I was lucky to pick up some old paper shells from a fellow Trapperman member at the MN convention. I have a strange attraction to hunting with vintage shotguns firing vintage ammo, so I'm quite tickled to have gotten them. I was wondering if any of you folks out there would happen to know the approximate manufacturing time on any of them. Any input would be appreciated.

I have seen pictures of your bride. You can't do any better so there is no sense in you "dating" shotgun shells. You have peaked. Besides, you likely feel "inferior" next to 12 gauge shells. I would suggest 410 may be more your style.

My guess is 60-70s around there.

Thank you 160. But I manage to avoid feeling inferior by sticking with old, weak 2 & 3/4" instead of those unnecessary and oversized 3" shells. Besides that, my wife says I can date as many shells as I want, so long as I don't question all the Amazon deliveries that only show up when I'm at work.

Same as from Grandpas house. I always thought it was stuff from the 60/70's that made it to the 80's and then we had it in the 90's and now its at my house 2025 lol. I have whats left of three generational barns in my barn. They shoot fine. I never understood why people were nervous to shoot old shot shells. I mean they blow up and you are blowing them up in a device designed to blow them up in. Watch for squibs and you should be fine but I agree its fun.

I would say the mark 5 is from the 70's and the other 2 are from the 60's.

LOL, maybe we're related?
I break.out GPa's Sterlingworth and old shells at least once a year.

Production codes are printed inside the lids, and you can go from there.
Plastic came in around the 1970's
lower photo middle cartoon is that a Patent date...

I think you are looking at late 50’s to late 60’s. I too collect old ammo boxes. I have similar to yours.

Great find

Thank you all for your input. Northof50, it's a patent number that was filed for in 1946. I looked into the production codes and trying to decipher them is proving to be rough on my small brain. I thought I had the yellow boxes dated to 61 and 62, but then that would put the red box in the 80s, and I think that's too late for paper. I could be wrong about that, or I suppose it's possible that someone put some older mark five shells in a newer box.

DaveP, it sure is fun working out the old scatter guns. I really enjoy the old model 12s and 97s.

I only shoot them if they are in good shape, but I've never had a problem yet. The worst I've seen is occasionally one of those old brass case heads will split a little, but that's it.