cartridges overstamp a triangle at the 6 o'clock position. 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) * AMA ''Ammunitionsarsenalet'' ("Ammunition Arsenal") (1676–?) –
Copenhagen, Denmark Copenhagen ( or .; da, København ) is the capital and most populous city of Denmark, with a proper population of around 815.000 in the last quarter of 2022; and some 1.370,000 in the urban area; and the wider Copenhagen metropolitan ar ...
. * HA ''Hærens ammunitionsarsenalet'' ("Army Arsenal") (?-?) – * HL ''Hærens Krudt et Patroner Laboratoriesværks'' ("Army Powder & Cartridges Laboratory Works") (1900–1937) – Copenhagen, 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'' (جمهورية مصر العربية, "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 Abu Qir ( ar, ابو قير, ''Abu Qīr'', or , ), formerly also spelled Abukir or Aboukir, is a town on the Mediterranean coast of Egypt, near the ruins of ancient Canopus and northeast of Alexandria by rail. It is located on Abu Qir Penins ...
,
Alexandria, Egypt Alexandria ( or ; ar, ٱلْإِسْكَنْدَرِيَّةُ ; grc-gre, Αλεξάνδρεια, Alexándria) is the second largest city in Egypt, and the largest city on the Mediterranean coast. Founded in by Alexander the Great, Alexandria ...
. *٧٢ (GMA 72) Military Factory 27 (''Shubra Company for Engineering Industries'') (1953–present) –
Shubra Shoubra ( ar, شبرا, ; Coptic: '; also written Shubra or Shobra) is one of the largest districts of Cairo, Egypt and it is administratively divided into three areas: Shubra, Road El Farag, and Elsahel. Etymology Although Shoubra has been im ...
district, Cairo, Egypt.


Finland (58)

*LAPUA ''Lapuan Patruunatehdas'' ("Cartridge Factory at Lapua") (1949–1998) –
Lapua, Finland Lapua (; sv, Lappo) is a List of cities and towns in Finland, town and municipalities of Finland, municipality of Finland. It is located next to the Lapua River in the regions of Finland, region of South Ostrobothnia. The town has a population o ...
. 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 Jyväskylä () is a city and municipality in Finland in the western part of the Finnish Lakeland. It is located about 150 km north-east from Tampere, the third largest city in Finland; and about 270 km north from Helsinki, the capital of ...
,
Central Finland Central Finland ( fi, Keski-Suomi; sv, Mellersta Finland) is a region ( / ) in Finland. It borders the regions of Päijät-Häme, Pirkanmaa, South Ostrobothnia, Central Ostrobothnia, North Ostrobothnia, North Savo, and South Savo. The city o ...
, 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. It was seized by the Russians as war reparations from 1947 to 1957 and demilitarized to produce consumer goods. Private investors bought it back and ran it from 1957 to 1983. 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 Lapua (; sv, Lappo) is a List of cities and towns in Finland, town and municipalities of Finland, municipality of Finland. It is located next to the Lapua River in the regions of Finland, region of South Ostrobothnia. The town has a population o ...
. The forerunner to Lapua. In 1949 it was absorbed by
Valmet Valmet Oyj is a Finnish company and a developer and supplier of technologies, automation systems and services for the pulp, paper and energy industries. Valmet has over 200 years of history as an industrial operator. Formerly owned by the S ...
and renamed LAPUA.


France (14)

Notes: :Early French headstamps mark the bullet type at 12 o'clock (eg., ART.D), the 1-digit Quarter of production at 9 o'clock, and the 2-digit Year of production at 3 o'clock. The codes for the manufacturer (e.g. A.RS) and metal producer (e.g. S) are conjoined at 6 o'clock (i.e, A.RS.S). :Later 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. * ART. ''Direction de l'Artillerie'' ("Management of the Artillery") (?-1918) – The French state body under the ''ministère de Guerre'' ("Ministry of War") that oversaw the manufacturing of artillery pieces and munitions before the creation of the ''Service de l'Équipement'' ("Equipment Service"). It was a prefix to the cartridge designation at the 12 o'clock position used on early French-made military cartridges. **ART.M stands for 8mm Lebel ''Balle M'' (manufactured 1886–1898). Colonial arsenals manufactured the cartridge after 1898 for Colonial forces equipped with earlier-pattern rifles. **ART.D stands for 8mm Lebel ''Balle D'' (manufactured 1898–1932). * A.A. ''Amorçage Anglais'' ("English Primers") (1915?-1918) – A suffix on the cartridge designation at the 12 o'clock position used on British-made cartridges during World War I. British primers were of a different type than the French models, lacking a cover over the annulus. :Manufacturers * ABS ''Atelier de Construction de Bourges'' ("Manufacturing Workshops of Bourges") – Bourges, Cher,
Centre Center or centre may refer to: Mathematics * Center (geometry), the middle of an object * Center (algebra), used in various contexts ** Center (group theory) ** Center (ring theory) * Graph center, the set of all vertices of minimum eccentri ...
, France. * ALM '' Ateliers Legueu de Meaux'' (Legueu Workshops of Meaux) –
Meaux, France Meaux () is a commune on the river Marne in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in the metropolitan area of Paris, France. It is east-northeast of the centre of Paris. Meaux is, with Provins, Torcy and Fontainebleau ...
. Manufactured cartridge-cases and bullets. * AMN ''Atelier de Chargement de Montluçon'' (Loading Workshop of Montluc) – Montluçon, France. * APX ''Atelier de Construction de Puteaux'' (Manufacturing Workshop of Puteaux) – Puteaux, France. * A.RS, RS ''Atelier de Construction de Rennes'' (Manufacturing Workshop of Rennes) –
Rennes, France Rennes (; br, Roazhon ; Gallo: ''Resnn''; ) is a city in the east of Brittany in northwestern France at the confluence of the Ille and the Vilaine. Rennes is the prefecture of the region of Brittany, as well as the Ille-et-Vilaine departmen ...
. * A.TE, TE ''Atelier de Fabrication de Toulouse'' (Manufacturing Workshop of Toulouse) –
Toulouse, France Toulouse ( , ; oc, Tolosa ) is the prefecture of the French department of Haute-Garonne and of the larger region of Occitania. The city is on the banks of the River Garonne, from the Mediterranean Sea, from the Atlantic Ocean and from Par ...
. * A.TS, TS ''Atelier de Construction de Tarbes'' (Manufacturing Workshop of Tarbes) –
Tarbes, France Tarbes (; Gascon language, Gascon: ''Tarba'') is a Communes of France, commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées Departments of France, department in the Occitania (administrative region), Occitanie Regions of France, region of southwestern France. It is ...
. * A.VE, VE ''Cartoucherie de Valence'' (Cartridge Factory of Valence) (1874–1964) – town of Bourg-lès-Valence, municipality of Valence, department of
Drôme Drôme (; Occitan: ''Droma''; Arpitan: ''Drôma'') is the southernmost department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of Southeastern France. Named after the river Drôme, it had a population of 516,762 as of 2019.
, region of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France. * A.VS, VS ''Atelier de Fabrication de Vincennes'' (Manufacturing Workshop of Vincennes)
Vincennes, France Vincennes (, ) is a commune in the Val-de-Marne department in the eastern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris. It is next to but does not include the Château de Vincennes and Bois de Vincennes, which are attache ...
. * CN ''Ateliers Mécaniques de Normandie'' (Mechanical Workshops of Normandy). * CP ''Cartoucherie Leon Paulet à Marseille'' – Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône, France. * DTE ? – Unknown. * ECP ''Ecole Centrale de Pyrotechnie'' (Central School of Pyrotechnics)
Bourges, France Bourges () is a commune in central France on the river Yèvre. It is the capital of the department of Cher, and also was the capital city of the former province of Berry. History The name of the commune derives either from the Bituriges, ...
. * F ''Cartoucherie Française'' ("Cartridge Factory of France") –
Survilliers Survilliers () is a commune in the Val-d'Oise department in Île-de-France in northern France. See also *Communes of the Val-d'Oise department The following is a list of the 184 communes of the Val-d'Oise department of France. The communes ...
, department of
Val-d'Oise Val-d'Oise (, "Vale of the Oise") is a department in the Île-de-France region, Northern France. It was created in 1968 following the split of the Seine-et-Oise department. In 2019, Val-d'Oise had a population of 1,249,674.
, region of
Île-de-France The Île-de-France (, ; literally "Isle of France") is the most populous of the eighteen regions of France. Centred on the capital Paris, it is located in the north-central part of the country and often called the ''Région parisienne'' (; en, Pa ...
, 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; 1950–1980) – Paris, France. Firm founded in Paris by Marin Gévelot in 1820. Initially set up to manufacture swords, they began making percussion caps from 1823. Merged with Gaupillat & Cie in 1883 to become 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 Le Mans (, ) is a city in northwestern France on the Sarthe River where it meets the Huisne. Traditionally the capital of the province of Maine, it is now the capital of the Sarthe department and the seat of the Roman Catholic diocese of Le ...
. * 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 Meridian or a meridian line (from Latin ''meridies'' via Old French ''meridiane'', meaning “midday”) may refer to Science * Meridian (astronomy), imaginary circle in a plane perpendicular to the planes of the celestial equator and horizon * ...
Industrial Association") –
Marseille, France Marseille ( , , ; also spelled in English as Marseilles; oc, Marselha ) is the prefecture of the French department of Bouches-du-Rhône and capital of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. Situated in the camargue region of southern Fran ...
. Formerly ''Cartoucherie Leon Paulet à Marseille''. * MR ''Manufacture de Machines du Haut-Rhin'' ("Machine-Building Factory of the
Upper Rhine The Upper Rhine (german: Oberrhein ; french: Rhin Supérieur) is the section of the Rhine between Basel in Switzerland and Bingen in Germany, surrounded by the Upper Rhine Plain. The river is marked by Rhine-kilometres 170 to 529 (the ...
", or MANURHIN) (?-1990) –
Mulhouse Mulhouse (; Alsatian: or , ; ; meaning '' mill house'') is a city of the Haut-Rhin department, in the Grand Est region, eastern France, close to the Swiss and German borders. It is the largest city in Haut-Rhin and second largest in Alsace a ...
Bourtzwiller,
Haut-Rhin Haut-Rhin (, ; Alsatian: ''Owerelsàss'' or '; german: Oberelsass, ) is a department in the Grand Est region of France, bordering both Germany and Switzerland. It is named after the river Rhine. Its name means ''Upper Rhine''. Haut-Rhin is th ...
,
Grand Est Grand Est (; gsw-FR, Grossa Oschta; Moselle Franconian/ lb, Grouss Osten; Rhine Franconian: ''Groß Oschte''; german: Großer Osten ; en, "Great East") is an administrative region in Northeastern France. It superseded three former administra ...
(formerly
Alsace Alsace (, ; ; Low Alemannic German/ gsw-FR, Elsàss ; german: Elsass ; la, Alsatia) is a cultural region and a territorial collectivity in eastern France, on the west bank of the upper Rhine next to Germany and Switzerland. In 2020, it had ...
), 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 Engis (; wa, Indji) is a municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Liège, Belgium. On 1 January 2006 Engis had a total population of 5,686. The total area is 27.74 km² which gives a population density of 205 inhabitants per km ...
, 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 Issy-les-Moulineaux () is a commune in the southwestern suburban area of Paris, France, lying on the left bank of the river Seine. Its citizens are called ''Isséens'' in French. It is one of Paris' entrances and is located from Notre-Dame Cath ...
, France. Firm founded in Paris by Marin Gévelot in 1820. Merged with Gaupillat & Cie in 1883 to become Société Française des Munitions in 1884. Took the name of Gévelot S.A. in 1950. If the headstamp has five-pointed stars at the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions, it is commercial sales or export contract ammunition. * 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 Le Havre (, ; nrf, Lé Hâvre ) is a port city in the Seine-Maritime department in the Normandy region of northern France. It is situated on the right bank of the estuary of the river Seine on the Channel southwest of the Pays de Caux, very ...
and
Rugles Rugles () is a commune in the Eure department in Normandy in northern France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in ...
"). :Metal Suppliers * BS ''Atelier de laminage de l'Ecole de Pyrotechnie de Bourges'' ("Rolling Mill Workshop of the Pyrotechnics School of Bourges") –
Bourges, France Bourges () is a commune in central France on the river Yèvre. It is the capital of the department of Cher, and also was the capital city of the former province of Berry. History The name of the commune derives either from the Bituriges, ...
. * C '' Compagnie française des métaux'' ("French Metals Company") – Castelsarrazin,
Tarn-et-Garonne Tarn-et-Garonne (; oc, Tarn e Garona ) is a department in the Occitania region in Southern France. It is traversed by the rivers Tarn and Garonne, from which it takes its name. The area was originally part of the former provinces of Quercy and ...
,
Midi-Pyrénées Midi-Pyrénées (; oc, Miègjorn-Pirenèus or ; es, Mediodía-Pirineos) is a former administrative region of France. Since 1 January 2016, it has been part of the new region of Occitania. It was the largest region of Metropolitan France by ar ...
, France. A metal-supplier for ''Atelier de Fabrication de Toulouse''. * D ''Société Electro-métallurgie de Dives'' (Electro-plating Association of Dives") – Dives, France. Formerly ''Compagnie du Duralin de Dives''. * 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 Île Saint-Louis (), in size, is one of two natural islands in the Seine river, in Paris, France (the other natural island is the Île de la Cité, where Notre-Dame de Paris is located). Île Saint-Louis is connected to the rest of Paris by ...
,
Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), ma ...
, Hauts-de-Seine,
Île-de-France The Île-de-France (, ; literally "Isle of France") is the most populous of the eighteen regions of France. Centred on the capital Paris, it is located in the north-central part of the country and often called the ''Région parisienne'' (; en, Pa ...
, 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 Issy-les-Moulineaux () is a commune in the southwestern suburban area of Paris, France, lying on the left bank of the river Seine. Its citizens are called ''Isséens'' in French. It is one of Paris' entrances and is located from Notre-Dame Cat ...
, France. A Belgian company that supplied metal stock for ''Société Française de Munitions de Issy-les-Moulineaux''. * P S.A. ''Des Mines et Fonderies de Pontgibaud'' (?-1897) –
Pontgibaud Pontgibaud () is a commune in the Puy-de-Dôme départment in Auvergne in central France. It is located in the Massif Central region of France on the banks of the river Sioule. The area around the town was historically known for silver and lead ...
,
Puy-de-Dôme Puy-de-Dôme (; oc, label=Auvergnat, lo Puèi de Doma or ''lo Puèi Domat'') is a department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in the centre of France. In 2019, it had a population of 662,152.Auvergne Auvergne (; ; oc, label= Occitan, Auvèrnhe or ) is a former administrative region in central France, comprising the four departments of Allier, Puy-de-Dôme, Cantal and Haute-Loire. Since 1 January 2016, it has been part of the new region Au ...
region, France. Manufactured bullets and cartridge-cases. It went out of business in 1897 when the local lead deposits played out. * P ''Société Française des Métaux à Couéran'' (1901–1961) – Originally founded as the Laveissière company in 1859, but was refounded and renamed in 1901. In 1961 it was merged with ''Tréfileries et laminoirs du Havre'' to form ''Tréfimétaux''. In 1967 ''Tréfimétaux'' came under the control of ''Péchiney'', who later sold the company to the Italian group SMI SpA (''Società Metallurgica Italiana'') in 1987. * R ''Trefilerie et Laminoirs du Havre à Rugles (Usine de Rugles)'' ("Wire-Drawing Works and Rolling Mills of La Havre and Rugles (Factory at Rugles)") – Rugles, Normandy, France. Made bullets and cartridge-cases for ''Cartoucherie de la Seine''. * S ''Compagnie Française des Métaux'' ("French Metals Company") – Sérifontaine,
Oise Oise ( ; ; pcd, Oése) is a department in the north of France. It is named after the river Oise. Inhabitants of the department are called ''Oisiens'' () or ''Isariens'', after the Latin name for the river, Isara. It had a population of 829,41 ...
, France. A metal-supplier for ''Tréfileries du Havre à Rugles''. :French Colonial Arsenals * A.AR, AR ''Cartoucherie d'Alger'' ("Cartridge Plant of Algiers") –
Algiers, Algeria Algiers ( ; ar, الجزائر, al-Jazāʾir; ber, Dzayer, script=Latn; french: Alger, ) is the capital and largest city of Algeria. The city's population at the 2008 Census was 2,988,145Census 14 April 2008: Office National des Statistiques d ...
. * CV ''Cartoucherie Voltaïque'' ("Cartridge Plant of the Volta") –
Ouagadougou Ouagadougou ( , , ) is the capital and largest city of Burkina Faso and the administrative, communications, cultural, and economic centre of the nation. It is also the country's largest city, with a population of 2,415,266 in 2019. The city's ...
, Haute-Volta (later
Republic of Upper Volta The Republic of Upper Volta (french: République de Haute-Volta) was a landlocked West African country established on 11 December 1958 as a self-governing colony within the French Community. Before becoming autonomous, it had been part of the ...
958–1984 modern-day
Burkina Faso Burkina Faso (, ; , ff, 𞤄𞤵𞤪𞤳𞤭𞤲𞤢 𞤊𞤢𞤧𞤮, italic=no) is a landlocked country in West Africa with an area of , bordered by Mali to the northwest, Niger to the northeast, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to ...
984–present. * EID ''Établissements Industriels de la Défense'' ("Defense Industry Establishments") –
Damascus, Syria )), is an adjective which means "spacious". , motto = , image_flag = Flag of Damascus.svg , image_seal = Emblem of Damascus.svg , seal_type = Seal , map_caption = , ...
; ''Mandat Français pour la Syrie et le Liban'' ("French Mandate of Syria and the Levant") Uses Arabic letters and numbers on the headstamp since independence as the Syrian Republic. Post-colonial headstamp has the Arabic word for Syria (سورية, or ''Sūrya'') at 12 o'clock, metric caliber at 3 o'clock, contractor code (م .م. د, MMD for مؤسسة معامل الدفاع ''Muasasat Meaml aldifae'', or "Defense Industries Corporation") at 6 o'clock, and two-digit year of production at 9 o'clock.


Germany (12)

;(?-1919) All loading, assembly and packing of ammunition took place at Spandau Arsenal. Peacetime headstamps had the 2-digit year of production at 3 o'clock, month of production at 9 o'clock, and content case manufacturer (''S'' for Spandau or ''P'' for Polte) at 6 o'clock. Wartime headstamps had the 2-digit year of production at 12 o'clock, case type (S67 = Brass made with 67% copper) at 3 o'clock, content case manufacturer at 6 o'clock, and the batch number at 9 o'clock. The carton label had three lines of text. The first line would be made up of the bullet type, cartridge assembly and packing facility (''Mf.'' for Spandau's ''Munitionsfabrik''), followed by the date of assembly (in the format MM.DD.YY; 2-digit Month, the Day, and 2-digit Year). The second line concerned the propellant manufacturer (''P.'' for Spandau's ''Pulverfabrik'' or ''Tr.'' for the powdermill at Troisdorf). The third line listed the model of primer (''Zdh'', or ''zundhuetchen''), the date of manufacture, and the manufacturer; an "X" between the primer type and date of manufacture indicated it was a type of primer with a low mercury content. * C ''Munitionsfabrik Cassel'' ("Ammunition Factory at Kassel") – Kassel,
Hesse-Nassau The Province of Hesse-Nassau () was a province of the Kingdom of Prussia from 1868 to 1918, then a province of the Free State of Prussia until 1944. Hesse-Nassau was created as a consequence of the Austro-Prussian War of 1866 by combining the ...
, Germany. Closed after the war. Old wartime-manufactured batches of catridges were still being loaded in the early 1920s by German cartridge-manufacturers who bought up the remaining stock. (They had a declaration on the label that attested that they were old production, to prevent accusations they circumvented the Versailles Treaty). * S ''Kaiserlich Munitionsfabrik'' ("Imperial
russian Russian(s) refers to anything related to Russia, including: *Russians (, ''russkiye''), an ethnic group of the East Slavic peoples, primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries *Rossiyane (), Russian language term for all citizens and peo ...
Munitions Factory") (1722–1919) – Spandau Arsenal,
Spandau Spandau () is the westernmost of the 12 boroughs () of Berlin, situated at the confluence of the Havel and Spree rivers and extending along the western bank of the Havel. It is the smallest borough by population, but the fourth largest by land ...
, Berlin, Germany. Manufactured 7.92mm Mauser ammunition. It was decommissioned in 1919 and was no longer allowed to manufacture war materiel. Gustav Genschow & Co. (GECO) bought the facility in 1924 and used it to make .22-caliber target rifles. GECO loaded cartridges with wartime-manufactured Spandau cases, presumably ones they picked up when they bought the facility. ** Mf. ''Munitionsfabrik'' – The portions of Spandau arsenal dedicated to making cartridge cases and bullets, assembling full cartridges, and packing them into cartons and crates. This would be found in the middle of the first line of the ammo carton label, followed by F1, F2 or F3 (the number of the assembly line that assembled the ammunition). ** P ''Pulverfabrik'' – The portions of Spandau arsenal dedicated to manufacturing propellants. The code ''P.'' would be followed by the propellant batch number, the letter ''L.'' (for ''Lieferung'' > "Shipment") and the 2-digit year of manufacture. * P '' Polte'' – Magdeburg,
Saxony Saxony (german: Sachsen ; Upper Saxon: ''Saggsn''; hsb, Sakska), officially the Free State of Saxony (german: Freistaat Sachsen, links=no ; Upper Saxon: ''Freischdaad Saggsn''; hsb, Swobodny stat Sakska, links=no), is a landlocked state of ...
, Germany. * D. ''Königlich Sächsisch Arsenal'' ("Royal Arsenal of Saxony") –
Dresden Dresden (, ; Upper Saxon: ''Dräsdn''; wen, label= Upper Sorbian, Drježdźany) is the capital city of the German state of Saxony and its second most populous city, after Leipzig. It is the 12th most populous city of Germany, the fourth ...
,
Saxony Saxony (german: Sachsen ; Upper Saxon: ''Saggsn''; hsb, Sakska), officially the Free State of Saxony (german: Freistaat Sachsen, links=no ; Upper Saxon: ''Freischdaad Saggsn''; hsb, Swobodny stat Sakska, links=no), is a landlocked state of ...
. * DM Karlsruhe, DM K ''Deutsche Metallpatronenfabrik'' ("German Metallic Cartridge Factory") (1889–1896) – Karlsruhe, Baden, Germany. It started making Mauser rifle ammunition for the Argentinian Army in 1891 and the Prussian Army in 1893. It was reorganized in 1896 to form ''Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken'' (DWM). The "DM" headstamp was used by DWM until the early 20th century, perhaps after using up all the old DM cases and headstamp bunters in stock. * DWM ''Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken'' (1896–1945) – Berlin-
Borsigwalde Borsigwalde () is a German locality (''Ortsteil'') within the borough (''Bezirk'') of Reinickendorf, Berlin. Until 2012 was a zone (''Ortslage'') part of Wittenau. History The locality, named after the engineer August Borsig, was first settled in ...
, Germany. Between 1922 and 1936 the company is briefly renamed ''Berlin-Karlsruher Industrie-Werke AG'' (BERKA). It secretly begins armament production in 1928. * H E & C ''Patronenhulsenfabrik Henri Ehrmann & Cie.'' (1872–1878) – Karlsruhe, Baden, Germany. A cartridge-case factory set up by Henri Ehrmann and Leopold & Wilhelm Holtz. It is bought out by engineer Wilhelm Lorenz in 1878 and becomes ''Deutsche Metallpatronenfabrik Lorenz'' In 1883 it begins production of complete cartridges and is renamed ''Deutsche Metallpatronenfabrik Karlsruhe-Baden''. Bought out by ''Ludwig Loewe & Cie'' in 1889 and merged with ''Pulverfabrik Rottweil-Hamburg'' ("Rottweil Powdermill at Hamburg") and the ''Vereinigte Rheinisch-Westfälische Pulverfabriken'' ("United Rhenish & Westphalian Powdermills") to form ''Deutsche Metallpatronenfabrik''. * N & S ''Niebecker und Schumacher'' –
Solingen Solingen (; li, Solich) is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located some 25 km east of Düsseldorf along the northern edge of the region called Bergisches Land, south of the Ruhr area, and, with a 2009 population of 161,366 ...
, Germany. ;(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. The Wehrkreise were reorganized and increased after Hitler came to power. *I (Königsberg) (1919–1932) – Königsberg Arsenal *II (Stettin) (1919–1932) – ? *III (Berlin) (1919–1932) –
Jüterbog Jüterbog () is a historic town in north-eastern Germany, in the Teltow-Fläming district of Brandenburg. It is on the Nuthe river at the northern slope of the Fläming hill range, about southwest of Berlin. History The Slavic settlement of ' ...
Arsenal *IV (Dresden) (1919–1932) – Zeithain/Riesa Arsenal *V (Stuttgart) (1919–1932) – Kassel *VI (Münster) (1919–1932) – ? *VII (Munich) (1919–1932) – Ingolstadt * AI ''Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken A.G.'' (1936?-1939) – Lübeck, Germany. Headstamp used by Germany to covertly supply the Spanish
Nationalists Nationalism is an idea and movement that holds that the nation should be congruent with the state. As a movement, nationalism tends to promote the interests of a particular nation (as in a group of people), Smith, Anthony. ''Nationalism: The ...
during the
Spanish Civil War The Spanish Civil War ( es, Guerra Civil Española)) or The Revolution ( es, La Revolución, link=no) among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War ( es, Cuarta Guerra Carlista, link=no) among Carlists, and The Rebellion ( es, La Rebelión, link ...
(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'' (1896–1945) – Berlin-
Borsigwalde Borsigwalde () is a German locality (''Ortsteil'') within the borough (''Bezirk'') of Reinickendorf, Berlin. Until 2012 was a zone (''Ortslage'') part of Wittenau. History The locality, named after the engineer August Borsig, was first settled in ...
, Germany. * DWM H ''Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken'' (1940–1945) –
's-Hertogenbosch s-Hertogenbosch (), colloquially known as Den Bosch (), is a city and municipality in the Netherlands with a population of 157,486. It is the capital of the province of North Brabant and its fourth largest by population. The city is south of th ...
,
North Brabant North Brabant ( nl, Noord-Brabant ; Brabantian: ; ), also unofficially called Brabant, is a province in the south of the Netherlands. It borders the provinces of South Holland and Gelderland to the north, Limburg to the east, Zeeland to the w ...
, Netherlands. The ''Nederlandsche Wapen-en Munitiefabriek NV.'' factory run by the German occupation forces. * DWM K ''Deutsche Waffen uund Munitionsfabriken'' (1896–1945) – Karlsruhe, Germany. * DWM L ''Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken'' – Lübeck-Schlutup,
Schleswig-Holstein Schleswig-Holstein (; da, Slesvig-Holsten; nds, Sleswig-Holsteen; frr, Slaswik-Holstiinj) is the northernmost of the 16 states of Germany, comprising most of the historical duchy of Holstein and the southern part of the former Duchy of Sc ...
, Germany. * N ''Rheinisch-Westfälische Sprengstoff, A.G. (RWS)'' – Nuremberg, Germany. Made gunpowder and complete cartridges. * P '' Polte Armaturen-und-Maschinenfabrik A.G., Werk Magdeberg'' –
Magdeburg Magdeburg (; nds, label=Low Saxon, Meideborg ) is the capital and second-largest city of the German state Saxony-Anhalt. The city is situated at the Elbe river. Otto I, the first Holy Roman Emperor and founder of the Archdiocese of Magdebu ...
,
Sachsen Saxony (german: Sachsen ; Upper Saxon: ''Saggsn''; hsb, Sakska), officially the Free State of Saxony (german: Freistaat Sachsen, links=no ; Upper Saxon: ''Freischdaad Saggsn''; hsb, Swobodny stat Sakska, links=no), is a landlocked state of ...
, Germany. After Versailles they were the official supplier of ammunition components to the
Weimar Republic The Weimar Republic (german: link=no, Weimarer Republik ), officially named the German Reich, was the government of Germany from 1918 to 1933, during which it was a constitutional federal republic for the first time in history; hence it is ...
. Made cartridge cases and bullets from 1919 to 1926? and complete cartridges from 1926? to 1945. There were also cover-headstamps used to pretend that Polte, the official contractor for the Weimar Republic, manufactured them. ** Pi ''Hirtenberger Patronenfabrik'' – Hirtenberg, Austria. Renamed the ''Otto Eberhardt Patronenfabrik'' after the German occupation. ** Pu ''H. Burgsmüller & Söhne'' –
Kreiensen Kreiensen is a village and a former municipality in the district of Northeim, in Lower Saxony, Germany. Since 1 January 2013, it is part of the town Einbeck. Geography Kreiensen is situated on the river Leine, approx. north of Northeim, and so ...
, Germany. A small gunsmithing firm that made hunting shotguns and drillings. They later got into munitions production. ** Pö ''Gehre Dampfmesser GmbH'' – Sebaldushof,
Treuenbrietzen Treuenbrietzen is a town in the States of Germany, Bundesland of Brandenburg, Germany. Geography The municipality Treuenbrietzen is situated 32 km northeast of Wittenberg and includes the localities * city of Treuenbrietzen with its agglome ...
,
Brandenburg Brandenburg (; nds, Brannenborg; dsb, Bramborska ) is a state in the northeast of Germany bordering the states of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Saxony, as well as the country of Poland. With an area of 29,480 sq ...
, Germany. 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. * PVT ''Polizeischule fuer Technik und Verkehr'' ("Police Academy for Technology and Transport") (1927?-1945) – Berlin, Germany. The ''Polizeischule fuer Technik und Verkehr'' was founded in 1927? The central academy building was designed in 1929 and built by 1934. It was renamed the ''Technische Polizeischule'' ("Technical Police Academy") in 1936. The PVT monogram and government Eagle property mark was inscribed on its small arms at the factory by Simson. * SKD ''Selve-Kronbiegel-Dornheim A.-G.'' (1924–1945) – Sömmerda,
Thuringia Thuringia (; german: Thüringen ), officially the Free State of Thuringia ( ), is a state of central Germany, covering , the sixth smallest of the sixteen German states. It has a population of about 2.1 million. Erfurt is the capital and lar ...
, 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 Düsseldorf ( , , ; often in English sources; Low Franconian and Ripuarian language, Ripuarian: ''Düsseldörp'' ; archaic nl, Dusseldorp ) is the capital city of North Rhine-Westphalia, the most populous state of Germany. It is the second- ...
. Rheinmetall owned the Dreyse und Collenbusch needlefire cartridge trademarks and operated out of Sömmerda,
Thüringen Thuringia (; german: Thüringen ), officially the Free State of Thuringia ( ), is a state of central Germany, covering , the sixth smallest of the sixteen German states. It has a population of about 2.1 million. Erfurt is the capital and larg ...
; it used the name Kronbiegel for Ehrfurt merchant Friedrich Kronbiegel (?-1820) – Dreyse's first partner. G.
orge The Orge () is a long river in France, left tributary of the Seine. Its source is in the village Saint-Martin-de-Bréthencourt. Its course crosses the '' départements'' of Yvelines and Essonne. It flows northwest through the towns of Dourdan, ...
C. rlDornheim 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,
Hanover Hanover (; german: Hannover ; nds, Hannober) is the capital and largest city of the German state of Lower Saxony. Its 535,932 (2021) inhabitants make it the 13th-largest city in Germany as well as the fourth-largest city in Northern Germany ...
(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. * Has ''Pulverfabrik Hasloch'' – Hasloch, Bavaria, Germany. Made propellants. * Mog. ''Deutsche Sprengchemie, Werk Moschwig'' – Moschwig, Germany. Made explosives and gunpowder. * 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'' – Walsrode, Germany. 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. * Tr. ''Troisdorf'' – Troisdorf, Germany. Manufactured propellants. * 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. Headstamps had the cartridge manufacturer's P-code at 12 o'clock, the cartridge case type (e.g., ''S*'' for brass) at 3 o'clock, the Lot number at 6 o'clock, and the 2-digit year of production at 9 o'clock. Steel-cased ammunition had a combined code at the 3 o'clock position that was composed of the
Roman numeral Roman numerals are a numeral system that originated in ancient Rome and remained the usual way of writing numbers throughout Europe well into the Late Middle Ages. Numbers are written with combinations of letters from the Latin alphabet, ea ...
code for the steel mill (I through XXIII), the lower-case letter code for the firm that plated the cases (a through z?), and the composition of the steel alloy used (1 through 17). (e.g., IXw1). *P.14A ''Waffenwerke
Brünn Brno ( , ; german: Brünn ) is a city in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic. Located at the confluence of the Svitava and Svratka rivers, Brno has about 380,000 inhabitants, making it the second-largest city in the Czech Republic ...
A.-G. ("Armory at Brno"), Werk Povazska Bystrica'' -
Považská Bystrica Považská Bystrica (; german: Waagbistritz; hu, Vágbeszterce) is a town in northwestern Slovakia. It is located on the Váh river, around 30 km from the city of Žilina. It belongs to Upper Váh region of tourism. Profile Považská B ...
,
Czechoslovakia , rue, Чеськословеньско, , yi, טשעכאסלאוואקיי, , common_name = Czechoslovakia , life_span = 1918–19391945–1992 , p1 = Austria-Hungary , image_p1 ...
. Operated under German occupation. Later renamed ''Povazske Strojárne'' ("Factory at Povaska") post-war. *P.25 ''Metallwarenfabrik Treuenbrietzen G.m.b.H, Werk A (Sebaldushof)'' – Sebaldushof, Treuenbrietzen,
Pommern Pomerania ( pl, Pomorze; german: Pommern; Kashubian: ''Pòmòrskô''; sv, Pommern) is a historical region on the southern shore of the Baltic Sea in Central Europe, split between Poland and Germany. The western part of Pomerania belongs to ...
, Germany. This was the first factory owned by the Kopp Brothers. They expanded to Selterhof (Treuenbrietzen) (1934), Roederhof (Belzig) (1935), Metgethen and
Salzwedel Salzwedel (, officially known as Hansestadt Salzwedel; Low German: ''Soltwedel'') is a town in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It is the capital of the district (''Kreis'') of Altmarkkreis Salzwedel, and has a population of approximately 21,500. Salz ...
. *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 Salzland is a district in the middle of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Its area is . It is bounded by (from the west and clockwise) the districts Harz, Börde, Magdeburg, Jerichower Land, Anhalt-Bitterfeld, Mansfeld-Südharz and Saalekreis. History T ...
,
Sachsen-Anhalt Saxony-Anhalt (german: Sachsen-Anhalt ; nds, Sassen-Anholt) is a state of Germany, bordering the states of Brandenburg, Saxony, Thuringia and Lower Saxony. It covers an area of and has a population of 2.18 million inhabitants, making it the ...
, Germany. Made cartridges, primers and detonator caps, and metalware. *P90D Munitionsfabriken Prag (vormals Sellier & Bellot) – Vlasim, Czechoslovakia. *P.94 ''Kabel- und Metallwerke- Neumeyer A.-G.'' – Nürnberg, Germany. *P.120 ''Dynamit A.-G. (DAG), Werk Empelde'' (1928–1945) – Empelde, Ronnenberg, Hanover, 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 Pomerania ( pl, Pomorze; german: Pommern; Kashubian: ''Pòmòrskô''; sv, Pommern) is a historical region on the southern shore of the Baltic Sea in Central Europe, split between Poland and Germany. The western part of Pomerania belongs to ...
, Germany. *P.181 ''Hugo A. Schneider A.-G. (HASAG)'' – Leipsig, Germany. *P.198 ''Metallwarenfabriken Treuenbrietzen GmbH.'', Werk Röderhof (1935-?) – Roederhof, Belzig, Germany. *P207 ''Metallwerk Odertal GmbH'' – Odertal, Post Lautaberg, Harz, Germany. *P.249 ''Finower Industrie G.m.b.H.'' – Finow/Mark, 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.490 ''Hugo A. Schnieder A.G. (HASAG), Werk Altenburg'' – Altenburg, Thuringia, Germany. *P.635 ''Gustloff-Werk Hirtenberg'' (''Otto Eberhardt Patronenfabrik'') – Hirtenberg, Niederdonau, Austria. A division of Gustloff Werk (Gustloff Works), a division of the ''
Wilhelm Gustloff Stiftung The Wilhelm Gustloff Stiftung (Wilhelm Gustloff Foundation) was a state-owned trust set up by the government of Nazi Germany in 1933. Named after Wilhelm Gustloff, a leader of the Nazi Party's Swiss branch who was later assassinated, it was funde ...
'' (
Wilhelm Gustloff Wilhelm Gustloff (30 January 1895 – 4 February 1936) was the founder of the Swiss NSDAP/AO (the Nazi Party organisation for German citizens living outside Germany) at Davos. He remained its leader from 1932 until he was assassinated in 193 ...
Foundation), a nationalized corporation composed of companies confiscated from Jewish owners or partners. It was later renamed for Otto Eberhardt. ;Letter Codes (1940–1945) * ak ''Munitionsfabriken Prag'' ("Munitions Factory – Prague") (formerly
Sellier & Bellot Sellier & Bellot is a firearms ammunition manufacturer situated in Vlašim, Czech Republic. It is a subsidiary of the Brazilian company CBC. Foundation Sellier & Bellot was founded on August 5, 1825 by a German businessman of French ...
) ( Occupation: 1938–1945) – Vlasim, Czechoslovakia. * auy ''Polte Metallwarenfabrik, Werk Grüneberg'' (formerly Grüneberger Metallgeselschaft G.m.b.H.) – Grüneberg (Nordbahn), Brandenburg, Germany * bne ''Metallwerk Odertal GmbH'' – Odertal, Post Lautaberg,
Harz The Harz () is a highland area in northern Germany. It has the highest elevations for that region, and its rugged terrain extends across parts of Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia. The name ''Harz'' derives from the Middle High German ...
, Germany. * cg ''Finower Industrie GmbH'' – Finow, Mark, Brandenburg. * ch ''DWM Lüttich'' (formerly FN-Herstal, Liège) ( Occupied: 1940–1944) – Liège, Belgium. * cxm ''Gustav Genschow & Co. A.-G. (Geco)'' (1887–1959) – Berlin, Germany. Ammunition manufacturer and sporting arms wholesaler. They owned ammunition plants in
Durlach Durlach is a borough of the German city of Karlsruhe with a population of roughly 30,000. History Durlach was bestowed by emperor Frederick II on the margrave Hermann V of Zähringen as an allodial possession. It was chosen by the margrave Ch ...
and
Wolfartsweier Wolfartsweier is a village and a quarter of Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russi ...
; a leather-goods factory in Hachenburg; associated arms factories in Zella-Mehlis,
Suhl Suhl () is a city in Thuringia, Germany, located SW of Erfurt, NE of Würzburg and N of Nuremberg. With its 37,000 inhabitants, it is the smallest of the six urban districts within Thuringia. Together with its northern neighbour-town Zella- ...
, and Liège; and had stores in
Cologne Cologne ( ; german: Köln ; ksh, Kölle ) is the largest city of the German western state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) and the fourth-most populous city of Germany with 1.1 million inhabitants in the city proper and 3.6 millio ...
,
Suhl Suhl () is a city in Thuringia, Germany, located SW of Erfurt, NE of Würzburg and N of Nuremberg. With its 37,000 inhabitants, it is the smallest of the six urban districts within Thuringia. Together with its northern neighbour-town Zella- ...
,
Frankfurt am Main Frankfurt, officially Frankfurt am Main (; Hessian: , "Frank ford on the Main"), is the most populous city in the German state of Hesse. Its 791,000 inhabitants as of 2022 make it the fifth-most populous city in Germany. Located on its na ...
,
Nuremberg Nuremberg ( ; german: link=no, Nürnberg ; in the local East Franconian dialect: ''Nämberch'' ) is the second-largest city of the German state of Bavaria after its capital Munich, and its 518,370 (2019) inhabitants make it the 14th-largest ...
, and
Königsberg Königsberg (, ) was the historic Prussian city that is now Kaliningrad, Russia. Königsberg was founded in 1255 on the site of the ancient Old Prussian settlement ''Twangste'' by the Teutonic Knights during the Northern Crusades, and was name ...
. In 1924 they bought a firearms factory in
Spandau Spandau () is the westernmost of the 12 boroughs () of Berlin, situated at the confluence of the Havel and Spree rivers and extending along the western bank of the Havel. It is the smallest borough by population, but the fourth largest by land ...
from
Deutsche Werke Deutsche Werke was a German shipbuilding company that was founded in 1925 when Kaiserliche Werft Kiel and other shipyards were merged. It came as a result of the Treaty of Versailles after World War I that forced the German defense industry to shri ...
. 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", or KKW), a .22-caliber competition and training rifle sold to the public. They also bored rifle-barrel blanks for the K98k Mauser and
Sturmgewehr 44 The StG 44 (abbreviation of Sturmgewehr 44, "assault rifle 44") is a German assault rifle developed during World War II by Hugo Schmeisser. It is also known by its early designations as the MP 43 and MP 44 (''Maschinenpistole 43'' and ''44''). ...
. * de ''Hugo Schneider AG (HASAG)'' (1944–1945) – Leipzig, Germany. *dnh Rheinisch-Westfälische Sprengstoff A.-G., (Previously Gustav Genschow & Co.) Werk Durlach, Germany. * dou ''Waffenwerke Brunn (formerly
Zbrojovka Brno Pre-war Československá zbrojovka, akc.spol. (or a.s.) (Czechoslovak Armory)and post-war Zbrojovka Brno, n.p.(Brno Armory) was a maker of small arms, light artillery, and motor vehicles in Brno, Czechoslovakia. It also made other products and ...
)'' ( Occupation: 1938–1945) –
Považská Bystrica Považská Bystrica (; german: Waagbistritz; hu, Vágbeszterce) is a town in northwestern Slovakia. It is located on the Váh river, around 30 km from the city of Žilina. It belongs to Upper Váh region of tourism. Profile Považská B ...
,
Czechoslovakia , rue, Чеськословеньско, , yi, טשעכאסלאוואקיי, , common_name = Czechoslovakia , life_span = 1918–19391945–1992 , p1 = Austria-Hungary , image_p1 ...
. * eej'' Märkisches Walzwerk GmbH'' – Strausberg bez.,
Potsdam Potsdam () is the capital and, with around 183,000 inhabitants, largest city of the German state of Brandenburg. It is part of the Berlin/Brandenburg Metropolitan Region. Potsdam sits on the River Havel, a tributary of the Elbe, downstream o ...
, Germany * emp ''Dynamit A.-G., Werk Empelde'' – Empelde, Ronnenberg,
Hanover Hanover (; german: Hannover ; nds, Hannober) is the capital and largest city of the German state of Lower Saxony. Its 535,932 (2021) inhabitants make it the 13th-largest city in Germany as well as the fourth-largest city in Northern Germany ...
, Germany. * fer ''Metallwerke Wandhofen GmbH'' – Wandhofen, Schwerte an der Ruhr,
Nordrhein-Westfalen North Rhine-Westphalia (german: Nordrhein-Westfalen, ; li, Noordrien-Wesfale ; nds, Noordrhien-Westfalen; ksh, Noodrhing-Wäßßfaale), commonly shortened to NRW (), is a state (''Land'') in Western Germany. With more than 18 million inhab ...
, Germany. * fva ''Draht- und Metallwarenfabrik GmbH'' ("Wire- and Metalware-factory") –
Salzwedel Salzwedel (, officially known as Hansestadt Salzwedel; Low German: ''Soltwedel'') is a town in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It is the capital of the district (''Kreis'') of Altmarkkreis Salzwedel, and has a population of approximately 21,500. Salz ...
,
Saxony Saxony (german: Sachsen ; Upper Saxon: ''Saggsn''; hsb, Sakska), officially the Free State of Saxony (german: Freistaat Sachsen, links=no ; Upper Saxon: ''Freischdaad Saggsn''; hsb, Swobodny stat Sakska, links=no), is a landlocked state of ...
, Germany. * Hak ''Hanseatisches Kettenwerke'' ("Hanseatic Chain Works") (1935-?) –
Langenhorn, Hamburg is a quarter in the borough Hamburg-Nord of Hamburg, Germany. In 2020 the population was 46,272. History On January 25, 1332, Langenhorn was sold to Hamburg by the Count of Holstein. Since then, Langenhorn has been a part of Hamburg. A subcamp ...
Gau, Germany. A division of ''Pötz und Sand Metallwaren'' of Monheim that also manufactured autocannon and light artillery shells. It also managed the ammunition factories in occupied and Vichy France (1940–1944). * hhw ''Metallwerke Silberhütte GmbH'', St-Andreasberg-im-Harz,
Goslar Goslar (; Eastphalian: ''Goslär'') is a historic town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the administrative centre of the district of Goslar and located on the northwestern slopes of the Harz mountain range. The Old Town of Goslar and the Mines ...
, Lower Saxony, Germany. * hla ''Metallwarenfabrik Treuenbrietzen G.m.b.H., Werk Sebaldushof'' – Sebaldushof, Treuenbrietzen,
Pommern Pomerania ( pl, Pomorze; german: Pommern; Kashubian: ''Pòmòrskô''; sv, Pommern) is a historical region on the southern shore of the Baltic Sea in Central Europe, split between Poland and Germany. The western part of Pomerania belongs to ...
, Germany. * hlb ''Metallwarenfabrik Treuenbrietzen G.m.b.H., Werk Selterhof'' – Selterhof, Treuenbrietzen,
Pommern Pomerania ( pl, Pomorze; german: Pommern; Kashubian: ''Pòmòrskô''; sv, Pommern) is a historical region on the southern shore of the Baltic Sea in Central Europe, split between Poland and Germany. The western part of Pomerania belongs to ...
, Germany. * hlc ''Zieh- und Stanz-werke GmbH'' ("
ire Ire or IRE may refer to: Ire * Extreme anger; intense fury * Irē, the Livonian name for Mazirbe, Latvia * A town in Oye, Nigeria * ''Ire'' (album), a 2015 album by the Australian metalcore band Parkway Drive * Ire (Iliad), a town mentioned in ...
Drawing and
etal Etal ( )not is a small village in the far north of the county of Northumberland, England, in the civil parish of Ford. It lies on a bridging point of the River Till ten miles south west of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and includes the substantial ru ...
Punching Works") – Schleusingen, Thüringen * hrn ''Presswerke G.m.b.H.'' – Metgethen,
Ostpreußen East Prussia ; german: Ostpreißen, label=Low Prussian dialect, Low Prussian; pl, Prusy Wschodnie; lt, Rytų Prūsija was a Provinces of Prussia, province of the Kingdom of Prussia from 1773 to 1829 and again from 1878 (with the Kingdom itse ...
, Germany (now
Imeni Alexandra Kosmodemyanskogo Imeni Alexandra Kosmodemyanskogo (russian: и́мени Алекса́ндра Космодемья́нского) is a residential area in Tsentralny Administrative District of the city of Kaliningrad in Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia. It was forme ...
,
Kaliningrad oblast Kaliningrad Oblast (russian: Калинингра́дская о́бласть, translit=Kaliningradskaya oblast') is the westernmost federal subject of Russia. It is a semi-exclave situated on the Baltic Sea. The largest city and admin ...
,
Russian Federation Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world, with its internationally recognised territory covering , and encompassing one-eig ...
) * htg ''Polte Armaturen- und Maschinenfabriken, AG'' - Duderstadt Plant, Westphalia, Germany. * kam ''HASAG (formerly P.W.U. Fabryka Amunicji Skarżysko-Kamienna)'' (occupied 1939–1944) – Skarżysko-Kamienna, Poland. * naq ''Graphische Kunstanstalt Karl Vogel'' (Karl Vogel "Graphic Arts Institution") – Leipzig, Germany. Made pasteboard cartons and cardboard boxes for ammunition; the manufacturer code and year of production were impressed on the box. May have also made ammo labels, as they did high-quality color printing work before the war. * ndn ''Heinrich Bluecher Fabrik technischer Buersten'' ("industrial-brush-making factory") –
Spremberg Spremberg ( dsb, Grodk) is a municipality near the Saxon city of Hoyerswerda and is in the Spree-Neiße district of Brandenburg, Germany. First mentioned in 1301, the town alone has 14,028 inhabitants, and the municipality, including other villa ...
,
Spree-Neiße Spree-Neiße ( dsb, Wokrejs Sprjewja-Nysa) is a ''Kreis'' (district) in the southern part of Brandenburg, Germany. Neighboring districts are (from the south clockwise) the districts Niederschlesischer Oberlausitzkreis and Kamenz in Saxony, the di ...
,
Brandenburg Brandenburg (; nds, Brannenborg; dsb, Bramborska ) is a state in the northeast of Germany bordering the states of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Saxony, as well as the country of Poland. With an area of 29,480 sq ...
, Germany. A factory that manufactured 9×19mm cartridge cases to be filled elsewhere. * oma ''Ernst Mahla Blechwarenwerke'' ("sheetmetal-ware works") – Prague, Bohemia, Czechoslovakia. A factory that made 9×19mm ball and armor-piercing ammunition. * oyj ''Atelier de Construction de Tarbes'' – Tarbes, France. Produced ammunition during the German Occupation (1940–1944). * wa HASAG, Hugo Schneider AG, Abteilung Lampenfabrik –
Leipzig Leipzig ( , ; Upper Saxon: ) is the most populous city in the German state of Saxony. Leipzig's population of 605,407 inhabitants (1.1 million in the larger urban zone) as of 2021 places the city as Germany's eighth most populous, as ...
, Germany. Found on ammunition headstamps and cannon shell cases * wb HASAG, Hugo Schneider AG – Berlin- Koepenick plant. See 'wa' * wc HASAG, Hugo Schneider AG –
Meuselwitz Meuselwitz () is a town in the Altenburger Land district, in Thuringia, Germany. It is situated 12 km northwest of Altenburg and 11 km east of Zeitz. History During World War II, a subcamp of the Buchenwald concentration camp operated ...
plant, Thuringia. * wd HASAG, Hugo Schneider AG (Hasag Werk II) –
Taucha Taucha is a town in the district of Nordsachsen, in Saxony, Germany. It is situated on the river Parthe, 10 km northeast of Leipzig. Geography Taucha is part of the Leipzig Bay. The Parthe runs through the city, and its expansive floodp ...
,
Saxony Saxony (german: Sachsen ; Upper Saxon: ''Saggsn''; hsb, Sakska), officially the Free State of Saxony (german: Freistaat Sachsen, links=no ; Upper Saxon: ''Freischdaad Saggsn''; hsb, Swobodny stat Sakska, links=no), is a landlocked state of ...
plant. * we HASAG, Hugo Schneider AG –
Langewiesen Langewiesen is a town and a former municipality in the Ilm-Kreis district, in Thuringia, Germany. Since July 2018, it is part of the town Ilmenau. It is situated on the river Ilm Ilm or ILM may refer to: Acronyms * Identity Lifecycle Manager ...
, Thuringia plant. * wf HASAG, Hugo Schneider AG – Kielce plant, Poland. * wg HASAG, Hugo Schneider AG – Altenburg plant. * wh HASAG, Hugo Schneider AG –
Eisenach Eisenach () is a town in Thuringia, Germany with 42,000 inhabitants, located west of Erfurt, southeast of Kassel and northeast of Frankfurt. It is the main urban centre of western Thuringia and bordering northeastern Hessian regions, situat ...
plant. * wj HASAG, Hugo Schneider AG – Oberweissbach, Thuringia plant. * wk HASAG, Hugo Schneider AG –
Schlieben Schlieben ( dsb, Sliwin) is a town in the Elbe-Elster district, in southwestern Brandenburg, Germany. It is situated north of Bad Liebenwerda. Schlieben was the site of a concentration camp during the Holocaust. History From 1815 to 1944, Schlie ...
plant. * wm HASAG, Hugo Schneider AG –
Dermbach Dermbach is a municipality in the Wartburgkreis district of Thuringia, Germany. The former municipalities Brunnhartshausen, Diedorf Diedorf is a municipality in the district of Augsburg, in Bavaria, Germany. It is situated on the river Schmut ...
plant, Thuringia. * wn HASAG, Hugo Schneider AG – Derrnabach Dermbach plant, Thuringia (Often confused with 'wm'). ;(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. * DAG
Dynamit Nobel Dynamit Nobel AG is a German chemical and weapons company whose headquarters is in Troisdorf, Germany. It was founded in 1865 by Alfred Nobel. Creation After the death of his younger brother Emil in an 1864 nitroglycerin explosion at the fam ...
A-G () –
Troisdorf Troisdorf () is a city in the Rhein-Sieg-Kreis (district), in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Geography Troisdorf is located approximately 22 kilometers south of Cologne and 13 kilometers north east of Bonn. Division of the city Troisdorf con ...
,
Rhein-Sieg-Kreis The Rhein-Sieg-Kreis ( ksh, Rhein-Siech-Kreis) is a ''Kreis'' (district) in the south of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Neighboring districts are Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis, Oberbergischer Kreis, Altenkirchen (district), Altenkirchen, Neuwied ...
,
North Rhine-Westphalia North Rhine-Westphalia (german: Nordrhein-Westfalen, ; li, Noordrien-Wesfale ; nds, Noordrhien-Westfalen; ksh, Noodrhing-Wäßßfaale), commonly shortened to NRW (), is a state (''Land'') in Western Germany. With more than 18 million inha ...
, Germany and Fürth. It owned the RWS, Geco, and Rottweil brands. In 2002 its ammunition factories and their brands were purchased by RUAG (''Rüstungs Unternehmen Aktiengesellschaft'') and were spun off to form RUAG Ammotec GmbH (
Fürth Fürth (; East Franconian: ; yi, פיורדא, Fiurda) is a city in northern Bavaria, Germany, in the administrative division ('' Regierungsbezirk'') of Middle Franconia. It is now contiguous with the larger city of Nuremberg, the centres of the ...
). * ME or MEN Metallwerk Elisenhütte Nassau G.m.b.H. (1957–present) –
Nassau Nassau may refer to: Places Bahamas *Nassau, Bahamas, capital city of the Bahamas, on the island of New Providence Canada *Nassau District, renamed Home District, regional division in Upper Canada from 1788 to 1792 *Nassau Street (Winnipeg), ...
,
Lahn The Lahn is a , right (or eastern) tributary of the Rhine in Germany. Its course passes through the federal states of North Rhine-Westphalia (23.0 km), Hesse (165.6 km), and Rhineland-Palatinate (57.0 km). It has its source in t ...
,
Rhineland-Palatinate Rhineland-Palatinate ( , ; german: link=no, Rheinland-Pfalz ; lb, Rheinland-Pfalz ; pfl, Rhoilond-Palz) is a western state of Germany. It covers and has about 4.05 million residents. It is the ninth largest and sixth most populous of the ...
, Germany. Made part of the CBC Group in 2007. * MS Manusaar A-G (1953–1973) –
Büdingen Büdingen is a town in the Wetteraukreis, in Hesse, Germany. It is mainly known for its well-preserved, heavily fortified medieval town wall and half-timbered houses. Geography Location Büdingen is in the south of the Wetterau below the Vogels ...
,
Hesse Hesse (, , ) or Hessia (, ; german: Hessen ), officially the State of Hessen (german: links=no, Land Hessen), is a state in Germany. Its capital city is Wiesbaden, and the largest urban area is Frankfurt. Two other major historic cities are Dar ...
n,
West Germany West Germany is the colloquial term used to indicate the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG; german: Bundesrepublik Deutschland , BRD) between its formation on 23 May 1949 and the German reunification through the accession of East Germany on 3 O ...
. Also known as ''Manusaar-Diehl-Büdingen, Saarbrücken,
FRG FRG may refer to: * Family Readiness Group in the United States Army * Federal Republic of Germany ** West Germany * FMN reductase (NAD(P)H) * Friendship Radiosport Games * Functional renormalization group * Guatemalan Republican Front The Insti ...
''; ''Manusaar-Büdingen Saarbrücken''; and ''Société Manusaar-Büdingen''. Manusaar-Diehl was founded in the '50s as a partnership between ''
Manurhin Manurhin is a trademark used by Chapuis Armes since 1998. It is used to designate the Manurhin MR73 revolver family, manufactured at Saint-Bonnet-le-Château, France. The genesis of the term “Manurhin” is ''Manufacture de Machines du Haut- ...
'' (France) and '' Munitionsfabrikanten Karl Diehl'' (Germany); the name Manusaar is a combination of MANUrhin and SAAR (the Saar Valley, where the factory was based). It manufactured primers from 1953 to 1972 and cartridges from 1957 to 1973; it went out of business in 1973 due to a loss of market share to other, larger European manufacturers.


Greece (23)

* ΕΠΚ (Ελληνικό Πυριτιδοποιείο Καλυκοποιείο > ''Ellinikó Pyritidopoieío Kalykopoieío'' (Pyrkal) = "Hellenic Powder & Cartridge Factory") (1908-1950s) - Athens, Greece. The Greek alphabet version of the headstamp, with the manufacturer's code (ΕΠΚ) at 12 o'clock and the caliber or cartridge name at 6 o'clock. * GPC ("Greek Powder and Cartridge Company") - The English language version of the headstamp. * HXP (Pyrkal) Greek Powder & Cartridge Company (1950s–2004) – Athens, Greece. Manufactures cartridges and disintegrating belt links. Merged with EBO in 2004 to become EAS ("Hellenic Defense Systems"). The headstamp had the manufacturer's code (HXP) at 12 o'clock and the two-digit year of production at 6 o'clock. * 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 German-occupied Europe refers to the sovereign countries of Europe which were wholly or partly occupied and civil-occupied (including puppet governments) by the military forces and the government of Nazi Germany at various times between 1939 an ...
(1941–1945).


India (72)

* D Dum Dum Arsenal –
Dum Dum Dum Dum is a city and a municipality of Kolkata district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is a part of Kolkata urban area and also a part of the area covered by Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA). Etymology During the 19th ...
,
Calcutta Kolkata (, or , ; also known as Calcutta , List of renamed places in India#West Bengal, the official name until 2001) is the Capital city, capital of the Indian States and union territories of India, state of West Bengal, on the eastern ba ...
,
West Bengal West Bengal (, Bengali: ''Poshchim Bongo'', , abbr. WB) is a state in the eastern portion of India. It is situated along the Bay of Bengal, along with a population of over 91 million inhabitants within an area of . West Bengal is the fou ...
state, India. * K Kirkee Arsenal (1872–1913?) –
Kirkee Khadki is a cantonment in the city of Pune, India. It has now flourished as a quasi-metropolis & centered in the northern region of the city. Description Khadki could be considered an Indian Army base, along with an ordnance factory consisting ...
cantonment, Poona district, Maharashtra state, India. Founded in 1817 to manufacture small arms. Expanded to include a cartridge-making factory in 1872 and an explosives factory in 1942. * KF Kirkee Factory (1914–1960) –
Kirkee Khadki is a cantonment in the city of Pune, India. It has now flourished as a quasi-metropolis & centered in the northern region of the city. Description Khadki could be considered an Indian Army base, along with an ordnance factory consisting ...
cantonment, Poona district, Maharashtra state, India. * KH Khamaria Factory (1990s-Present) – Khamaria,
Jabalpur district Jabalpur district is a district of Madhya Pradesh state in central India. The city of Jabalpur is the administrative headquarters of the district. The area of the district is 5,198 km² with population of 2,463,289 (2011 census). As of 20 ...
,
Madhya Pradesh Madhya Pradesh (, ; meaning 'central province') is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal, and the largest city is Indore, with Jabalpur, Ujjain, Gwalior, Sagar, and Rewa being the other major cities. Madhya Pradesh is the seco ...
state, India. * N Dum Dum Arsenal, Northern Circuit –
Dum Dum Dum Dum is a city and a municipality of Kolkata district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is a part of Kolkata urban area and also a part of the area covered by Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA). Etymology During the 19th ...
,
Calcutta Kolkata (, or , ; also known as Calcutta , List of renamed places in India#West Bengal, the official name until 2001) is the Capital city, capital of the Indian States and union territories of India, state of West Bengal, on the eastern ba ...
,
West Bengal West Bengal (, Bengali: ''Poshchim Bongo'', , abbr. WB) is a state in the eastern portion of India. It is situated along the Bay of Bengal, along with a population of over 91 million inhabitants within an area of . West Bengal is the fou ...
state, India. * OFV Ordnance Factory at Varangaon (1964–present) – Varangaon,
Jalgaon Jalgaon () is a city in Maharashtra, India. The city is located in North Maharashtra, and serves as the administrative headquarters of its namesake district, the Jalgaon district. Jalgaon is colloquially known as the “''Banana City of Indi ...
district, Maharashtra state, India. * OK Ordnance Factory at Khamaria (1942–1947; 1947–1990s) – Khamaria, Jubbulpore district,
Central India Agency The Central India Agency was created in 1854, by amalgamating the Western Malwa Agency with other smaller political offices which formerly reported to the Governor-General of India. The agency was overseen by a political agent who maintained ...
(later
Madhya Pradesh Madhya Pradesh (, ; meaning 'central province') is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal, and the largest city is Indore, with Jabalpur, Ujjain, Gwalior, Sagar, and Rewa being the other major cities. Madhya Pradesh is the seco ...
state after Independence), India. * S Kirkee Arsenal, Southern Circuit –
Kirkee Khadki is a cantonment in the city of Pune, India. It has now flourished as a quasi-metropolis & centered in the northern region of the city. Description Khadki could be considered an Indian Army base, along with an ordnance factory consisting ...
cantonment, Poona district, Maharashtra state, India.


Israel (31)

Israel has supposedly manufactured ammunition under the Spanish S, SA, and SB headstamps. This is ammunition captured from Egypt and Syria, which bought ammunition from Spain and Italy. * 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.The Ayalon Institute: Kibbutzim Hill by Yael Zisling
The copper for the casings was acquired by scrap dealers who supposedly were using it to make brass lipstick cases. They made 9×19mm Parabellum and 7.92×57mm Mauser cartridges. * IMI, TZZ, or ת צ (T Tz, or ''T'aasiya Tz'vaeet'', "Military Industries")
Israeli Military Industries , former_name = Israel Military Industries , type = State-owned enterprise , industry = Arms industry , fate = Acquired by Elbit Systems , successor = Elbit Systems Land , founded = , founder = , defunct = , hq_location_city = Ramat H ...
Tel Aviv Tel Aviv-Yafo ( he, תֵּל־אָבִיב-יָפוֹ, translit=Tēl-ʾĀvīv-Yāfō ; ar, تَلّ أَبِيب – يَافَا, translit=Tall ʾAbīb-Yāfā, links=no), often referred to as just Tel Aviv, is the most populous city in the ...
,
Israel Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...
. Manufactures small-arms cartridges, clips, and disintegrating belt links. ''TZZ'' is the NATO ''Manufacturer's Identification Symbol'' for IMI's Small Arms Ammunition Division. The first two ''TZZ'' lots produced in 1982 for the US Navy had the incorrect ''TZ'' headstamp belonging to Texas Foundries Inc.


Italy (15)

* B. ''Stabilimento Pirotecnico di Bologna'' ("Pyrotechnical Factory at Bologna") –
Bologna Bologna (, , ; egl, label=Emilian language, Emilian, Bulåggna ; lat, Bononia) is the capital and largest city of the Emilia-Romagna region in Northern Italy. It is the seventh most populous city in Italy with about 400,000 inhabitants and 1 ...
,
Emilia-Romagna egl, Emigliàn (man) egl, Emiglièna (woman) rgn, Rumagnòl (man) rgn, Rumagnòla (woman) it, Emiliano (man) it, Emiliana (woman) or it, Romagnolo (man) it, Romagnola (woman) , population_note = , population_blank1_title ...
, Italy. The Royal Army Pyrotechnical Laboratory. * BPD ''
Bombrini-Parodi-Delfino Bombrini-Parodi-Delfino (better known as BPD), was a chemical company founded in 1912 by Giovanni Bombrini and Leopoldo Parodi-Delfino to produce gunpowder and explosives. Around its location in Colleferro (south of Rome) soon grew a small town ...
'' (1912–1968/1988) –
Colleferro Colleferro (IPA: /kɔllefɛrro/) is a small town with 20 698 inhabitants of the Metropolitan City of Rome in the Lazio region of central Italy. It is a residential zone with many different industries and sports structures. It borders the City of F ...
, 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 Simmel Difesa is an Italian firm located in Colleferro that manufacturers land and naval munitions. Founded in 1948, Simmel specialized in the production of large-caliber munitions. In 1988, Simmel was acquired by the Fiat Group. During this perio ...
in 1988 and reorganized itself as SNIA S.p.A. * GFL '' Giulio Fiocchi Lecco'' –
Lecco Lecco (, , ; lmo, label= Lecchese, Lècch ) is a city of 48,131 inhabitants in Lombardy, northern Italy, north of Milan. It lies at the end of the south-eastern branch of Lake Como (the branch is named ''Branch of Lecco'' / ''Ramo di Lecco''). ...
, Italy. * HB '' Enrico Barthe & Cie'' (1883–1889) –
Milan Milan ( , , Lombard: ; it, Milano ) is a city in northern Italy, capital of Lombardy, and the second-most populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of about 1.4 million, while its metropolitan city h ...
, 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 Munitions"), 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. * L or Lri ''Polverificio Esercito di Fontana Liri'' (PEFL) ("Military Explosives Factory of Fontana Liri") (1893–present) –
Fontana Liri Fontana Liri is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Frosinone in the Italian region Lazio, located about southeast of Rome and about east of Frosinone. Fontana Liri is in the Latin Valley. Fontana Liri borders the following municipal ...
,
Frosinone Frosinone (, local dialect: ) is a town and ''comune'' in Lazio, central Italy, the administrative seat of the province of Frosinone. It is located about south-east of Rome close to the Rome-Naples A1 Motorway. The city is the main city of the ...
,
Lazio it, Laziale , population_note = , population_blank1_title = , population_blank1 = , demographics_type1 = , demographics1_footnotes = , demographics1_title1 = , demographics1_info1 = , demographics1_title2 ...
. An explosives and propellant factory. Its marking is on ammunition packaging when they provide the propellant. * LBC '' Leon Beaux & Cie.'' (1889–1932) –
Milan Milan ( , , Lombard: ; it, Milano ) is a city in northern Italy, capital of Lombardy, and the second-most populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of about 1.4 million, while its metropolitan city h ...
, 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'' ("Martignoni Ammunition and Cartridges") (?-Present) –
Genoa Genoa ( ; it, Genova ; lij, Zêna ). is the capital of the Italian region of Liguria and the sixth-largest city in Italy. In 2015, 594,733 people lived within the city's administrative limits. As of the 2011 Italian census, the Province of ...
, Italy. Manufactured pinfire cartridges. Was acquired by Nobel in 1929 to become Nobel Sport Martignoni SpA. * PC or PECA ''Lo Stabilimento Pirotecnico dell'Esercito di Capua'' ("Army Pyrotechnical Factory at Capua") (1856–Present) –
Capua Capua ( , ) is a city and ''comune'' in the province of Caserta, in the region of Campania, southern Italy, situated north of Naples, on the northeastern edge of the Campanian plain. History Ancient era The name of Capua comes from the Etrus ...
,
Caserta Caserta () is the capital of the province of Caserta in the Campania region of Italy. It is an important agricultural, commercial, and industrial '' comune'' and city. Caserta is located on the edge of the Campanian plain at the foot of the Ca ...
,
Campania (man), it, Campana (woman) , population_note = , population_blank1_title = , population_blank1 = , demographics_type1 = , demographics1_footnotes = , demographics1_title1 = , demographics1_info1 = , demog ...
, 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 II, where the facilities were moved elsewhere to Capua. Since July, 2012 the company now manufactures 9×19mm NATO, 5.56×45mm NATO, and 7.62×51mm NATO ammunition for Fiocchi. * SMI '' Società Metallurgica Italiana'' (Italian Metallurgical Corporation) (1911–2006) – Campo Tizzoro, San Marcello Pistoiese, Pistoia,
Tuscany it, Toscano (man) it, Toscana (woman) , population_note = , population_blank1_title = , population_blank1 = , demographics_type1 = Citizenship , demographics1_footnotes = , demographics1_title1 = Italian , demogra ...
, Italy. Manufactured small arms cartridges and light artillery shells for the Italian Army and Navy. The factory was closed in 2006 when the company stopped manufacturing munitions.


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 Fabrique Nationale Herstal (), trading as FN Herstal and often referred to as Fabrique Nationale or simply FN, is a leading firearms manufacturer based in Herstal, Belgium. It is currently the largest exporter of military small arms in Europe. ...
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) – Vijuku km., Uzliedziu sen., Kaunas raj.,
Kaunas County Kaunas County ( lt, Kauno apskritis) is one of ten counties of Lithuania The territory of Lithuania is divided into 10 counties ( Lithuanian: singular ''apskritis'', plural ''apskritys''), all named after their capitals. The counties are ...
, Lithuania. First manufactured 7.62×39mm Soviet rounds in 2002, NATO-standard
5.56×45mm NATO The 5.56×45mm NATO (official NATO nomenclature 5.56 NATO, but often pronounced "five-five-six") is a rimless bottlenecked intermediate cartridge family developed in the late 1970s in Belgium by FN Herstal. It consists of the SS109, L110, an ...
and 7.62×51mm NATO rounds in 2005 (earning the NATO interchangeability rating in 2006), and sporting
.223 Remington The .223 Remington (designated as the 223 Remington by the SAAMI and 223 Rem by the CIP) is a rimless, bottlenecked rifle cartridge. It was developed in 1957 by Remington Arms and Fairchild Industries for the U.S. Continental Army Command ...
and
.308 Winchester The .308 Winchester is a smokeless powder rimless bottlenecked rifle cartridge widely used for hunting, target shooting, police, military, and personal protection applications globally. It is similar but not identical to the 7.62×51mm NATO ...
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)

The early cartridges were made exclusively by ''Artillerie Inrichtingen'', the Dutch state-run munitions factory, until the early-1980s. The pre-war headstamp has the 1- or 2-letter code for the brass supplier of the cartridge case at 6 o'clock, the 2-digit year the cartridge case was produced at 12 o'clock, the lot number of the propellant at 9 o'clock, and the 2-digit year the finished cartridge was assembled at 3 o'clock. The brass suppliers or cartridge manufacturers would sometimes have the brass batch or cartridge lot number to the right of their code letter. The post-war headstamp had the manufacturer code (AI / EMZ or NWM) at the 6 o'clock position. * AI ''Artillerie Inrichtingen'' NV ("Artillery Factories") (1679–1983) – Zaandam-Hembrug, Netherlands. Reorganized as EMZ in 1983. * D ''N.V. Nederlandsche Patronen-, Slaghoedjes-en Metaalwarenfabriek'' ("Dutch Cartridges, Percussion Caps and Metalwares Factory") – Dordrecht (Dordt), Netherlands. Dordt, the English name for Dordrecht, was sometimes used on the packaging. * EMZ Eurometaal Zaandam NV (1983–1999) – Zaandam-Hembrug, Netherlands. * MB-Z ''N.V. Plaatmetaalindustrie van Mouwerik & Bal – Zeist'' ("von Mouwerk & Bal Sheetmetal Business of Zeist") –
Zeist Zeist () is the capital and largest town of the municipality of Zeist. The town is located in the Utrecht province of the Netherlands, east of the city of Utrecht. History The town of "Seist" was first mentioned in a charter in the year 8 ...
, Netherlands. Made disintegrating metal link belts, with "MB" over "Z". * NWM Nederlandsche Wapen-en Munitiefabriek 'de Kruithoorn' NV ("Dutch Weapon & Munitions Factory – 'The Powder Flask'") (1948–1998) –
's-Hertogenbosch s-Hertogenbosch (), colloquially known as Den Bosch (), is a city and municipality in the Netherlands with a population of 157,486. It is the capital of the province of North Brabant and its fourth largest by population. The city is south of th ...
, Netherlands. Made a brand of aluminum-hulled shotshells called ''Bataaf'' ("Batavian"). Industriewerke Karlsruhe (IWK, part of the Quandt Group) acquired a majority of its stock in 1961. NWM made hunting ammunition for IWK under the DWM label and made parts for Mauser Werke Luger and HSc pistols. All shares were bought by Rheinmetall in 1975.


Norway (25)

* AYR A/S Ammunisjons Fabrikker Raufoss,
Raufoss Raufoss is the administrative centre of Vestre Toten Municipality in Innlandet county, Norway. The village is located about south of the larger town of Gjøvik. The village area is located along the municipal border with the neighboring Gjøvi ...
, Norway. Now divided into several smaller ammunition and munitions companies:
Nammo Nammo, short for Nordic Ammunition Company, is a Norwegian/Finnish aerospace and defence group specialized in production of ammunition, rocket engines and space applications. The company has subsidiaries in Finland, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Switze ...
, 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)

* POF '' Pakistan Ordnance Factories'' – Wah Cantt., Taxila, Rawalpindi District, Rawalpindi Division,
Punjab Punjab (; Punjabi: پنجاب ; ਪੰਜਾਬ ; ; also romanised as ''Panjāb'' or ''Panj-Āb'') is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia, specifically in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising a ...
, Pakistan. They make munitions and small arms ammunition. They used to make .38/200,
.303 British The .303 British (designated as the 303 British by the C.I.P. and SAAMI) or 7.7×56mmR, is a calibre rimmed rifle cartridge. The .303 inch bore diameter is measured between rifling lands as is the common practice in Europe which follows th ...
(1951–2006) and
.30-06 Springfield The .30-06 Springfield cartridge (pronounced "thirty- aught-six" ), 7.62×63mm in metric notation, and called the .30 Gov't '06 by Winchester, was introduced to the United States Army in 1906 and later standardized; it remained in military use ...
, but now make 9mm Parabellum, 5.56mm NATO, 7.62mm M43 Soviet, 7.62mm NATO, 7.62mm M91 Russian, and 12.7mm Bloc.


Poland (43)

; Poland (1918–1939) The young Polish state in 1918 had inherited arms from Prussia, Russia, Austria and France. The
military A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. It is typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with its members identifiable by their distinct ...
issued both the
Mauser rifle Mauser, originally Königlich Württembergische Gewehrfabrik ("Royal Württemberg Rifle Factory"), was a German arms manufacturer. Their line of bolt-action rifles and semi-automatic pistols has been produced since the 1870s for the German arme ...
in 7.9×57mm Mauser (1918–1939) for frontline troops and Lebels and Berthiers in 8×50mmR Lebel "Balle D" (1923–1937) for reservists in the ''Obrona Narodowa'' ("National Defense"). Police and paramilitary forces were armed with Mosin-Nagants (classified ''Mosin Karabin M91/98/25'') and Mannlichers converted to 7.9×57mm Mauser. On the headstamp the cartridge manufacturer placed their code letters at the 12 o'clock position. Government-run factories that made ammunition for the military (''Wytwornia Amunicji'') placed the Polish National Eagle stamp instead. The case manufacturer's code letter or numeral was placed 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. Beginning in 1926 the headstamps on domestically produced 8mm Lebel cartridges were done in the French style, with the 12- and 6-o'clock stamps at a right angle to the 9- and 3-o'clock stamps. Bullets had the manufacturer code over the Quarter number and two-digit year of production engraved on the base (e.g. Pk/2-26 is ''Zaklady Amunicyjne, Pocisk'', 2nd Quarter of 1926). 8mm Lebel "Balle D" bullets were differenced from 7.9mm Mauser bullets by a capital letter "D" inset between the contractor code and the date (e.g. Pk/D/2-26). Ammunition packed loose in cartons were marked do KM (''do Karabin Maszynowy'', "for Machineguns") or do CKM (''Ciężki Karabin Maszynowy'', "for Heavy Machineguns"). Ammunition packed in clips were marked kar. am. (''Karabinu Amunicji'', "Rifle Ammunition") for rifles or do KBK (''Karabinek'', "for Short Rifle") for carbines. 7.9mm Mauser ammunition packets were marked ''Nb. MAUSER.KAL. 7.9 Wz.'' ("Cartridges, Mauser, 7.9 Caliber, Pattern..."), then followed by S for ''Spiczasty'' ("Pointed
all All or ALL may refer to: Language * All, an indefinite pronoun in English * All, one of the English determiners * Allar language (ISO 639-3 code) * Allative case (abbreviated ALL) Music * All (band), an American punk rock band * ''All'' (All al ...
) or SC for ''Spiczasty Ciężki'' ("Pointed, Heavy
all All or ALL may refer to: Language * All, an indefinite pronoun in English * All, one of the English determiners * Allar language (ISO 639-3 code) * Allative case (abbreviated ALL) Music * All (band), an American punk rock band * ''All'' (All al ...
). 8mm Lebel "D" ammunition packets were marked ''Nb. Francuskie OSTRA'' ("Cartridges, French LIVE"). The Lot code had the 3-digit lot number (in Arabic numerals), month (in Roman numerals), and four-digit year. The third line had the code for the Ammunition Factory (W. AM. No.-#) that made it. * I ''Wytwornia Amunicji'' (WYTW. AM., "Ammunition Factory") No.1 ( Brest-Litovsk). * II ''Wytwornia Amunicji'' No.2 (
Poznań Poznań () is a city on the River Warta in west-central Poland, within the Greater Poland region. The city is an important cultural and business centre, and one of Poland's most populous regions with many regional customs such as Saint Joh ...
). * III ''Wytwornia Amunicji'' No.3 (
Warsaw Warsaw ( pl, Warszawa, ), officially the Capital City of Warsaw,, abbreviation: ''m.st. Warszawa'' is the capital and largest city of Poland. The metropolis stands on the River Vistula in east-central Poland, and its population is officia ...
). * IV ''Wytwornia Amunicji'' No.4 (
Kraków Kraków (), or Cracow, is the second-largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, the city dates back to the seventh century. Kraków was the official capital of Poland until 1596 ...
). * V ''Wytwornia Amunicji'' No.5 ( Przemyśl). * F A S ''Fabrika Amunicji Skarzysko'' ("Ammunition Plant at Skarzysko) (1925–1939) – Skarżysko-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. Georg may refer to: * ''Georg'' (film), 1997 *Georg (musical), Estonian musical * Georg (given name) * Georg (surname) George is a surname of Irish, English, Welsh, South Indian Christian, Middle Eastern Christian (usually Lebanese), French, or ...
subsidiary factory in
Poznań Poznań () is a city on the River Warta in west-central Poland, within the Greater Poland region. The city is an important cultural and business centre, and one of Poland's most populous regions with many regional customs such as Saint Joh ...
(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) – Skarżysko-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'' ("Ammunition Works 'Bullets' Joint Stock Company"), or ''Z.A. Pocisk S.A.'' – 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 Rembertów. In 1934 it began producing the ''Darzbór'' ("Good Hunting") shotshell line. In 1935 it began production of the ''Gryf'' (" Griffin") shotshell line, which used French-made components by SFM that were assembled by Pocisk in Poland. * Dz ''Walconie Metali "Dziedzice" S.A.'' (1896–Present) – Dziedzice,
Silesian Voivodeship Silesian Voivodeship, or Silesia Province ( pl, województwo śląskie ) is a voivodeship, or province, in southern Poland, centered on the historic region known as Upper Silesia ('), with Katowice serving as its capital. Despite the Silesian V ...
. A metalworks that also manufactured cartridge cases. * F or Fr ''Fraget'' – Warsaw, Poland. A metalworks that manufactured cartridge cases. It was originally a Russian-owned factory set up in the 1850s as for making galvanized silverplate wares. It was repurposed after World War I due to the economic crisis that followed the fall of the Austro-Hungarian and Russian empires. ; Poland (1939–1945) * kam HASAG Eisen und Metallwerke G.m.b.H., Skarżysko-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 The Gau Silesia (German: ''Gau Schlesien'') formed on 15 March 1925, was an administrative division of Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1941 in the Prussian Province of Silesia. From 1925 to 1933, it was the regional subdivision of the Nazi Party for this ...
. 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 Skarżysko-Kamienna'' ("State Ammunition Factory at Skarżysko-Kamienna") (1945–1948) – Skarżysko-Kamienna, Poland. Made small arms ammunition. * 21 ''Zakłady Wyrobów Metalowych Skarżysko-Kamienna'' ("Skarżysko-Kamienna Metal Products Works") (1948–1988) – Skarżysko-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 A general officer is an officer of high rank in the armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry. In some usages the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colonel."general, adj. and n.". OED O ...
Zakłady Metalowe MESKO'' ("General Sikorski MESKO Metal Works") (1988–1993) – Skarżysko-Kamienna, Poland. Renamed as an expression of Polish independence. * 54 Factory 54 – Skarżysko-Kamienna, Poland. MESKO's autocannon, rocket, and missile division. They also manufactured pistol ammunition. * 343 Factory 343 – Krupski Mlyn,
Silesia Silesia (, also , ) is a historical region of Central Europe that lies mostly within Poland, with small parts in the Czech Republic and Germany. Its area is approximately , and the population is estimated at around 8,000,000. Silesia is split ...
, Poland. They made propellants and explosives. They also briefly made pistol ammunition. * PFA ''Panstwowa Fabryka Amunicji'' ("State Ammunition Factory") (1945–1955?) – Skarżysko-Kamienna, Poland. Skarżysko-Kamienna's headstamp until they were assigned factory numbers. * MESKO ''Marka Export Solidnosc Knokurencyjnosc Otwartosc'' ("Brand for Export – Reliability, Competitiveness, and Honesty") – Skarżysko-Kamienna, Poland. Civilian hunting and competitive shooting ammunition brand that reworded the acronym for MESKO. 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 Silesia (, also , ) is a historical region of Central Europe that lies mostly within Poland, with small parts in the Czech Republic and Germany. Its area is approximately , and the population is estimated at around 8,000,000. Silesia is split ...
, Poland. The privatized version of Factory 343.


Portugal (24)

* * AE * ''Arsenal do Exercito'' ("Army Arsenal") – Lisbon, Portugal. In the cypher-style headstamp, the "A" is superimposed over the "E" and is at 12 o'clock, the 4-digit year is at 6 o'clock, and 5-pointed stars are at 9- and 3-o'clock. * 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 right 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") (?-1902) – Santa Clara, Lisbon, Portugal. * FCPQ ''Fábrica de Cartuchame e Pólvoras Quimicas'' ("Cartridge & Chemical Powder Factory") (1927–1947) – Chelas, Marvila,
Lisbon, Portugal Lisbon (; pt, Lisboa ) is the capital and largest city of Portugal, with an estimated population of 544,851 within its administrative limits in an area of 100.05 km2. Lisbon's urban area extends beyond the city's administrative limits w ...
. Changed to ''Fabrica Nacional de Municoes de Armas Ligeiras'' (FNMAL) in 1947. * FMBP, FBP '' Fábrica de Material de Guerra de Braça de Prata'' ("War Materiel Factory in Braça de Prata") (1907–1998) – Braça de Prata, Portugal. * FNM ''
Fabrica Nacional de Municoes de Armas Ligeiras Fabrica means a device in Latin, and derivative words mean "factory" in French (''fabrique''), Italian (''fabbrica''), Portuguese (''fábrica''), Romanian (''fabrica'') and Spanish (''fábrica'') among other Romance languages. It may also refer to ...
'' ("National Small Arms Munitions Factory") (1947–2001) – Lisbon, Portugal. * FPB? ''Fábrica da Pólvora em Barcarena'' ("Powdermill in Barcarena") (1619–1988) – Bacarena, Oeiras, Lisbon, Portugal. * FPC ''Fábrica da Pólvora em Chellas'' ("Powdermill in Chelas") (1898–1927) – Chelas, Marvila,
Lisbon, Portugal Lisbon (; pt, Lisboa ) is the capital and largest city of Portugal, with an estimated population of 544,851 within its administrative limits in an area of 100.05 km2. Lisbon's urban area extends beyond the city's administrative limits w ...
. Changed to ''Fábrica de Cartuchame e Pólvoras Quimicas'' (FCPQ) in 1927.


Romania (39)

UM stands for ''Uzina Mecanica'' (Mechanical Plant). * 21 RPR, 21 ''Factory 21 (UM Cugir), Republica Populară Romînă'' ( "Romanian People's Republic") (1947–present) –
Cugir Cugir (; German: ''Kudsir, Kudschir'', Hungarian: ''Kudzsir'') is a town in Alba County, Romania. Declared a town in 1968, it administers seven villages: Bocșitura (Hungarian ''Boksiturahavas'', German ''Potschitur''), Bucuru (''Bukuruhavas''/' ...
. The acronym RPR was used from 1947 to 1965 to differentiate the Romanian Factory 21 from the Hungarian and Polish Factory 21s. * 22 ''Factory 22 (UM Sadu)'' (1947–present) –
Bumbești-Jiu Bumbești-Jiu () is a town in Gorj County, Oltenia, Romania, on the river Jiu. It administers four villages: Curtișoara, Lăzărești, Pleșa and Tetila. It officially became a town in 1989, as a result of the Romanian rural systematization pro ...
. Sadu was the name of a nearby town about 14-km away and was adopted as a cover. * CMC ''Uzinele Metalurgica di Copsa Mica si Cugir'' ("Metallurgical Works of Copsa Mica and Cugir") (1925–1944) –
Cugir Cugir (; German: ''Kudsir, Kudschir'', Hungarian: ''Kudzsir'') is a town in Alba County, Romania. Declared a town in 1968, it administers seven villages: Bocșitura (Hungarian ''Boksiturahavas'', German ''Potschitur''), Bucuru (''Bukuruhavas''/' ...
,
Transylvania Transylvania ( ro, Ardeal or ; hu, Erdély; german: Siebenbürgen) is a historical and cultural region in Central Europe, encompassing central Romania. To the east and south its natural border is the Carpathian Mountains, and to the west the Ap ...
, 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 Reşiţa'' – "Reşiţa Iron Works and Domains"), with production beginning in 1928. It made both small arms and ammunition, with the factory in Cugir and the metal-smelting plant in Copșa Mică. 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 Hermann Wilhelm Göring (or Goering; ; 12 January 1893 – 15 October 1946) was a German politician, military leader and convicted war criminal. He was one of the most powerful figures in the Nazi Party, which ruled Germany from 1933 to 1 ...
. 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 7.92×57mm Mauser ammunition and the Orița submachine gun. CMC later became UM Cugir. * kyn ''Astra, Fabrica Romana de Vagoane, Motoare, Armament si Munitii'' (" 'Astra', Romanian Factory for Wagons, Engines, Weapons, and Munitions") (1943–1944) – Brașov, Transylvania, Romania. The German contractor code for the Astra factory in Brașov. It manufactured artillery shells and land mines. * kyo ''Intreprinderil de Metalurgie "Dumitru Voina", Societate Anonima Romana, Fabrica de Armament, Brașov'' (" 'Dumitru Voina' Metallurgy Enterprise, Romanian S.A., Armament Factory at Brașov) (1943–1944) –
Brașov Brașov (, , ; german: Kronstadt; hu, Brassó; la, Corona; Transylvanian Saxon: ''Kruhnen'') is a city in Transylvania, Romania and the administrative centre of Brașov County. According to the latest Romanian census (2011), Brașov has a pop ...
, Treansylvania, Romania. The German contractor code for the PAB metal works, owned by Mr. Dumitru Voina. * PA ''Pirotechnia Armatei'' ("Military Explosives Factory") (1880?-1944?) – Bucharest, Romania. The government explosives factory. It manufactured 9×23mm Steyr pistol, 6.5mm Mannlicher, 13.2x99 Hotchkiss Long HMG, 37mm Hotchkiss QF, and 53x176mmR M1887 Gruson QF cartridges. A third letter in the headstamp indicated the metal supplier or manufacturer for the cases. It was closed in 1944 when Romania pulled out of the war. It was renamed the '' "9th of May" Workshops'' in 1947 and was demilitarized and repurposed to make machinery and spare parts for the construction industry. It was privatized as PUMAC S.A. in the 1990s. The complex was demolished in 2009. ** PAB ''Pirotechnia Armatei / Brașov'' (Armament Factory / Brașov) (?-1943) –
Brașov Brașov (, , ; german: Kronstadt; hu, Brassó; la, Corona; Transylvanian Saxon: ''Kruhnen'') is a city in Transylvania, Romania and the administrative centre of Brașov County. According to the latest Romanian census (2011), Brașov has a pop ...
. ** PAF – Unknown. ** PAH – Unknown. ** PAM – Unknown. ** PAR – Unknown. ** PAT – Unknown. * PA ''Pirotechnia Armatei'' (1939–1944) –
Bumbești-Jiu Bumbești-Jiu () is a town in Gorj County, Oltenia, Romania, on the river Jiu. It administers four villages: Curtișoara, Lăzărești, Pleșa and Tetila. It officially became a town in 1989, as a result of the Romanian rural systematization pro ...
. A factory set up with German investment and assistance. Closed in 1944. Reopened and name changed to UM Sadu in 1947. It manufactured 6.5mm Mannlicher and 13.2x99 Hotchkiss Long HMG cartridges. * R SD ("Romania – SaDu") ''UM Sadu'' (2015–present) – The new headstamp for all Sadu ammunition production, replacing all previous commercial and military headstamps. This is in accordance with an arms industry reform (Law 295/2004, reviewed 2014) in which the first letter stands for Romania and the next letters are the two syllables of Sadu. ''R SD'' is at 10 o'clock, the 2-digit year is at 2 o'clock, and the metric caliber is at 6 o'clock. The "L" prefix to the metric caliber means "long" (i.e., L 5,56 or L 7,62×54mm). * U ''Viromet S.A.'' (1936–1942; 1949–1991; 1991–present) – Victoria, Romania. A factory initially conceived by the Romanian military to make locally produced smokeless propellants. The military's proposal was approved in 1936 and government permission and planning were provided in 1937. The German firm Ferrostaal was contracted to build it in the hamlet of Ucea in the town of Victoria and provide technical assistance. Work began in 1939 but was stopped in 1942 due to wartime austerity measures. The contract was cancelled in 1944 when Romania declared war on Germany. In 1949 it was finished, reopened and renamed to ''Fabricile Ucea'' ("Factories at Ucea"). In the 1970s it started making its own primers, detonator caps, and fuses. Gradually it diversified from explosives and propellants to making refined chemicals, synthetic resins, and processed plastics. In 1991 its explosives, propellants and fuses division was spun off and renamed S.C Pirochim Victoria S.A, made a division of ROMARM, and transferred under R.A. Rompiro Făgăraş. The remainder of Viromet S.A. was reorganized and then placed under control by InterAgro S.A.


Serbia (73)

*FOMU ''Fabryka Oruzja i Municje, Užice'' ("Weapons and Munitions Factory – Užice") (1935–1940; 1944–1947) –
Užice Užice ( sr-cyr, Ужице, ) is a city and the administrative centre of the Zlatibor District in western Serbia. It is located on the banks of the river Đetinja. According to the 2011 census, the city proper has a population of 59,747. The C ...
, Serbia, Yugoslavia. *PP, PPU or ППУ Prvi Partizanski avodad Užice ("First Partizan actoryat Užice") (1941; 1947–Present) –
Užice Užice ( sr-cyr, Ужице, ) is a city and the administrative centre of the Zlatibor District in western Serbia. It is located on the banks of the river Đetinja. According to the 2011 census, the city proper has a population of 59,747. The C ...
,
Serbia Serbia (, ; Serbian: , , ), officially the Republic of Serbia (Serbian: , , ), is a landlocked country in Southeastern and Central Europe, situated at the crossroads of the Pannonian Basin and the Balkans. It shares land borders with Hungar ...
. On 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 Partizanki zavod ad Užice'' (PPU) on September 5, 1947.


Singapore (32)

*CHJ ''
Chartered Industries of Singapore ST Engineering Land Systems Ltd (STELS), Trade name, doing business as ST Kinetics, is a strategic business area of ST Engineering and handles land systems and specialty vehicles. In 2000, ST Engineering acquired the Chartered Industries of Sin ...
'' (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 ST Engineering Land Systems Ltd (STELS), doing business as ST Kinetics, is a strategic business area of ST Engineering and handles land systems and specialty vehicles. In 2000, ST Engineering acquired the Chartered Industries of Singapore (CIS ...
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 The 7.62 mm caliber is a nominal caliber used for a number of different cartridges. Historically, this class of cartridge was commonly known as .30 caliber, the imperial unit and customary unit equivalent, and was most commonly used for i ...
) 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 () is South Africa's administrative capital, serving as the seat of the executive branch of government, and as the host to all foreign embassies to South Africa. Pretoria straddles the Apies River and extends eastward into the foothi ...
''. – 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.IAA Forums > ''South African "WA" headstamp 7.62 x 51''
/ref> Produced mostly civilian ammo, but there was some military production during high volume orders. *WA ''Walter Annexe, Pretoria West factory, Pretoria Metal Pressings''. – Pretoria, South Africa. A factory named for Allen Walter, a former PMP employee. Produced military ammo. *PMP ''Pretoria Metal Pressings'' – A division of Denel Group. *JMPD ''Pretoria Metal Pressings'' – A division of Denel Group. For Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD)


South Korea (37)

* KA Government Arsenal –
Busan Metropolitan City Busan (), officially known as is South Korea's most populous city after Seoul, with a population of over 3.4 million inhabitants. Formerly romanized as Pusan, it is the economic, cultural and educational center of southeastern South Korea, w ...
,
Republic of Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and sharing a land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed by the Yellow Sea, while its ea ...
. Manufactures military cartridges. * PS ''Poong-San, Poongsan Metal Mfg. Co. Ltd.'' – Angang Ammunition Plant,
Seoul Seoul (; ; ), officially known as the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea.Before 1972, Seoul was the ''de jure'' capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) as stated iArticle 103 of ...
,
Republic of Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and sharing a land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed by the Yellow Sea, while its ea ...
. Manufactures military cartridges. * PSD ''Poong-San Defense, Poongsan Metal Mfg. Co. Ltd.'' – Dongrae Ammunition Plant,
Seoul Seoul (; ; ), officially known as the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea.Before 1972, Seoul was the ''de jure'' capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) as stated iArticle 103 of ...
,
Republic of Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and sharing a land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed by the Yellow Sea, while its ea ...
. Manufactures military cartridges. * PMC ''Precision-Made Cartridges'', a division of Poongsan Metal Mfg. Co. Ltd. –
Seoul Seoul (; ; ), officially known as the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea.Before 1972, Seoul was the ''de jure'' capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) as stated iArticle 103 of ...
,
Republic of Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and sharing a land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed by the Yellow Sea, while its ea ...
. Manufactures commercial cartridges. Owns the HotShot brand. 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 Saint Barbara ( grc, Ἁγία Βαρβάρα; cop, Ϯⲁⲅⲓⲁ Ⲃⲁⲣⲃⲁⲣⲁ; ; ), known in the Eastern Orthodox Church as the Great Martyr Barbara, was an early Christian Lebanese and Greek saint and martyr. Accounts place her in t ...
National Military Industries Enterprise") (?-2001);
Toledo, Spain Toledo ( , ) is a city and municipality of Spain, capital of the province of Toledo and the ''de jure'' seat of the government and parliament of the autonomous community of Castilla–La Mancha. Toledo was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESC ...
. Later absorbed as part of General Dynamics in 2001. *FNP '' Fábrica Nacional de Palencia'' ("National Factory at Palencia");
Palencia, Spain Palencia () is a city of Spain located in the autonomous community of Castile and León. It is the capital and most populated municipality of the province of Palencia. Located in the Northwest of the Iberian Peninsula, in the northern half ...
. 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 Toledo ( , ) is a city and municipality of Spain, capital of the province of Toledo and the ''de jure'' seat of the government and parliament of the autonomous community of Castilla–La Mancha. Toledo was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESC ...
. 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 Santa Bárbara Sistemas is a Spanish defense contractor based in Madrid, integrated under the ''European Land Systems'' of General Dynamics. It is one of the primary suppliers of the Military of Spain and is responsible for the assembly of heavy v ...
. *PS ''Pirotecnia Militar de Sevilla'' ("Military Explosives Factory at Seville"),
Seville, Spain Seville (; es, Sevilla, ) is the capital and largest city of the Spanish autonomous community of Andalusia and the province of Seville. It is situated on the lower reaches of the River Guadalquivir, in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula ...
. *SBS ''
Santa Bárbara Sistemas Santa Bárbara Sistemas is a Spanish defense contractor based in Madrid, integrated under the ''European Land Systems'' of General Dynamics. It is one of the primary suppliers of the Military of Spain and is responsible for the assembly of heavy v ...
'' ("Saint Barbara Systems") (2001–present);
Toledo, Spain Toledo ( , ) is a city and municipality of Spain, capital of the province of Toledo and the ''de jure'' seat of the government and parliament of the autonomous community of Castilla–La Mancha. Toledo was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESC ...
. 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 Marieberg, the government ammunition factories. Åker or Åbr. stood for ''
Åkersberga Åkersberga is a locality and the seat of Österåker Municipality, Stockholm County, Sweden with 28,033 inhabitants in 2010. History In 1901 a railway station named ''Berga'' was opened on this rural spot some 30 km from Stockholm. Some ...
'', 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''). 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. ;Amf Codes * K ''Amf Karlsborg'' (1870–?) – Karlsborg, Sweden. Factory originally founded inside the
Karlsborg fortress Karlsborg Fortress ( sv, Karlsborgs fästning) is situated on the Vanäs peninsula in Karlsborg by lake Vättern, the province of Västergötland, Sweden. Construction on the fortress began 1819 to realize the so-called ''central defense idea'' ad ...
in 1870, then transferred to an external factory complex (''Vanäsverken'') in 1887. The letter code on the packaging was ''Kbg.'' * M ''Amf Marieberg'' (1876–1950) – 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 6.5×55mm 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. Contracted with the German occupation owners of the Czech Brno plant. Only contracted for 7.92×57mm 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. ;Headstamps * 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 Västerås ( , , ) is a city in central Sweden on the shore of Lake Mälaren in the province of Västmanland, west of Stockholm. The city had a population of 127,799 at the end of 2019, out of the municipal total of 154,049. Västerås is the se ...
, 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'' –
Åmotfors Åmotfors is a bimunicipal locality situated in Eda Municipality and Arvika Municipality, Värmland County Värmland County (''Värmlands län'') is a county or '' län'' in west central Sweden. It borders the Swedish counties of Dalarna, Ö ...
, Sweden. ;Foreign Contract Number Headstamps * 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 SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. is a Canadian company based in Montreal that provides engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) services to various industries, including mining and metallurgy, oil and gas, environment and water, infrastructure, a ...
) – Saint-Gabriel-de-Valcartier, Canada. Only contracted for .50 BMG ammunition. * 613 ''
Companhia Brasileira de Cartuchos {{Infobox company , name = CBC - Companhia Brasileira de Cartuchos , logo = , type = Private , genre = , fate = , predecessor = , successor = , foundation = ...
'' – Santo Andre, Brazil. * 616 ''Winchester/Olin'' – East Alton, Illinois, USA.


Turkey (27)

* MKE – ''Makina ve Kimya Endüstrisi Kurumu'' (MKEK; "Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation") –
Kırıkkale Kırıkkale is the capital of the Kırıkkale Province in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey. It is located 80 km east of Ankara which is the capital city of Turkey. According to the 2000 census, the population of the province is 280,83 ...
, Turkey. 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 tronyTulskiy Z vod' > "Tula Cartridge Factory") (1880–1908) – Designated ''T'' (Factory "T") in 1908. *П Factory "P" (St. Petersburg Cartridge Factory) (1869–1918) – Petrograd (renamed
Leningrad Saint Petersburg ( rus, links=no, Санкт-Петербург, a=Ru-Sankt Peterburg Leningrad Petrograd Piter.ogg, r=Sankt-Peterburg, p=ˈsankt pʲɪtʲɪrˈburk), formerly known as Petrograd (1914–1924) and later Leningrad (1924–1991), i ...
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 Tula Oblast (russian: Ту́льская о́бласть, ''Tulskaya oblast'') is a federal subject (an oblast) of Russia. It is geographically in the European Russia region of the country and is part of the Central Federal District, covering ...
, 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) (1916–1924) – Simbirsk (town renamed
Ulyanovsk Ulyanovsk, known until 1924 as Simbirsk, is a city and the administrative center of Ulyanovsk Oblast, Russia, located on the Volga River east of Moscow. Population: The city, founded as Simbirsk (), was the birthplace of Vladimir Lenin (born ...
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, known until 1924 as Simbirsk, is a city and the administrative center of Ulyanovsk Oblast, Russia, located on the Volga River east of Moscow. Population: The city, founded as Simbirsk (), was the birthplace of Vladimir Lenin (born ...
,
Ulyanovsk Oblast Ulyanovsk Oblast (russian: Ульяновская область, ''Ul’janovskaja oblast’'') is a federal subject of Russia (an oblast). It is located in the Volga Federal District. Its administrative center is the city of Ulyanovsk. Populati ...
, Russia. Redesignated ''ЗВ'' ("ZV", ''Zavod Volodarskogo'') in 1928. *ЗВ "ZV" (''Zavod Volodarskogo'' > "Factory amed for Volodarsky") (1928 to 1941) – Ulyanovsk, Russia. Redesignated Factory 3 in 1928 but used the ''ЗВ'' ("ZV") headstamp until 1942. *X "H" (''Хиртенбeргер'' > " Hirtenberger", ''Hirtenberger Patronenfabrik'') – Hirtenberg, Austria. Contract ammunition made by Hirtenberger for Russia in 1905, 1906 and 1909. ;Soviet Russian Number Code System (1928 to 1990s) The headstamp is the factory code number at 12 o'clock and the last two digits of the year of manufacture at 6 o'clock. *3 Factory 3 (Ulyanovsk Machinery Plant) (1942–2005) –
Ulyanovsk Ulyanovsk, known until 1924 as Simbirsk, is a city and the administrative center of Ulyanovsk Oblast, Russia, located on the Volga River east of Moscow. Population: The city, founded as Simbirsk (), was the birthplace of Vladimir Lenin (born ...
,
Ulyanovsk Oblast Ulyanovsk Oblast (russian: Ульяновская область, ''Ul’janovskaja oblast’'') is a federal subject of Russia (an oblast). It is located in the Volga Federal District. Its administrative center is the city of Ulyanovsk. Populati ...
, Privolzhsky federalny okrug ("Volga Federal District"), Russia. Owned the Sapsan ( ''Sapsan'' > "Peregrine Falcon") ammunition brand. It was absorbed by the Tula Cartridge Plant in 2005. *7 Factory 7 (Amursk Machine-Building Plant) – Amursk, Khabarovsk Krai, Russia. Later reorganized in 1976 as ''Vympel'' State Production Association (''Vympel'' > "Pennant"). They manufacture 5.45×39mm Soviet, 5.56×45mm NATO, 7.62×39mm Soviet, and 9×19mm Parabellum ammunition and own the Golden Tiger ammunition brand. *10 Factory 10 (Unknown) (1944–1946) – Manufactured ammunition during World War 2. Closed after the war and records lost. *17 Factory 17 ( Barnaul Cartridge Works) (1927–present) –
Barnaul Barnaul ( rus, Барнау́л, p=bərnɐˈul) is the largest city and administrative centre of Altai Krai, Russia, located at the confluence of the Barnaulka and Ob Rivers in the West Siberian Plain. As of the 2021 Census, its population was ...
,
Krasnogorsky District, Altai Krai Krasnogorsky District (russian: Красного́рский райо́н, ''Krasnogórskiy raion'') is an administrativeLaw #28-ZS and municipalLaw #85-ZS district (raion), one of the fifty-nine in Altai Krai, Russia. It is located in the sout ...
, Russia. They own the Barnaul, Bear, and Centaur ammunition brands and produce the Monarch ammunition brand for Academy Sports. *38 Factory 38 (Tula Cartridge Plant – 1930's-1941) – Tula,
Tula Oblast Tula Oblast (russian: Ту́льская о́бласть, ''Tulskaya oblast'') is a federal subject (an oblast) of Russia. It is geographically in the European Russia region of the country and is part of the Central Federal District, covering ...
, Russia. Plant closed in 1941 and the factory's machinery and staff were moved to a new facility in Yuryuzan. **38 Factory 38 (Yuryuzan State Factory – 1942–1991) –
Yuryuzan, Chelyabinsk Oblast Yuryuzan (russian: Юрюза́нь) is a town in Katav-Ivanovsky District of Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russia, located on the Yuryuzan River (left tributary of the Ufa River), from Chelyabinsk, the administrative center of the oblast. Population: ...
, Russia. *44 Factory 44 – Moscow, Russia. Laboratory used to produce experimental munitions. *46 Factory 46 (Kuntsevsk Cartridge Works) (?-1941) – Kuntsevsk, Russia. Plant closed in 1941 and the factory's machinery and staff were moved to a new facility in Sverdlovsk designated Factory 46. **46 Factory 46 (Sverdlovsk Cartridge Works) (1942-?) – Sverdlovsk, Sverdlovsk Oblast,
Ural Ural may refer to: *Ural (region), in Russia and Kazakhstan *Ural Mountains, in Russia and Kazakhstan *Ural (river), in Russia and Kazakhstan * Ual (tool), a mortar tool used by the Bodo people of India *Ural Federal District, in Russia *Ural econ ...
, Russia. *54 Factory 54 – Nytva,
Nytvensky District Nytvensky District (russian: Ны́твенский райо́н) is an administrative district (raion) of Perm Krai, Russia; one of the thirty-three in the krai.Law #416-67 Municipally, it is incorporated as Nytvensky Municipal District.Law #173 ...
,
Perm Perm or PERM may refer to: Places *Perm, Russia, a city in Russia ** Permsky District, the district **Perm Krai, a federal subject of Russia since 2005 **Perm Oblast, a former federal subject of Russia 1938–2005 **Perm Governorate, an administra ...
, Russia. *60, BMZ Factory 60 (Frunze Cartridge Plant) (1942–1991) – Bishkek,
Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan,, pronounced or the Kyrgyz Republic, is a landlocked country in Central Asia. Kyrgyzstan is bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west, Tajikistan to the south, and the People's Republic of China to the ea ...
(formerly Frunze,
Kirghizia Kyrgyzstan,, pronounced or the Kyrgyz Republic, is a landlocked country in Central Asia. Kyrgyzstan is bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west, Tajikistan to the south, and the People's Republic of China to the east. ...
). After independence in 1991, the factory was nationalized and renamed ''Bishkek Mashinostroitel'nyy Zavod'' (''BMZ'', or "Bishkek Machine-Building Plant"). *184 Factory 184 –
Kazan Kazan ( ; rus, Казань, p=kɐˈzanʲ; tt-Cyrl, Казан, ''Qazan'', IPA: ɑzan is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Tatarstan in Russia. The city lies at the confluence of the Volga and the Kazanka rivers, covering an ...
,
Tatar Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic The Tatar Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic (russian: Татарская Автономная Советская Социалистическая Республика; tt-Cyrl, Татарстан Автономияле Совет Соци ...
, Russia. *187 Factory 187 (''Tula Cartridge Plant'') – Tula,
Tula Oblast Tula Oblast (russian: Ту́льская о́бласть, ''Tulskaya oblast'') is a federal subject (an oblast) of Russia. It is geographically in the European Russia region of the country and is part of the Central Federal District, covering ...
, Russia. This second ammunition plant to be built in Tula was refounded between 1942 and 1944. It manufactured small arms ammunition. The Cyrillic headstamp ''ТПЗ'' (TPZ, for ''Tulski Patronyj Zavod'', Russian > "Tula Cartridge Works") was used on military ammunition and TCW was used on commercial and hunting ammunition. It owns the TulAmmo trademark. *188 Factory 188 (Klimovsk Cartridge Plant) (1936–1941) –
Klimovsk Klimovsk ( rus, Климовск, p=ˈklʲiməfsk) is a microdistrict of Podolsk in Podolsk Urban Okrug, Moscow Oblast, Russia, located south of Moscow and south of Podolsk. Population: History Klimovsk was founded in the first half of the 19th ...
,
Podolsk Urban Okrug Podolsk Urban Okrug (''"Big Podolsk"'') — municipal divisions, located southeast of Moscow Oblast Russia. Its administrative division and center is the city of Podolsk Podolsk ( rus, Подольск, p=pɐˈdolʲsk) is an industrial city, ...
, Moscow Oblast, Russia. Opened as Factory 188 in Klimovsk in December 1936. Plant closed in 1941 and the factory's machinery and staff were moved to a new facility in Novosibirsk designated Factory 188. **188 Factory 188 (Novosibirsk Low Voltage Equipment Plant) (1941–present) – Novosibirsk,
Novosibirsk Oblast Novosibirsk Oblast (russian: Новосиби́рская о́бласть, ''Novosibirskaya oblast'') is a federal subject of Russia (an oblast) located in southwestern Siberia. Its administrative and economic center is the city of Novosibir ...
,
Siberian Federal District Siberian Federal District (russian: Сиби́рский федера́льный о́круг, ''Sibirsky federalny okrug'') is one of the eight federal districts of Russia. Its population was 17,178,298 according to the 2010 Census, livi ...
, Russia. Reorganized as the Novosibirsk Cartridge Plant in 1993. Owns the LVE ("Low Voltage Equipment") ammunition brand. *270, ЛПЗ (LPZ), LU, LCW Factory 270 (Lugansk Cartridge Works) (1943–present) –
Luhansk Luhansk (, ; uk, Луганськ, ), also known as Lugansk (, ; russian: Луганск, ), is a city in what is internationally recognised as Ukraine, although it is administered by Russia as capital of the Luhansk People's Republic (LPR). A ...
(formerly Lugansk),
Luhansk Oblast Luhansk Oblast ( uk, Луга́нська о́бласть, translit=Luhanska oblast; russian: Луганская область, translit=Luganskaya oblast; also referred to as Luhanshchyna, uk, Луга́нщина) is the easternmost oblast ...
,
Ukraine Ukraine ( uk, Україна, Ukraïna, ) is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which it borders to the east and northeast. Ukraine covers approximately . Prior to the ongoing Russian inv ...
. The second Lugansk ammunition plant was founded in 1943. The ''270'' headstamp was used on military ammunition from 1943 to 2008 and ''ЛПЗ'' (LPZ, for ''Luganskij Patronnyj Zavod'', Russian > "Lugansk Cartridge Works") from 2008 to present. The ''LU'' headstamp (for Luhansk, Ukraine) was used on commercial and contract ammunition for Red Army Standard. The LCW headstamp has been used since 2002 on exported ammunition. *304 Factory 304 (Kuntsevo Cartridge Works) –
Kuntsevo District Kúntsevo (russian: Ку́нцево) is a district in Western Administrative Okrug of the federal city of Moscow, Russia. Population: History In the 18th century, a palace and a park were built; they were often visited by the Empress Catherin ...
, Zapadny Administrative Okrug, Moscow, Russia. This second ammunition plant to be built in Kuntsevo was refounded between 1942 and 1944. Kuntsevo was integrated as part of Moscow in 1960. *529 Factory 529 (Novaya Lyalya Cartridge Works) –
Novaya Lyalya Novaya Lyalya (russian: Но́вая Ля́ля) is a town and the administrative center of Novolyalinsky District in Sverdlovsk Oblast, Russia, located on the , north of Yekaterinburg, the administrative center of the oblast. Population: Histo ...
,
Novolyalinsky District Novolyalinsky District (russian: Новолялинский райо́н) is an administrative district (raion) in one of the thirty districts in Sverdlovsk Oblast, Russia.Charter of Sverdlovsk Oblast As a municipal division, it is incorporated ...
, Sverdlovsk Oblast, Russia. *539 Factory 539 (
Tula Cartridge Plant {{Infobox company , name = Tula Cartridge Works , logo = File:Tula Cartridge Plant logo.png , logo_size = 271 , logo_alt = , logo_caption = , image = , image_size = , image_alt = , image_caption = , trade_name = , native_name = , ...
) (1942/1944–present) – Tula,
Tula Oblast Tula Oblast (russian: Ту́льская о́бласть, ''Tulskaya oblast'') is a federal subject (an oblast) of Russia. It is geographically in the European Russia region of the country and is part of the Central Federal District, covering ...
, Russia. Factory closed and its machinery moved in 1941 but was refounded in 1942/1944. *540 Factory 540 – Irkutsk,
Irkutsk Oblast Irkutsk Oblast (russian: Ирку́тская о́бласть, Irkutskaya oblast; bua, Эрхүү можо, Erkhüü mojo) is a federal subject of Russia (an oblast), located in southeastern Siberia in the basins of the Angara, Lena, and N ...
,
Siberia Siberia ( ; rus, Сибирь, r=Sibir', p=sʲɪˈbʲirʲ, a=Ru-Сибирь.ogg) is an extensive region, geographical region, constituting all of North Asia, from the Ural Mountains in the west to the Pacific Ocean in the east. It has been a ...
, Russia. *541 Factory 541 (Chelyubinsk Cartridge Works) –
Chelyabinsk Chelyabinsk ( rus, Челя́бинск, p=tɕɪˈlʲæbʲɪnsk, a=Ru-Chelyabinsk.ogg; ba, Силәбе, ''Siläbe'') is the administrative center and largest city of Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russia. It is the seventh-largest city in Russia, with a ...
, Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russia. *543 Factory 543 –
Kazan Kazan ( ; rus, Казань, p=kɐˈzanʲ; tt-Cyrl, Казан, ''Qazan'', IPA: ɑzan is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Tatarstan in Russia. The city lies at the confluence of the Volga and the Kazanka rivers, covering an ...
,
Tatar Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic The Tatar Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic (russian: Татарская Автономная Советская Социалистическая Республика; tt-Cyrl, Татарстан Автономияле Совет Соци ...
, Russia. *544 Factory 544 –
Glazov Glazov ( rus, Глазов, p=ˈɡlazəf; udm, Глаз, ''Glaz'') is a town in the Udmurt Republic, Russia, located along the Trans-Siberian Railway, on the Cheptsa River. Population: History It was first mentioned in the 17th century chr ...
,
Udmurt Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic The Udmurt Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic was an autonomous republic of the Soviet Union, named after the Udmurt people. It originated on 4 November 1920 as the Votyak Autonomous Oblast ("Votyak" is an obsolete name for Udmurts, "Vot" bei ...
, Russia. *545 Factory 545 –
Chkalov Valery Pavlovich Chkalov ( rus, Валерий Павлович Чкалов, p=vɐˈlʲerʲɪj ˈpavləvʲɪtɕ ˈtɕkaləf; – 15 December 1938) was a test pilot awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union (1936). Early life Chkalov was bo ...
, Chkalov Oblast, Russia. *710 Factory 710 (Podolsk Cartridge Works) –
Podolsk Podolsk ( rus, Подольск, p=pɐˈdolʲsk) is an industrial city, center of Podolsk Urban Okrug, Moscow Oblast, Russia, located on the Pakhra River (a tributary of the Moskva River). History The first mentions of the village of Podol, ...
,
Podolsk Urban Okrug Podolsk Urban Okrug (''"Big Podolsk"'') — municipal divisions, located southeast of Moscow Oblast Russia. Its administrative division and center is the city of Podolsk Podolsk ( rus, Подольск, p=pɐˈdolʲsk) is an industrial city, ...
, Moscow Oblast, Russia. This second ammunition plant to be built in Podolsk was refounded between 1942 and 1944. *711 Factory 711 ( Klimovsk Stamping Plant) (1942/1944-?) –
Klimovsk Klimovsk ( rus, Климовск, p=ˈklʲiməfsk) is a microdistrict of Podolsk in Podolsk Urban Okrug, Moscow Oblast, Russia, located south of Moscow and south of Podolsk. Population: History Klimovsk was founded in the first half of the 19th ...
,
Podolsk Urban Okrug Podolsk Urban Okrug (''"Big Podolsk"'') — municipal divisions, located southeast of Moscow Oblast Russia. Its administrative division and center is the city of Podolsk Podolsk ( rus, Подольск, p=pɐˈdolʲsk) is an industrial city, ...
, Moscow Oblast, Russia. This second ammunition plant to be built in Klimovsk was refounded between 1942 and 1944.


Albania (59)

The headstamp used the reverse of the regular ComBloc headstamp code, with the "3" at 6 o'clock and the two-digit year at 12 o'clock. The country was informally allied with China from 1961 and formally withdrew from the Warsaw Pact in 1968. Most of the ammunition used by the Albanian armed forces was imported from China, as it was better quality and cheaper than domestic production. Since 2001 it has been involved in disposing of both domestic and foreign munitions for the UN and NATO. * 1 ''Uzina Mekanike'' (UM) ''Gramsh'' ("Engineering Factory" in Gramsh) (1962–present) – Gramsh,
Elbasan Elbasan ( ; sq-definite, Elbasani ) is the fourth most populous city of Albania and seat of Elbasan County and Elbasan Municipality. It lies to the north of the river Shkumbin between the Skanderbeg Mountains and the Myzeqe Plain in central ...
county, central region, Albania. Armory. * 2 ''Uzina e Lëndëve Plasëse'' (ULP) '' Mjekës'' ("Factory for Explosive Materials" in Mjekës) (1962–present) – Mjekes, Shirgjan municipality,
Elbasan Elbasan ( ; sq-definite, Elbasani ) is the fourth most populous city of Albania and seat of Elbasan County and Elbasan Municipality. It lies to the north of the river Shkumbin between the Skanderbeg Mountains and the Myzeqe Plain in central ...
county, central region, Albania. Explosives factory. * 3 ''Kombinati Mekanik'' (KM) ''Poliçan'' ("Industrial Combine" in Poliçan) (1962–present) –
Poliçan Poliçan ''( sq-definite, Poliçani)'' is a city and a municipality situated in south-central Albania. It was formed at the 2015 local government reform by the merger of the former municipalities Poliçan, Tërpan and Vërtop, that became munici ...
,
Berat County Berat County (; sq, Qarku Berat, italic=unset), officially the County of Berat ( sq, Qarku i Beratit, italic=unset), is a county in the Southern Region of the Republic of Albania. It is the ninth largest by area and the ninth most populous of ...
, southern region, Albania. Munitions factory. Was privatized in 2006.


Bulgaria (50)

Bulgaria is now a NATO member. It often manufactures ammunition for other NATO partners. *((10)) Factory 10 (1947–present) –
Kazanlak Kazanlak ( bg, Казанлък , Thracian and Greek Σευθόπολις (''Seuthopolis''), tr, Kazanlık) is a Bulgarian town in Stara Zagora Province, located in the middle of the plain of the same name, at the foot of the Balkan mountai ...
, 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 Машиностроителен Комбинат «Фридрих Енгелс» (''Mashinostroitelen Kombinat "Fridrikh Engels"'', "Fridrikh Engels" Machine-Building Plant) from 1977 to 1989. It was privatized as Arsenal JSCo in 1989. *Д В Ф (DVF) ''Durjavna Voenna Fabrika'' ("State Military Factory") (1924–1947) –
Kazanlak Kazanlak ( bg, Казанлък , Thracian and Greek Σευθόπολις (''Seuthopolis''), tr, Kazanlık) is a Bulgarian town in Stara Zagora Province, located in the middle of the plain of the same name, at the foot of the Balkan mountai ...
, Bulgaria. Manufactured ammunition and explosives. Also started manufacturing commercial and agricultural products from 1944 onwards. The headstamp had ''Д'' ("D") at 9 o'clock, ''В'' ("V") at 12 o'clock, and ''Ф'' ("F") at 3 o'clock, with the 2-digit year at 6 o'clock. The Cyrillic alphabet headstamp has mistakenly been read as ''B'' or ''A B O'' because of mistranslation by collectors.


Czechoslovakia

Czechoslovakia declared independence from Austro-Hungary in 1918. It was divided into the
Czech Republic The Czech Republic, or simply Czechia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Historically known as Bohemia, it is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the southeast. The ...
and
Slovakia Slovakia (; sk, Slovensko ), officially the Slovak Republic ( sk, Slovenská republika, links=no ), is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is bordered by Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east, Hungary to the south, Austria to the s ...
in 1993. ; Czechoslovakia – Pre-War (1918–1939) * (M) ''Československé Muniční a Kovodělné Závody A.S.'' ("Czechoslovakian Munitions and Metalworking Factories") (1934–1946) – Bratislava, Czechoslovakia (now Slovakia). The nationalized Georg Roth AG factory. The "M" headstamp is embossed in either a full- or half-circle. * Ô / SB / Ô Sellier & Bellot – Vlašim, Prague, Czechoslovakia. Made percussion caps from 1825 and metal cartridges from 1870, beginning commercial hunting cartridge production in 1895. On the commercial ammunition headstamps the SB is at the 12 o'clock position. The "O"s (often referred to as "rosettes") are at the 3- and 9-o'clock positions, and the caliber is at 6 o'clock. (Pistol ammo usually had only one "rosette"). The "rosettes" (a reversed arrowhead superimposed atop a circle, representing a rifled gunbarrel) indicate the use of Neroxin non-corrosive primers, S&B's proprietary brand. * S&B, SB ''Sellier & Bellot'' (1825–1936; 1983–present) – Prague, Czechoslovakia (now Czech Republic). On the headstamp the "S&B" is at the 12 o'clock position. Military ammunition had the 4-digit year of production split between 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock (e.g., 19 and 38 for 1938), and the factory code letter at 6 o'clock. When Riga, the last of its satellite factories, was sold off in 1937 the unified factory code letters SBP were placed at 12 o'clock and the quadrant at 6 o'clock were replaced with the month of production in Roman numerals (e.g., VI for June, the sixth month). The headstamp was changed back to S&B in 1983. ** SBP, SB / P ''Sellier & Bellot – Prague'' (1936–1939; 1939–46; 1946?–1983) – Prague, Czechoslovakia. Manufacturing moved to Vlasim in the mid-1930s (starting up in 1936) but the international headquarters remained in Prague. The civilian headstamp has the "SBP" at 12 o'clock and the caliber at 6 o'clock. On the military headstamp the "SB" is at 12 o'clock and the "P" is at 6 o'clock. ** SBR, SB / R ''Sellier & Bellot – Riga'' (1884–1937; 1937–1940; 1940–1941 & 1944–1946) – Krusenhof, Riga, Latvia. A satellite factory set up for sales to Northern Europe and the Baltic region. The civilian headstamp has the "SBR" at 12 o'clock and the caliber at 6 o'clock. On the military 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 because most of the regional powers used either captured German or Austrian war surplus or British military aid. 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. Vairogs used a stylized "V" as its headstamp from 1937 to 1940. It was later seized and nationalized by the Soviet Union in 1940 and renamed Factory 520 (with "520" as its headstamp). It manufactured 7.62×54mmR M91 Russian rifle ammunition until the machinery was evacuated to Sverdlovsk in 1941. It was returned in 1944/1945 and briefly was in operation until 1946. The facility was then repurposed into a train car factory. ** SBS, SB / S ''Sellier & Bellot – Schönebeck'' (1829–1922) – Schönebeck, Germany. A satellite factory set up initially for production of mercury fulminate. This was due to pollution restrictions placed on the Prague site until 1841. The civilian headstamp has the "SBS" at 12 o'clock and the caliber at 6 o'clock. On the military headstamp the "SB" is at 12 o'clock and the "S" is at 6 o'clock. Sold to the Steyr-Werke A.G. of Vienna, Austria in 1922. ** SB / Schönebeck, P69 ''Sellier & Bellot – Schönebeck'' (1922–1945) – Schönebeck, Germany. The "SB" was at 12 o'clock and the text for ''Schönebeck'' occupied the lower half of the headstamp. The month of production was on the left of the ''SB'' and the two-digit year was to the right. 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. in 1930. The plant was confiscated from Mandl by the German government in 1933 because he was a Jew. It was then owned by IG Farben from 1933 to 1945, and used the headstamp P-code "P69" for military ammunition. ; Czechoslovakia – German Occupation (1939–1945) * ak ''Munitionsfabriken'' (vormals Sellier & Bellot, Prag – Fabrik in Wlaschim) (1939–1945) – Vlašim, Czechoslovakia. Sellier & Bellot cartridge factory. * dou Waffenwerke Brünn A.-G., Werk Povázská Bystrica (1939–1945) –
Považská Bystrica Považská Bystrica (; german: Waagbistritz; hu, Vágbeszterce) is a town in northwestern Slovakia. It is located on the Váh river, around 30 km from the city of Žilina. It belongs to Upper Váh region of tourism. Profile Považská B ...
, Czechoslovakia. Brno Arsenal. ; Czechoslovakia – Cold War (1945–1990) :7,62–43 (1953–1990s) = Crate marking indicating 7.62×39mm M43 Soviet (7,62mm vz. 43). Introduced around 1953. :7,62–59 (1959–1990s) = Crate marking indicating 7.62×54mmR M91 Russian (7,62mm vz. 59). Replaced the 7.92mm Mauser round in 1959. * PS ''Povazske Strojarne'' ("Factory at Povazska") (1946–1952) –
Považská Bystrica Považská Bystrica (; german: Waagbistritz; hu, Vágbeszterce) is a town in northwestern Slovakia. It is located on the Váh river, around 30 km from the city of Žilina. It belongs to Upper Váh region of tourism. Profile Považská B ...
, Czechoslovakia (now Slovakia). The renamed National Ammunition Plant after its move from Bratislava. * SBP ("Sellier & Bellot at Prague") (1946?-1983) – Sellier & Bellot's commercial headstamp for civilian sales and European exports. The original S&B headstamp was reintroduced for commercial sales in 1983. * UX, UXA (1946–1949) – Unknown location. 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") (1945–1983) – Vlašim, Czechoslovakia. ''Zbrojova Vlašim'' was the
nationalized Nationalization (nationalisation in British English) is the process of transforming privately-owned assets into public assets by bringing them under the public ownership of a national government or state. Nationalization usually refers to p ...
name for the former
Sellier & Bellot Sellier & Bellot is a firearms ammunition manufacturer situated in Vlašim, Czech Republic. It is a subsidiary of the Brazilian company CBC. Foundation Sellier & Bellot was founded on August 5, 1825 by a German businessman of French ...
plant in Vlasim and was used for military export. * aym ''Povazske Strojarne'' (1952–1998) –
Považská Bystrica Považská Bystrica (; german: Waagbistritz; hu, Vágbeszterce) is a town in northwestern Slovakia. It is located on the Váh river, around 30 km from the city of Žilina. It belongs to Upper Váh region of tourism. Profile Považská B ...
, Horné Považie region, Czechoslovakia. Used for internal Warsaw Pact sales. * bxn ''Zbrojova Vlašim'' –
Vlašim Vlašim (; german: Wlaschim) is a town in Benešov District in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 11,000 inhabitants. Vlašim is known for its castle and English style park. Administrative parts Villages of Bolina, D ...
,
Central Bohemia The Central Bohemian Region ( cz, Středočeský kraj, german: Mittelböhmische Region) is an administrative unit ( cz, kraj) of the Czech Republic, located in the central part of its historical region of Bohemia. Its administrative centre is in ...
region, Czechoslovakia. Used for internal Warsaw Pact sales. Now used for military munitions sales. * czo ''Zbrojova Vsetín'' –
Vsetín Vsetín () is a town in the Zlín Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 25,000 inhabitants. Originally a small town, Vsetín has become an important centre of industrial, economic, cultural and sports life during the 20th century. Administ ...
,
Zlín Zlín (in 1949–1989 Gottwaldov; ; german: Zlin) is a city in the Czech Republic. It has about 73,000 inhabitants. It is the seat of the Zlín Region and it lies on the Dřevnice river. It is known as an industrial centre. The development of the ...
region, Czechoslovakia. Used for internal Warsaw Pact sales.


East Germany

VEB stands for ''Volkseigene Betreib'' (literally "People's Own Enterprise"), a state-owned or nationalized business. Headstamps were Warsaw Pact standard, with the contractor code at 12 o'clock and 2-digit year at 6 o'clock; brass-cased ammunition (''Messing Hulse'' or Ms-Hulse) had an asterisk at 3 o'clock. Lots were made in blocks of 10; the first number before the slash was the sub-lot (1-10) and the number before the slash was the number of lots (1/9 is the 9th sub-lot of Lot 1). * 04 ''VEB Mechanische Werkstätten Königswartha'' ("Mechanical Workshops" at Königswartha) – Königswartha,
Bezirk Dresden The Bezirk Dresden was a district (''Bezirk'') of East Germany that lasted from 1952 to 1990. Dresden would be reabsorbed back into Saxony after the reunification of Germany. The administrative seat and the main town was Dresden. History The dist ...
, East Germany. An ammunition factory that made 9×19mm Parabellum (9mm P-08), 7,92×57mm Mauser (7,92mm Patr.), 7.92×33mm Kurz (7,92mm Patr.-Kz 43) and 7.62×39mm M43 Soviet (7.62mm Patr. M43) ammo. * 05 ''VEB
Spreewerk Metallwarenfabrik Spreewerk GmbH was a German weapons manufacturing company. Spreewerk produced a number of important weapons and components before and during World War II including 280,880 of the Walther P.38 pistol which was the standard service ...
Lübben'' – Lübben,
Bezirk Cottbus Cottbus was a district () of the German Democratic Republic (East Germany). The administrative seat and main town was Cottbus. History The district was established, along with the other 13, on 25 July 1952, ''de facto'' replacing the East German ...
, East Germany. The nationalized BKIW arsenal. It made 9×19mm Parabellum (9mm P-08), 7,92×57mm Mauser (7,92mm Patr.), 7.92×33mm Kurz (7,92mm Patr.-Kz 43), 5.45×39mm M74 Soviet (5.45mm Patr. M74) and 7.62×39mm M43 Soviet (7.62mm Patr. M43) ammo. * 201 ''VEB Sprengstoffwerk I (Schönebeck/Elbe)'' ("Explosives Factory #1 at
Schönebeck Schönebeck (), officially Schönebeck (Elbe), is a town in the district of Salzlandkreis, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It is situated on the left bank of the Elbe, approx. southeast of Magdeburg. For much of the twentieth century it was noted ...
on the
Elbe The Elbe (; cs, Labe ; nds, Ilv or ''Elv''; Upper and dsb, Łobjo) is one of the major rivers of Central Europe. It rises in the Giant Mountains of the northern Czech Republic before traversing much of Bohemia (western half of the Czech Re ...
) (1951?–1990) – Schönebeck, Saxony-Anhalt, East Germany. Made sporting rimfire and shotshell cartridges and recycled centerfire ammo cases as blanks.


Yugoslavia

* 11 ''Enterprise 11'' (''Prvi Partizanski zavod ad Uzice'') (1948–1956) – Uzice, Yugoslavia (now Serbia). Cover headstamp briefly used for ППУ. Cartridge headstamp had the code number at 12 o'clock, 5-point Communist Stars at 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock, and the 2-digit year of production at 6 o'clock. * 12 ''Enterprise 12'' (''Igman zavod ad Konjic'') (1952–1955) – Konjic, Yugoslavia (now Bosnia-Herzegovina). Cover headstamp briefly used for ИК. Cartridge headstamp had the code number at 12 o'clock, 5-point Communist Stars at 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock, and the 2-digit year of production at 6 o'clock. * A Т Ӡ (A T Z) ''Artiljerijsko Tehnički Institut'' ("Artillery Technical Institute") (1853-?) – Kragujevac,
Yugoslavia Yugoslavia (; sh-Latn-Cyrl, separator=" / ", Jugoslavija, Југославија ; sl, Jugoslavija ; mk, Југославија ;; rup, Iugoslavia; hu, Jugoszlávia; rue, label=Pannonian Rusyn, Югославия, translit=Juhoslavija ...
(now
Serbia Serbia (, ; Serbian: , , ), officially the Republic of Serbia (Serbian: , , ), is a landlocked country in Southeastern and Central Europe, situated at the crossroads of the Pannonian Basin and the Balkans. It shares land borders with Hungar ...
). A cannon foundry and pyrotechnics laboratory founded in 1853. In 1883 the laboratory was spun off to form ''Vojno Tehnicki Zavod'', which concentrated on munitions and pyrotechnics. * В Т Ӡ (V T Z) ''Vojno Tehnički Zavod'' ("Military Technical Institute") (1883–1941; 1944–1992) – Kragujevac,
Yugoslavia Yugoslavia (; sh-Latn-Cyrl, separator=" / ", Jugoslavija, Југославија ; sl, Jugoslavija ; mk, Југославија ;; rup, Iugoslavia; hu, Jugoszlávia; rue, label=Pannonian Rusyn, Югославия, translit=Juhoslavija ...
(now
Serbia Serbia (, ; Serbian: , , ), officially the Republic of Serbia (Serbian: , , ), is a landlocked country in Southeastern and Central Europe, situated at the crossroads of the Pannonian Basin and the Balkans. It shares land borders with Hungar ...
). A factory that manufactured munitions and pyrotechnics from 1883 to 1941. The headstamp wasn't changed from AТӠ to ВТӠ until 1932. 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. * ИК (IK) ''Igman zavod ad Konjic'' ("Igman Factory at Konjic") – Konjic, Yugoslavia (now Bosnia-Herzegovina). * ППУ (PPU) ''Prvi Partizanski zavod'' ad Užice ("First Partisan" Ammunition Plant) (1945–present) –
Užice Užice ( sr-cyr, Ужице, ) is a city and the administrative centre of the Zlatibor District in western Serbia. It is located on the banks of the river Đetinja. According to the 2011 census, the city proper has a population of 59,747. The C ...
, Yugoslavia (now Serbia). * ЕИГН (EIGN) – Unknown Factory. Headstamp had the code letters at 12 o'clock and the 2-digit year of production at 6 o'clock. * МБЛ (MBL) ''Milan Blagojevic namenska ad Lucani'' ("Milan Blajojevic dedicated
lant Lant is aged urine. The term comes from Old English , which referred to urine. Collected urine was put aside to ferment until used for its chemical content in many pre-industrial processes, such as cleaning and production. History Because of ...
at Lucani") (1949–present) – Lucani, Moravica, Yugoslavia (now Serbia). Specialized 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 often found as the propellant supplier on the cartridge packaging. * РКI (RK-1) – Unknown factory. Might be a cover headstamp for ''Fabryka «Suvenir»''. * СМБ (SMB) ''Fabryka «Suvenir»'' (Factory "
Souvenir A souvenir (), memento, keepsake, or token of remembrance is an object a person acquires for the memories the owner associates with it. A souvenir can be any object that can be collected or purchased and transported home by the traveler as a m ...
") (1981–present) – Samokov, Makedonski Brod,
Poreče Poreče, Porečie or Porečje or Poreč ( mk, Порече, Поречие, Поречје or Poreč), is a region in North Macedonia which includes the Makedonski Brod Municipality, and the western part of the Prilep Municipality Prilep ( mk ...
, Yugoslavia (now
Republic of North Macedonia North Macedonia, ; sq, Maqedonia e Veriut, (Macedonia before February 2019), officially the Republic of North Macedonia,, is a country in Southeast Europe. It gained independence in 1991 as one of the successor states of Yugoslavia. It ...
). Arms and ammunition factory that also mints all of North Macedonia's coinage. They made 9mm Parabellum, 7.62mm M43 Soviet, and 7,9mm Mauser ammunition and repaired small arms. From 2005 to 2009 it was owned by Greek munitions manufacturer Olympic Arms S.A., but no ammunition was manufactured. From 2009 they were bought out by the Czech firm Real Trade Praha A.S. and were renamed '«Suvenir» Metal Products Equipment'. They own the SUMBRO ammunition brand (which stands for «Suvenir», Makedonski Brod). Currently they are owned by Ammunition Technology Services (ATS). They currently (as of 2022) manufacture 9mm Parabellum, 5.56mm NATO, 7.62mm M43 Soviet, 7.62mm NATO, 12.7mm NATO and 12.7mm Soviet ammunition.


Caribbean manufacturers


Cuba

Early Cuban ammunition didn't use a headstamp code until the late 1970s. * 13 (1980s – 2012) – La Campana, Hoyo de Manicaragua,
Villa Clara Province Villa Clara is one of the provinces of Cuba. It is located in the central region of the island bordering with the Atlantic at north, Matanzas Province by west, Sancti Spiritus Province by east, and Cienfuegos Province on the South. Villa Clar ...
, Cuba. Headstamps date from the early 1980s. * PMV ''Pirotecnia Militar de Las Villas'' (1970s – 1980s) – La Campana, Hoyo de Manicaragua, Las Villas Province, Cuba. Headstamps date from the late 1970s. Las Villas Province was split into 3 smaller provinces in 1976: Cienfuegos, Sancti Spíritus and Villa Clara. * EMI ''Empresa Militar Industrial "Ernesto Che Guevara"'' ("Military-Industrial Enterprise «''Ernesto Che Guevara''»") (2012-Present) – La Campana,
Manicaragua Manicaragua () is a municipality and mountain town in the Villa Clara Province of Cuba. It is located in the Escambray Mountains at the southern part of Villa Clara, bordering the provinces of Cienfuegos to the west and Sancti Spíritus to the ea ...
,
Villa Clara Province Villa Clara is one of the provinces of Cuba. It is located in the central region of the island bordering with the Atlantic at north, Matanzas Province by west, Sancti Spiritus Province by east, and Cienfuegos Province on the South. Villa Clar ...
,
Cuba Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbea ...
. New machinery is to be provided by KBAL, a division of the Klimovsk Cartridge Plant,
Rosoboronexport JSC Rosoboronexport (russian: AO Рособоронэкспорт, ''Rosoboroneksport'') is the sole state intermediary agency for Russia's exports/imports of defense-related and dual use products, technologies and services. The Rosoboronexport ...
.


Dominican Republic

* R D ''República Dominicana'' (''Armeria F.A. San Cristobal'', "Army Armory at San Cristobal") (1955?-1968) – San Cristobal, Dominican Republic. Headstamp has the "R" at 9 o'clock, "D" at 3 o'clock, cartridge designation (e.g., .30 M1) at 12 o'clock, and 2-digit year of production at 6 o'clock. After Trujillo's assassination in 1961, the armory gradually wound down production and was then closed.


South American manufacturers


Argentina (29)

* FLB, FMFLB '' Fábrica Militar 'Fray Luís Beltran''' ("Military Factory – 'Friar Louis Beltran'") (1961–present) – San Lorenzo,
Argentina Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, th ...
. A military supply and ammunition factory named after the friar who helped create the first armory and cannon foundry during the
Spanish American wars of independence The Spanish American wars of independence (25 September 1808 – 29 September 1833; es, Guerras de independencia hispanoamericanas) were numerous wars in Spanish America with the aim of political independence from Spanish rule during the early ...
. 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 Fray Luis Beltran-1982). * FM ''Fabrica de Munición para Armas Portátiles'' ("Small Arms Munitions Factory") (1935–1937) – San Lorenzo,
Argentina Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, th ...
. 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 San Francisco (; Spanish for " Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the fourth most populous in California and 17th ...
, Córdoba, Argentina. * FMMAP-B ''Fabrica rgentinaMilitar de Municion de Armas Portatiles de Puerto Borghi'' ("Military Light Arms Munitions Factory at Puerto Borghi") (1937–1950) – Puerto Borghi, San Lorenzo,
Argentina Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, th ...
. * FMMAP-DM ''Fabrica Militar de Municion de Armas Portátiles "
Domingo Matheu Domingo Bartolomé Francisco Matheu (4 August 1765, in Mataró. Spain – 28 March 1831, in Buenos Aires, Argentina) was a Spanish-born Argentine businessman and politician. He was a member of the Primera Junta, the first national government ...
" de Rosario'' ("Military Factory for Light Arms Munitions – 'Domingo Matheu' at Rosario") (1942-?) – Rosario, Santa Fe,
Argentina Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, th ...
. * FMMAP-SF ''Fabrica rgentinaMilitar de Municion de Armas Portatiles de San Francisco'' ("Military Factory for Light Arms Ammunition at San Francisco") – San Francisco, Córdoba, Argentina. * IMPA ''Industrias Metalúrgicas y Plásticas Argentina'' ("Metallurgical and Plastic Industries of Argentina") (1928–present) – barrio de Almagro,
Buenos Aires Buenos Aires ( or ; ), officially the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires ( es, link=no, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires), is the capital and primate city of Argentina. The city is located on the western shore of the Río de la Plata, on South ...
, Argentina. 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)

* CBC ''
Companhia Brasileira de Cartuchos {{Infobox company , name = CBC - Companhia Brasileira de Cartuchos , logo = , type = Private , genre = , fate = , predecessor = , successor = , foundation = ...
'' –
Ribeirão Pires Ribeirão Pires (''Pires Stream'') is a city in the Metropolitan Region of the city of São Paulo, in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. It is part of the " ABC Region." The population is 124,159 (2020 est.) in an area of 99.1 km2. The elevation ...
,
São Paulo São Paulo (, ; Portuguese for ' Saint Paul') is the most populous city in Brazil, and is the capital of the state of São Paulo, the most populous and wealthiest Brazilian state, located in the country's Southeast Region. Listed by the Ga ...
, Brazil.


Chile (52)

*F. ''FÁbricas y MAestranzas del Ejército'' (FAMAE) ("Factories and Workshops of the Army") – Santiago, Chile.


Colombia (80)

* INDUMIL, IM ''Industria Militar'' ("Colombian Military Industry") (1954–present) – Bogotá, Colombia.


Paraguay

*F D ''FAMAE & DIMABEL''. Made in Chile by
FAMAE , type = State-owned company , location = , industry = defense , founded = , founder = , hq_location_city = Santiago , hq_location_country = Chile , num_locations = , num_locations_year = , area_served = Worldwide , key ...
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 , type = State-owned company , location = , industry = defense , founded = , founder = , hq_location_city = Caracas, Capital District , hq_location_country = Venezuela , num_locations = , num_locations_year = , area_served ...
''Compañía Anónima Venezolana de Industrias Militares'' ("Venezuelan Military Industries, Ltd.") – Caracas. (1975–present) The headstamp follows ComBloc pattern with CAVIM at 6 o'clock and the 2-digit year of production at 12 o'clock. The headquarters is in Caracas, the Armament and Munitions Factory is in
Maracay ) , image_skyline = , image_caption =Top:Maracay Municipal Garden and Las Delicias area, Second: Sindoni Tower, Los Tamarindo residential area and overview to Maracay, Third:Maestranza Cesar Giron Bullring Stadium, Girardot Square and Maraca ...
, and the Chemical Plant is in Morón. **OP ''Codigo DAEX del Organismos Policiales'' ("DAEX Code for the Police Organizations") = A code number assigned by DAEX that is placed on the headstamp of police-issue ammunition to indicate which organization it was issued. It is designed to prevent pilferage and black market arms proliferation. On the headstamp, the manufacturer code (CAVIM) is at 12 o'clock, the OP code (example ''OP:35'') is at 6 o'clock, and the 2-digit year of production is at 3 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 Caracas (, ), officially Santiago de León de Caracas, abbreviated as CCS, is the capital and largest city of Venezuela, and the center of the Metropolitan Region of Caracas (or Greater Caracas). Caracas is located along the Guaire River in the ...
. This headstamp was used on military ammunition that had been imported from
Fabrique Nationale Fabrique Nationale Herstal (), trading as FN Herstal and often referred to as Fabrique Nationale or simply FN, is a leading firearms manufacturer based in Herstal, Belgium. It is currently the largest exporter of military small arms in Europe. ...
.


African manufacturers


Burkina Faso

* SIVAM ''Societe Industrielle Voltaique d'Armes et Munitions'' ("Voltaic Industrial Society for Arms and Munitions") –
Ouagadougou Ouagadougou ( , , ) is the capital and largest city of Burkina Faso and the administrative, communications, cultural, and economic centre of the nation. It is also the country's largest city, with a population of 2,415,266 in 2019. The city's ...
,
Burkina Faso Burkina Faso (, ; , ff, 𞤄𞤵𞤪𞤳𞤭𞤲𞤢 𞤊𞤢𞤧𞤮, italic=no) is a landlocked country in West Africa with an area of , bordered by Mali to the northwest, Niger to the northeast, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to ...
(formerly Upper Volta).


Ethiopia

The first domestic ammunition plant was set up by
Emperor Menelik II , spoken = ; ''djānhoi'', lit. ''"O steemedroyal"'' , alternative = ; ''getochu'', lit. ''"Our master"'' (pl.) Menelik II ( gez, ዳግማዊ ምኒልክ ; horse name Abba Dagnew (Amharic: አባ ዳኘው ''abba daññäw''); 17 ...
in 1911. It made 10.75mm M1870 Russian Berdan Mk.2 and 7.62mm M1891 Russian Mosin-Nagant cartridges. Ethiopia had long economic ties to Czechoslovakia dating back to the early 20th Century. An ammunition plant was set up by the Czechs in the reign of Empress Zäwditu in the 1920s that produced 7.92mm Mauser cartridges for the new Czech weapons it was importing. A new Czech plant was set up around 1947 to 1953 CE with assistance from the Považské Strojárne factory and was named after the contemporary ruler,
Emperor Haile Selassie I Haile Selassie I ( gez, ቀዳማዊ ኀይለ ሥላሴ, Qädamawi Häylä Səllasé, ; born Tafari Makonnen; 23 July 189227 August 1975) was Emperor of Ethiopia from 1930 to 1974. He rose to power as Regent Plenipotentiary of Ethiopia (' ...
. It made 7.92mm Mauser,
.30-06 Springfield The .30-06 Springfield cartridge (pronounced "thirty- aught-six" ), 7.62×63mm in metric notation, and called the .30 Gov't '06 by Winchester, was introduced to the United States Army in 1906 and later standardized; it remained in military use ...
, and 7.62mm NATO ammunition for the military and
.303 British The .303 British (designated as the 303 British by the C.I.P. and SAAMI) or 7.7×56mmR, is a calibre rimmed rifle cartridge. The .303 inch bore diameter is measured between rifling lands as is the common practice in Europe which follows th ...
rifle ammunition for the civilian market. Packaging lists the date in the Ethiopian calendar year (7 to 8 years less than that of the
Gregorian calendar The Gregorian calendar is the calendar used in most parts of the world. It was introduced in October 1582 by Pope Gregory XIII as a modification of, and replacement for, the Julian calendar. The principal change was to space leap years dif ...
), while the cartridge headstamp uses the
Common Era Common Era (CE) and Before the Common Era (BCE) are year notations for the Gregorian calendar (and its predecessor, the Julian calendar), the world's most widely used calendar era. Common Era and Before the Common Era are alternatives to the o ...
year. * ቀኃሥ ("Qä. Ha. Sə.") ''Emperor Haile Selassie I Ammunition Factory'' (c.1950–1974) – Mexico Square,
Addis Ababa Addis Ababa (; am, አዲስ አበባ, , new flower ; also known as , lit. "natural spring" in Oromo), is the capital and largest city of Ethiopia. It is also served as major administrative center of the Oromia Region. In the 2007 census, t ...
,
Ethiopia Ethiopia, , om, Itiyoophiyaa, so, Itoobiya, ti, ኢትዮጵያ, Ítiyop'iya, aa, Itiyoppiya officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a landlocked country in the Horn of Africa. It shares borders with Eritrea to the ...
. The packaging is labeled in Amharic and is stamped on the inner packaging with ink. The headstamp has the phonetic Amharic initials of the factory name at 12 o'clock, six-pointed stars at 3- and 9 o'clock (the downward-pointing triangles are so small and faint that the stars sometimes look like single large upward-pointing triangles), and the 4-digit Common Era year at 6 o'clock. From the late 1960s to 1974 the caliber of the cartridges ( 7.92,
.30 The 7.62 mm caliber is a nominal caliber used for a number of different cartridges. Historically, this class of cartridge was commonly known as .30 caliber, the imperial unit and customary unit equivalent, and was most commonly used for i ...
, and
7.62 The 7.62 mm caliber is a nominal caliber used for a number of different cartridge (weaponry), cartridges. Historically, this class of cartridge was commonly known as .30 caliber, the imperial unit and United States customary unit, customary ...
) were shown to the right of the 2-digit year. * መ ኢ ድ ("Mä. Lī. Də.") ''
Hibret Manufacturing and Machine Building Industry Hibret Manufacturing and Machine Building Industry (Amharic: ሕብረት ማምረቻ እና የማሽን ግንባታ ኢንዱስትሪ; ''Hibret mamireti ina yemashini ginibata'') is a military-civil engineering complex of the Ethiopian Defense ...
'', '' Department of Defence Industry'' (1974–1987?) – Mexico Square,
Addis Ababa Addis Ababa (; am, አዲስ አበባ, , new flower ; also known as , lit. "natural spring" in Oromo), is the capital and largest city of Ethiopia. It is also served as major administrative center of the Oromia Region. In the 2007 census, t ...
,
Ethiopia Ethiopia, , om, Itiyoophiyaa, so, Itoobiya, ti, ኢትዮጵያ, Ítiyop'iya, aa, Itiyoppiya officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a landlocked country in the Horn of Africa. It shares borders with Eritrea to the ...
. The factory was renamed after Emperor Haile Selassie was deposed in 1974. Its light ammunition production lines were later moved to the Homicho plant in Ambo. The headstamp is similar, except the six-pointed stars are more defined and the Common Era year only uses the last 2 digits. * ? '' Homicho Ammunition Engineering Industry plant'' (1987–Present) – Ambo, Ethiopia. An ammunition plant set up with Soviet and North Korean assistance. It makes 7.62×39mm M43 Soviet, 7.62×54mmR M91 Russian, 12.7×108 mm ComBloc, and 14.5×114mm ComBloc ammunition. Packaging is labeled in English and is stamped with blue ink on the white cardboard cartons. Export ammunition is made without a headstamp and has been found in Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, the Central African Republic, and Libya.


Kenya

* K O F (Kenya Ordnance Factories Corporation) (1995–present) – Eldoret, Kenya. Set up by FN-Herstal between 1988 and 1995. It manufactures 9×19mm Parabellum, 5.56×45mm NATO, and 7.62×51mm NATO. NOTE: Headstamp is "K" at 9 o'clock, "O" at 12 o'clock, "F" at 3 o'clock, and 2-digit year at 6 o'clock.


Namibia

Namibia has ties to both North and South Korea dating back to 1990; SWAPO had connections to North Korea dating back to the 1970s. North Korean technical support and labor was used in 2005 to build army barracks at Suiderhof military base, a military school and museum at Okahandja, a new Ministry of Defense headquarters, and an expansion of the munitions plant in Leopard Valley. A munitions and explosives complex was built in 2010 in Oamites, a disused copper mine. * ? (2005–present) – Oamites,
Windhoek Windhoek (, , ) is the capital and largest city of Namibia. It is located in central Namibia in the Khomas Highland plateau area, at around above sea level, almost exactly at the country's geographical centre. The population of Windhoek in 202 ...
,
Khomas Khomas is one of the fourteen regions of Namibia. Its name refers to the Khomas Highland, a high plateau landscape that dominates this administrative unit. Khomas is centered on the capital city Windhoek and provides for this reason superior trans ...
, Namibia.


Nigeria

Nigeria produces its own .303 British, 7.62×51mm NATO, and 9×19mm 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 and is now sold as a hunting and sporting cartridge. 12 gauge shotgun shells are sold to civilians for hunting. 7.62×39mm 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). *AFN ''Ammunition Factory of Nigeria'' (1986–present) –
Kaduna Kaduna is the capital city of Kaduna State, and the former political capital of Northern Nigeria. It is located in north-western Nigeria, on the Kaduna River. It is a trade Centre and a major transportation hub as the gateway to northern Nige ...
, 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.


Sudan

Kynoch helped the Sudanese government to set up a small arms factory that opened in 1956. They produced .303 British initially and later in 1959 produced 7.62×39mm Soviet. The headstamp uses Arabic language lettering and "Indian" (Arab-language) numbering. It was later placed under the control of the Military Industry Corporation in 1993. *س ("S") ''
Military Industry Corporation The Military Industry Corporation is the state-run defense corporation of Sudan. It is responsible for the production of a wide range of defense equipment, such as munitions, firearms, artillery etc. History The MIC was established by national d ...
'' – Al Shajara ammunition plant, Al Shajara,
Khartoum Khartoum or Khartum ( ; ar, الخرطوم, Al-Khurṭūm, din, Kaartuɔ̈m) is the capital of Sudan. With a population of 5,274,321, its metropolitan area is the largest in Sudan. It is located at the confluence of the White Nile, flowing n ...
, Sudan. The Arabic "S" letter stands for Sudan (السودان, ''al-suwdan'') or the Republic of the Sudan ( جمهورية السودان, ''jumhuriat al-suwdan''). The early headstamps had a quadrant headstamp with the manufacturer code at 12 o'clock, 4-digit year of production at 3 o'clock, 1- or 2-digit month of production at 6 o'clock, and the caliber number in hundredths (i.e., .303) at 9 o'clock. In the 1970s they adopted a new three-part headstamp with the manufacturer's code at 12 o'clock, 1- or 2-digit month at 5 o'clock, and 2-digit year at 7 o'clock; it omits the caliber designation.


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 (SUE SPA «Vostok») (2002 – ?) –
Tashkent Tashkent (, uz, Toshkent, Тошкент/, ) (from russian: Ташкент), or Toshkent (; ), also historically known as Chach is the capital and largest city of Uzbekistan. It is the most populous city in Central Asia, with a population of 2 ...
,
Uzbekistan Uzbekistan (, ; uz, Ozbekiston, italic=yes / , ; russian: Узбекистан), officially the Republic of Uzbekistan ( uz, Ozbekiston Respublikasi, italic=yes / ; russian: Республика Узбекистан), is a doubly landlocked co ...
. Set up began after independence in 1998 – 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 7,62×39mm M43 Soviet and is packed in 30-round cartons. ''б'' ("B") stands for 7,62×54mmR M91 Russian and is packed in 20-round cartons. ''Ц'' ("C") stands for 5,45×39mm M74 Soviet and is packed in 30-round cartons. ''Д'' ("D") stands for 9×18mm Makarov and is packed in 16-round plastic trays in 16-round cartons. ''E'' ("E") stands for 9×19mm Parabellum and is packed in plastic trays in 90-round cartons (later reduced to a 50-round tray in 2021). 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. In 2021 it began exporting to the US through Tactical Sh*t of Saint Peters, MO.


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 Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...
calendar, which numbered the years from the
Xinhai Revolution The 1911 Revolution, also known as the Xinhai Revolution or Hsinhai Revolution, ended China's last imperial dynasty, the Manchu-led Qing dynasty, and led to the establishment of the Republic of China. The revolution was the culmination of a ...
of 1911 rather than the Western
Anno Domini The terms (AD) and before Christ (BC) are used to label or number years in the Julian and Gregorian calendars. The term is Medieval Latin and means 'in the year of the Lord', but is often presented using "our Lord" instead of "the Lord", ...
/
Common Era Common Era (CE) and Before the Common Era (BCE) are year notations for the Gregorian calendar (and its predecessor, the Julian calendar), the world's most widely used calendar era. Common Era and Before the Common Era are alternatives to the o ...
. The following are arsenals known to exist before 1979. *11 ''State Factory 11'' (1949?-Present) –
Mudanjiang Mudanjiang (; Manchu: ''Mudan bira''), alternately romanized as Mutankiang, is a prefecture-level city in the southeast part of Heilongjiang province, People's Republic of China. It was called ''Botankou'' under Japanese occupation. It serves as ...
,
Heilongjiang Heilongjiang () formerly romanized as Heilungkiang, is a province in northeast China. The standard one-character abbreviation for the province is (). It was formerly romanized as "Heilungkiang". It is the northernmost and easternmost province ...
province, People's Republic of China. Previously was the Nationalist Arsenal 10 before 1949; received Factory Code 11 in 1952. *31 or 031 ''State Factory 31'' (1953–present) – *41 ''State Factory 41'' (1953–present) - *51 or 051 ''State Factory 51'' (1953–present) - *61 ''State Factory 61 (Long Jiang Special Equipment Company, Ltd.)'' (1953–Present) – Harbin,
Heilongjiang Heilongjiang () formerly romanized as Heilungkiang, is a province in northeast China. The standard one-character abbreviation for the province is (). It was formerly romanized as "Heilungkiang". It is the northernmost and easternmost province ...
province, People's Republic of China. *71 ''State Factory 71'' (1953–present) - *81 ''State Factory 81'' (1953–present) - Headstamps 1, 101, 111, 121, 131, 201, 211, 221, 141, 301, 311, 321 (1953-?), 351, 391, 501 / 0501, 651, 661 (1953-?), 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 Mudanjiang (; Manchu: ''Mudan bira''), alternately romanized as Mutankiang, is a prefecture-level city in the southeast part of Heilongjiang province, People's Republic of China. It was called ''Botankou'' under Japanese occupation. It serves as ...
,
Heilongjiang Heilongjiang () formerly romanized as Heilungkiang, is a province in northeast China. The standard one-character abbreviation for the province is (). It was formerly romanized as "Heilungkiang". It is the northernmost and easternmost province ...
province, People's Republic of China. *791 ''Changjiang Electric Industry Group Co., Ltd.'' – Chongqing independent municipality, (formerly part of
Sichuan Province Sichuan (; zh, c=, labels=no, ; zh, p=Sìchuān; alternatively romanized as Szechuan or Szechwan; formerly also referred to as "West China" or "Western China" by Protestant missions) is a province in Southwest China occupying most of the ...
), 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.'' (a division of ''Nippon Oil & Fats Co. Ltd.'') (1943–present) – 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. It manufactured
.38 Special The .38 Special, also commonly known as .38 S&W Special (not to be confused with .38 S&W), .38 Smith & Wesson Special, .38 Spl, .38 Spc, (pronounced "thirty-eight special"), or 9x29mmR is a rimmed, centerfire cartridge designed by Smith & ...
cartridges for use with Police-issue
Smith & Wesson Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. (S&W) is an American firearm manufacturer headquartered in Springfield, Massachusetts, United States. Smith & Wesson was founded by Horace Smith and Daniel B. Wesson as the "Smith & Wesson Revolver Company" in 1856 ...
and
Colt Colt(s) or COLT may refer to: *Colt (horse), an intact (uncastrated) male horse under four years of age People * Colt (given name) *Colt (surname) Places *Colt, Arkansas, United States *Colt, Louisiana, an unincorporated community, United States ...
revolvers. * TE ''Toyo Seiki'' Manufacturing Company, Limited – Tokyo, Japan. * TS or TOYO ''Toyo Seiki'' Manufacturing Company, Limited – Japan.


North Korea

* 93 ''Factory 93'' – North Korea.


Taiwan (Republic of China)

Taiwanese dates are calculated from 1911, the year the KMT government came into power, rather than the Western
Anno Domini The terms (AD) and before Christ (BC) are used to label or number years in the Julian and Gregorian calendars. The term is Medieval Latin and means 'in the year of the Lord', but is often presented using "our Lord" instead of "the Lord", ...
/
Common Era Common Era (CE) and Before the Common Era (BCE) are year notations for the Gregorian calendar (and its predecessor, the Julian calendar), the world's most widely used calendar era. Common Era and Before the Common Era are alternatives to the o ...
date system. * 60A Arsenal 60. * TAA 205th Arsenal, Material Production Center,
Kaohsiung, Taiwan Kaohsiung City (Mandarin Chinese: ; Wade–Giles: ''Kao¹-hsiung²;'' Pinyin: ''Gāoxióng'') is a special municipality located in southern Taiwan. It ranges from the coastal urban center to the rural Yushan Range with an area of . Kaohsi ...
. A sub-contractor that manufactures 5.56mm NATO and 7.62mm NATO cartridges for General Dynamics.


South-East Asian manufacturers


Cambodia

The Cambodian government usually imported its small arms ammunition, but briefly had a domestic ammunition plant from 1969 to 1970.
Lon Nol Marshal Lon Nol ( km, លន់ នល់, also ; 13 November 1913 – 17 November 1985) was a Cambodian politician and general who served as Prime Minister of Cambodia twice (1966–67; 1969–71), as well as serving repeatedly as defence min ...
's Khmer Republic received ammunition from its SEATO partners, like the United States and Australia. Communist Democratic Kampuchea, Kampuchea received surplus ammunition from the Soviet Bloc and new-made ammunition from its sponsor China. * "Cambodian Army Ammunition Plant" – Stung Chral, Cambodia. A deal was made in February, 1962 between the Cambodian government and the Czechoslovakian firm of
Sellier & Bellot Sellier & Bellot is a firearms ammunition manufacturer situated in Vlašim, Czech Republic. It is a subsidiary of the Brazilian company CBC. Foundation Sellier & Bellot was founded on August 5, 1825 by a German businessman of French ...
to set up a cartridge factory to manufacture 9×19mm Parabellum, 7.5×54mm French, and 30-06 Springfield cartridges. Originally supposed to be completed by 1965, it didn't start production until 1969. The plant didn't use a headstamp code on their ammunition, but did use a contractor code of ''SC'' on the packaging. It was overrun by the Khmer Rouge in November 1970, damaged in the fighting, and then sabotaged by the retreating Khmer Rouge forces.


Indonesia (45)

*AD ''Pabrik Alat Peralatan Indonesian Army, TNI Angkatan Darat'' (Pabal AD, "Army Tool and Equipment Factory") (1958–1962) – Bandung, West Java, Indonesia. PSM 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. *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. *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. BPIS (Persero)BPIS (Persero): Javanese > ''Badan Pengelola Industri Strategis (Perseroan)'' ("Strategic Industrial Management Agency (Company)") from 1989 until 1998, when BPIS was disbanded. PT. 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)

*MAL ''SME Ordnance, Syarikat Malaysia Explosives Ltd.'' (1969–present) – Batu Arang, Batu-Arang, Malaysia. Winchester and Radway Green sub-contractor for NATO ammunition (9mm Parabellum, 5.56mm NATO, 7.62mm NATO, and .50 Browning Machine-Gun) using British specifications. Headstamp has the contractor code (MAL) at 12 o'clock, the metric caliber (9, 5.56, 7.62, or 12.7) at 8 o'clock, and the date of manufacture (two-digit month and two-digit year separated by a hyphen) at 4 o'clock. It lacks the NATO standard stamp because it is not a Tier 3 NATO nation.


Philippines (46)

*RPA ''Government Arsenal, Republic of the Philippines Arsenal'' – Camp Antonio Luna, General Antonio Luna, Limay, Bataan, Philippines, Republic of the Philippines.


See also

* Headstamp * National Codification Bureau


References

{{reflist


External links


IAA Headstamp Codes

Headstamp Ammunition Codes: The Master List
Ammunition Identifiers Military logistics of the United States