{"id":11854,"date":"2025-01-04T23:16:19","date_gmt":"2025-01-05T04:16:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aaronnewcomer.com\/?p=11854"},"modified":"2025-07-21T11:21:16","modified_gmt":"2025-07-21T16:21:16","slug":"naissance-cartouche-britannique-broche-entree-eley-chargement-culasse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aaronnewcomer.com\/fr\/the-birth-of-british-pinfire-eleys-entry-into-breechloading-cartridges\/","title":{"rendered":"La Naissance de la Cartouche \u00e0 Broche Britannique : L'Entr\u00e9e d'Eley dans les Cartouches \u00e0 Chargement par la Culasse"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/the_field-scaled.jpg?quality=89&#038;ssl=1\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-0\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"\" title=\"\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"557\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/the_field.jpg?resize=800%2C557&#038;quality=89&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11855\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/the_field-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C713&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/the_field-scaled.jpg?resize=300%2C209&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/the_field-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C535&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/the_field-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1069&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/the_field-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1426&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/the_field-scaled.jpg?resize=18%2C12&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 18w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/the_field-scaled.jpg?resize=400%2C278&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/the_field-scaled.jpg?resize=600%2C418&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/the_field-scaled.jpg?w=1600&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 1600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/the_field-scaled.jpg?w=2400&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 2400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Throughout the 1850s, a steadfast devotion to muzzleloading guns defined the British shooting world. Many sportsmen took pride in ramrods, paper wads, and the careful loading rituals they had practiced for generations, viewing the breechloader as a fleeting Continental curiosity. Lefaucheux\u2019s pinfire system was especially scorned, with skeptics deriding it as \u201cthe French crutch gun.\u201d Although some recognized the advantages of quicker reloading and the avoidance of stray powder spills, the idea of turning British sporting traditions upside down for a new invention provoked as much suspicion as enthusiasm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even so, a few forward-thinking gunmakers in Britain were quietly adopting breechloaders, banking on improved reliability and the promise of faster shooting. The real question became whether homegrown British ammunition could match or surpass the performance of the established French pinfire cartridges, which were already circulating among sportsmen who had traveled abroad. It was in this swirl of debate and apprehension that Eley Brothers stepped forward with their own venture into breechloading cartridges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Eley Brothers\u2019 Early Advertisements and Quiet Progress<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Hints of Eley\u2019s plan surfaced in <em>The Field<\/em> of 22 November 1856, where a brief advertisement for \u201cELEY\u2019S SPORTING AMMUNITION\u201d listed <strong>\u201cCartridges for Needle-Rifles, Breech-loading Guns, &amp;c.\u201d<\/strong> Although the text was short, its mere presence signaled that Eley was interested in supporting breechloading systems at a time when many Britons still dismissed them. A more explicit notice appeared in <em>The Field<\/em> of 6 February 1858, announcing that Eley now offered breechloading cartridge cases <strong>\u201cof precisely the same sizes as the French, and of a superior quality.\u201d<\/strong> Eley took the unusual step of stressing that <strong>\u201cAll cases [are] stamped on the head, ELEY BROTHERS, London\u201d<\/strong> underscoring both product identification and a bid to stand out from Continental imports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/eley_field2-scaled.jpg?quality=89&#038;ssl=1\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-0\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"\" title=\"\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/eley_field2.jpg?resize=800%2C534&#038;quality=89&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11861\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/eley_field2-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/eley_field2-scaled.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/eley_field2-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/eley_field2-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/eley_field2-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1365&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/eley_field2-scaled.jpg?resize=18%2C12&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 18w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/eley_field2-scaled.jpg?resize=120%2C80&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 120w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/eley_field2-scaled.jpg?resize=255%2C170&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 255w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/eley_field2-scaled.jpg?resize=345%2C230&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 345w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/eley_field2-scaled.jpg?resize=400%2C267&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/eley_field2-scaled.jpg?resize=600%2C400&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/eley_field2-scaled.jpg?w=1600&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 1600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/eley_field2-scaled.jpg?w=2400&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 2400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Such advertising did not immediately settle the debate over whether British cartridges could truly rival French ones. Many sportsmen who tried Eley\u2019s early products complained about stuck cases, splitting seams, and unreliable fits in the barrel. The cost of three pounds per thousand seemed steep if the shooter had to wrestle with a ramrod after the first discharge. Nevertheless, some reported better success if the gun\u2019s chamber dimensions matched the cartridge perfectly and if they carefully avoided moisture, which tended to soften the paper walls. Discussions in <em>The Field<\/em> repeatedly compared Eley\u2019s \u201cred\u201d cartridges to the iconic green cartridges of Fabrique Gevelot, a leading French manufacturer whose products were admired for their reliable fit and consistent ignition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some surviving Eley cartridges exhibit reddish-orange hues, leading to speculation about whether they could be related to the &#8220;red&#8221; cartridges mentioned in period letters. While their exact connection remains uncertain, these cartridges are among the earliest styles associated with Eley and are exceptionally rare, found in only a few collections, including the author\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Turbulent Debates in <\/strong><strong><em>The Field<\/em><\/strong><strong>: 1858\u20131860<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>By the late 1850s, <em>The Field<\/em> newspaper had become the de facto arena for British sportsmen to air their opinions on the emerging breechloading systems and Eley Brothers\u2019 cartridges quickly moved to the center of the conversation. Letters in 1858 offer some of the earliest glimpses into the frustration felt by those who adopted British-made pinfire cases, only to discover they did not always live up to the promise of Continental reliability. Some readers were cautiously optimistic about domestic cartridges, while others expressed outright indignation at perceived manufacturing flaws.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the earliest extended criticisms appeared on 27 November 1858, penned by a correspondent signing himself \u201cSAMOTH.\u201d He recounted a vexing experience on a traditional British driven shoot, where beaters drove game toward his position, writing:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cNow only the other day I was placed in a rack in a wood which was being driven towards me, I fired one shot, and then placed a cartridge in the barrel&#8230; it stuck so fast that I could neither push it in or draw it out, though I had an instrument made of buffalo horn for pulling out the cases, which I broke in trying to withdraw this particularly tight cartridge.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Such mishaps, he warned, might scare away otherwise enthusiastic sportsmen from adopting the new breechloading technology altogether. He further condemned the \u201cpaper not nearly so stiff as the French,\u201d comparing Eley\u2019s product unfavorably to the more rigid French shells that \u201calways slipped in and out with the greatest ease.\u201d SAMOTH concluded that unless English makers improved their fit and materials, importing cartridges directly from France might be the only viable option for British gunners. These remarks foreshadowed the common refrain that Eley\u2019s cases too often stuck, burst, or otherwise disappointed, while the French-made green cases offered a seemingly simpler experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A flurry of similar accounts appeared over the next year, though not everyone agreed about the precise cause of these failures. Some insisted that mismatch between gun chambers and case dimensions was the main culprit, while others insisted that British paper quality lagged behind French standards. Although numerous gunsmiths such as Lang, Blanch, Reilly, and others were building breechloaders of respectable quality, the question remained: should one rely on local cartridge suppliers such as Eley, or pay to import the French products that so many travelers praised?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By 1859 and early 1860, <em>The Field<\/em>\u2019s letters section bristled with further anecdotal evidence. Some sportsmen posted success stories, while others reinforced tales of sticking, bursting, and misfiring. The name \u201cEley\u201d appeared consistently, for better or worse, attached to the red-labeled cartridges the company was marketing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/eley_field-scaled.jpg?quality=89&#038;ssl=1\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-0\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"\" title=\"\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/eley_field.jpg?resize=800%2C534&#038;quality=89&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11857\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/eley_field-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/eley_field-scaled.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/eley_field-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/eley_field-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/eley_field-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1365&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/eley_field-scaled.jpg?resize=18%2C12&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 18w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/eley_field-scaled.jpg?resize=120%2C80&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 120w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/eley_field-scaled.jpg?resize=255%2C170&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 255w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/eley_field-scaled.jpg?resize=345%2C230&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 345w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/eley_field-scaled.jpg?resize=400%2C267&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/eley_field-scaled.jpg?resize=600%2C400&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/eley_field-scaled.jpg?w=1600&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 1600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/eley_field-scaled.jpg?w=2400&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 2400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The situation escalated in the autumn of 1860, marked by a growing number of discussions around the topic of reloading cartridges for multiple uses. On 27 October 1860, \u201cGlen Esc\u201d (Derby) recounted his first season using Eley\u2019s red cartridges. He praised them for being \u201cwarranted not to burst and to refill,\u201d and found 90% indeed survived first firing intact. However, a large portion \u201cstuck so fast to the barrel, owing to the composition on them becoming soft with the heat\u201d when reused, forcing him to resort to a ramrod. Worse yet, \u201cmany of the brass pins bend nearly flat on being struck a second time with the hammer,\u201d sometimes rendering the extractor useless. <em>The Field<\/em>\u2019s editorial comment that day was blunt: \u201cWe believe that sportsmen must give up all idea of refilling their cartridges at present.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A contrasting account appeared a week later, on 3 November 1860, from \u201cHolly-Bush.\u201d He claimed to have \u201crepeatedly filled the cartridges three times over,\u201d including some stamped with Boss\u2019s name, without undue sticking or bent pins. Another sportsman chimed in that he had tested certain Paris-made cartridges from \u201c<strong>Fabrique Gevelot<\/strong>\u201d after reloading them three or four times, apparently with minimal trouble. \u201cI inclose a new cartridge, and one I have used twice, and which I intend to use again,\u201d he wrote to <em>The Field<\/em>, urging the editors to inspect it for signs of undue residue or tearing. Yet, true to the unpredictable nature of these debates, an editorial note pointed out that the sample cartridge looked suspiciously clean, almost as though it had not been fired with a normal powder charge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/fabrique_gevelot-scaled.jpg?quality=89&#038;ssl=1\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-0\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"\" title=\"\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/fabrique_gevelot.jpg?resize=800%2C534&#038;quality=89&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11856\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/fabrique_gevelot-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/fabrique_gevelot-scaled.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/fabrique_gevelot-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/fabrique_gevelot-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/fabrique_gevelot-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1365&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/fabrique_gevelot-scaled.jpg?resize=18%2C12&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 18w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/fabrique_gevelot-scaled.jpg?resize=120%2C80&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 120w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/fabrique_gevelot-scaled.jpg?resize=255%2C170&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 255w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/fabrique_gevelot-scaled.jpg?resize=345%2C230&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 345w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/fabrique_gevelot-scaled.jpg?resize=400%2C267&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/fabrique_gevelot-scaled.jpg?resize=600%2C400&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/fabrique_gevelot-scaled.jpg?w=1600&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 1600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/fabrique_gevelot-scaled.jpg?w=2400&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 2400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Alongside these debates over refill feasibility, new complaints arose about misfires. On 3 November 1860, \u201cH.T.\u201d (Dumfries) revealed that \u201cat least three in every 100 of Eley\u2019s red cartridges miss fire at the first time of filling,\u201d attributing these failures to missing caps, pins that caught the cap\u2019s edge, or absent tinfoil covers that left the composition vulnerable to dampness. His frustration contrasted with his experience of never seeing a French-made cartridge misfire, and he urged Eley Brothers \u201cto be careful, for their own sakes,\u201d to rectify these manufacturing oversights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/cartridges-scaled.jpg?quality=89&#038;ssl=1\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-0\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"\" title=\"\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/cartridges.jpg?resize=800%2C534&#038;quality=89&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11859\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/cartridges-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/cartridges-scaled.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/cartridges-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/cartridges-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/cartridges-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1365&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/cartridges-scaled.jpg?resize=18%2C12&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 18w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/cartridges-scaled.jpg?resize=120%2C80&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 120w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/cartridges-scaled.jpg?resize=255%2C170&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 255w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/cartridges-scaled.jpg?resize=345%2C230&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 345w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/cartridges-scaled.jpg?resize=400%2C267&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/cartridges-scaled.jpg?resize=600%2C400&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/cartridges-scaled.jpg?w=1600&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 1600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/cartridges-scaled.jpg?w=2400&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 2400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>By December 1860, the debate was aflame, and more voices joined in with strong opinions on British vs. French cartridges. \u201cA Disappointed Sportsman of the Old School\u201d wrote of paying 15 shillings per hundred for Eley cartridges from Mr. Daw, only to suffer 12 misfires in the first 68 shots including 5 out of 22 on a single day. Furious, he turned to Gevelot\u2019s green cartridges, which cost only 6 shillings 6 pence per hundred. Though these were \u201cnot so bad as Eley\u2019s,\u201d they still fell short of his ideal standard, prompting him to try filling the French cases himself \u201choping for better things.\u201d The stark price difference fueled controversy: for many, Eley\u2019s higher cost could only be justified if the product consistently performed well, yet multiple letters showed that could not always be expected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Such complaints were not universal. On 1 December 1860, \u201cW.A. Adams\u201d (Elmley Lodge) wrote of \u201conly one misfire in an entire season of heavy shooting\u201d using Eley\u2019s No. 12 breechloading cartridges. He believed the secret was matching the gun\u2019s chamber carefully, carrying the loaded shells in a reversible leather carrier, and transferring only small batches of cartridges from the case to one\u2019s pocket in wet weather. Similar sentiments appeared from another sportsman who claimed to have used Eley\u2019s cartridges for two seasons with no more than a single misfire. This was in sharp contrast to correspondents like \u201cH.T.\u201d or \u201cA Disappointed Sportsman.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Discussions of safety also peppered the letters. \u201cN.\u201d reported that his keeper had dropped a loaded cartridge \u201ca mere three and a half feet onto a stone,\u201d causing it to explode at their feet, though fortunately without injury. Another writer, \u201cRandom,\u201d offered tips for removing stuck cartridges (or \u201cstickers\u201d) by dropping a lead plug down the barrel, while \u201cHigford Burr\u201d suggested a simple three-ounce lead cylinder. The repeated mention of improvised extraction tools highlighted a pervasive worry that breechloading cartridges, especially if reused or stored improperly, had a troublesome tendency to swell in the chamber.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some letters questioned whether the universal assumption that \u201cFrench is always better\u201d might be overblown. Certain shooters encountered occasional hang-fires or difficulty reloading Gevelot\u2019s green shells, while others discovered that \u201cthe pins bend just as well on French-made cartridges if hammered too severely.\u201d Yet a consistent refrain by late 1860 was that France had an edge in manufacturing precision, and Eley\u2019s red cartridges came under intense scrutiny for occasional absent caps, malformed pins, or easily torn paper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By the end of 1860, <em>The Field<\/em>\u2019s pages brimmed with letters about pinfire reliability. Its editors tried to balance the dialogue, observing, \u201cWe should be glad to record the experience of our readers for the general good.\u201d They also reminded sportsmen that breechloading remained a novel system in Britain that \u201cgreat care [is] required in having [cartridges] to fit the gun,\u201d implying that brand choice alone could not guarantee success if chamber geometry proved incompatible or the user was inattentive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Amid these heated debates, a few writers heralded the breechloader as \u201cthe future\u201d of shooting. One self-described \u201cSoldier\u201d remarked in December 1858 that he would \u201crather give up shooting altogether\u201d than revert to the muzzleloader, calling it an \u201cold slow coach.\u201d He proudly recounted how his breechloader had killed \u201cabout seven times as much\u201d game as a friend\u2019s muzzleloader, attributing the difference mostly to the speed of reloading. Such optimism, though, coexisted with the ongoing reliability complaints, painting a portrait of a British shooting culture at a crossroads and reflecting how pinfire cartridges, especially Eley\u2019s red shells, found themselves under unrelenting public scrutiny.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Technical Refinements and Published Instructions<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-1 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Confronted by intensifying debate, Eley Brothers took an unprecedented step in January 1861 by publishing <strong>\u201cDirections for Using Eley\u2019s Breech-Loading Cartridge Cases\u201d<\/strong> in <em>The Field.<\/em> This lengthy, illustrated guide explained why the cartridge should fit flush in the chamber, how to avoid bending the pin by inserting the cartridge at a slight slant, and the necessity of keeping everything dry. Eley\u2019s instructions suggested that many so-called cartridge defects stemmed from mismatched barrels, misaligned pin holes, or improper seating techniques.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While education was part of the solution, Eley also pursued design upgrades. In April 1861, William Thomas Eley patented a more robust pinfire cartridge, strengthening the case walls and improving the seal around the percussion cap. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/The-Field-05-January-1861-scaled.jpg?quality=89&#038;ssl=1\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-0\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"\" title=\"\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"573\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/The-Field-05-January-1861.jpg?resize=573%2C1024&#038;quality=89&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Eley advertisement in The Field - 05 January 1861\" class=\"wp-image-11869\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/The-Field-05-January-1861-scaled.jpg?resize=573%2C1024&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 573w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/The-Field-05-January-1861-scaled.jpg?resize=168%2C300&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 168w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/The-Field-05-January-1861-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C1371&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/The-Field-05-January-1861-scaled.jpg?resize=860%2C1536&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 860w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/The-Field-05-January-1861-scaled.jpg?resize=1147%2C2048&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 1147w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/The-Field-05-January-1861-scaled.jpg?resize=7%2C12&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 7w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/The-Field-05-January-1861-scaled.jpg?resize=400%2C714&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/The-Field-05-January-1861-scaled.jpg?resize=600%2C1071&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/The-Field-05-January-1861-scaled.jpg?w=1434&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 1434w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 573px) 100vw, 573px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The newly introduced variant, stamped with an <strong>\u201c1861\u201d<\/strong> date, typically bore a brownish hue rather than the earlier orange or red. Surviving examples in some advanced collections show these improved brown cartridges side by side with the earlier versions, revealing noticeably thicker construction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/eley_1861-scaled.jpg?quality=89&#038;ssl=1\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-0\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"\" title=\"\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/eley_1861.jpg?resize=800%2C534&#038;quality=89&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11860\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/eley_1861-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/eley_1861-scaled.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/eley_1861-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/eley_1861-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/eley_1861-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1365&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/eley_1861-scaled.jpg?resize=18%2C12&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 18w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/eley_1861-scaled.jpg?resize=120%2C80&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 120w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/eley_1861-scaled.jpg?resize=255%2C170&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 255w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/eley_1861-scaled.jpg?resize=345%2C230&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 345w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/eley_1861-scaled.jpg?resize=400%2C267&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/eley_1861-scaled.jpg?resize=600%2C400&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/eley_1861-scaled.jpg?w=1600&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 1600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/eley_1861-scaled.jpg?w=2400&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 2400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Shooters began reporting fewer splits and misfires, especially when the cartridges were used just once and then discarded. Although reloading attempts still posed challenges, Eley\u2019s modifications appear to have resolved many of the persistent complaints about fragile construction. This incremental improvement, driven by the very public criticism in <em>The Field<\/em>, demonstrates how swiftly a manufacturer could adapt in response to widespread user feedback.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These changes also highlight the role of synergy between gunmakers, ammunition producers, and vocal sportsmen. Some breechloader designs, such as Needham or Boss, seemed naturally better aligned with Eley\u2019s refined cartridges. Others struggled until owners had gunsmiths adjust the chamber depth or pin alignment to accommodate Eley\u2019s recommended tolerances. Enthusiasts who took the time to test, measure, and even lightly grease or warm their cartridges often experienced the best results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Today\u2019s collectors can vividly trace the evolution of British pinfire by comparing original copies of <em>The Field<\/em> which preserved every heated debate and new advertisement with the cartridges themselves. Eley\u2019s orange-red shells, transitional brown \u201c1861\u201d versions, and green Gevelot rounds provide a hands-on record of how user feedback and steady refinement drove British ammunition from initial skepticism to growing acceptance. Even minor shifts in pin alignment, paper color, or headstamps can reveal exactly where a design excelled or fell short in the eyes of 19th-century sportsmen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Seeing these cartridges alongside surviving patent documents and period ads makes the story come alive. Each stamped head and colored case tells how Eley tackled technical challenges, responded to public outcry, and edged closer to overtaking the French imports. For collectors today, these artifacts are more than curiosities; they are tangible evidence of the process by which breechloading\u2019s early fits and starts finally gave way to a new norm in British shooting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Citations for <em>The Field<\/em> (1856\u20131861)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>22 November 1856<\/strong>:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Advertisement for \u201cELEY\u2019S SPORTING AMMUNITION\u201d listing \u201cCartridges for Needle-Rifles, Breech-loading Guns, &amp;c.\u201d\u200b<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>6 February 1858<\/strong>:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Advertisement announcing that Eley Brothers offered breechloading cartridge cases \u201cof precisely the same sizes as the French, and of a superior quality,\u201d stamped with \u201cELEY BROTHERS, London\u201d\u200b<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>4 September 1858<\/strong>:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Discussion on metal cartridge cases and their drawbacks, such as sticking in the chamber due to metal expansion. A suggestion was made for using steel, although challenges with the cap and pin introduction persisted\u200b<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>27 November 1858<\/strong>:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Letter by \u201cSAMOTH\u201d describing discrepancies between English and French cartridges, with English cases being less stiff and prone to sticking. This issue, coupled with the higher price of English cartridges, was highlighted as a deterrent for sportsmen adopting breech-loaders\u200b<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>4 December 1858<\/strong>:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Mention of French cases as still being considered the best, with Eley improving in quality. The <em>Field<\/em> also references a method by Messrs Trulock and Harris of Dublin as the most effective for loading cartridges\u200b<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>11 December 1858<\/strong>:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A letter from \u201cA SOLDIER,\u201d passionately advocating for breech-loaders over muzzle-loaders, citing their undeniable superiority on the field and recounting an anecdote of outshooting others during a game drive\u200b<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>27 October 1860<\/strong>:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u201cGlen Esc\u201d reports his first season using Eley\u2019s red cartridges, highlighting issues with sticking and bent pins, as well as his advocacy for single-use cartridges\u200b<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>3 November 1860<\/strong>:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Various correspondents, including \u201cHolly-Bush\u201d and \u201cH.T.,\u201d discuss their experiences refilling cartridges, comparing Eley\u2019s red cartridges with French ones\u200b<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>17 November 1860<\/strong>:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Criticisms about Eley\u2019s cartridges sticking in the chamber, with suggestions for greasing the cases or using alternative designs\u200b<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>1 December 1860<\/strong>:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Contrasting views from W.A. Adams, who praises Eley\u2019s No. 12 cartridges, and \u201cA Disappointed Sportsman,\u201d who reports multiple misfires and prefers French cases\u200b<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>29 December 1860<\/strong>:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u201cHigford Burr\u201d and \u201cRandom\u201d offer practical solutions for extracting stuck cartridges, while others note safety concerns with accidental explosions\u200b<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>5 January 1861<\/strong>:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Detailed \u201cDirections for Using Eley\u2019s Breech-Loading Cartridge Cases,\u201d explaining fit, pin alignment, and moisture management\u200b<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>2 February 1861<\/strong>:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u201cKnickerbocker\u201d proposes a new glue-sealing method for cartridges, and \u201cCosmos\u201d speculates about French military adoption of Lefaucheux revolvers\u200b<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In the 1850s, British sportsmen debated the merits of muzzleloading guns versus the emerging breechloader technology, with Eley Brothers entering the conversation by offering British-made cartridges. While Eley&#8217;s products faced criticism for reliability and quality compared to French imports, they sought improvements through user feedback. This tension marked a transformative period in British shooting traditions.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11855,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":true,"token":"eyJpbWciOiJodHRwczpcL1wvYWFyb25uZXdjb21lci5jb21cL3dwLWNvbnRlbnRcL3VwbG9hZHNcLzIwMjVcLzAxXC90aGVfZmllbGQtMTAyNHg3MTMuanBnIiwidHh0IjoiVGhlIEJpcnRoIG9mIEJyaXRpc2ggUGluZmlyZTogRWxleSYjODIxNztzIEVudHJ5IGludG8gQnJlZWNobG9hZGluZyBDYXJ0cmlkZ2VzIiwidGVtcGxhdGUiOiJoaWdod2F5IiwiYmxvZ19pZCI6MTU1NDA5MTUzfQ.N3Rts8zyBEKJWtam09uK_VZzjAxNFszlA6S5V9fecMAMQ"},"version":2,"attached_media":[{"id":11855,"url":"https:\/\/aaronnewcomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/the_field-scaled.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}]}},"categories":[160],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11854","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ammunition"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>The Birth of British Pinfire: Eley&#039;s Entry into Breechloading Cartridges<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/aaronnewcomer.com\/fr\/naissance-cartouche-britannique-broche-entree-eley-chargement-culasse\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"fr_FR\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Birth of British Pinfire: Eley&#039;s Entry into Breechloading Cartridges\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"In the 1850s, British sportsmen debated the merits of muzzleloading guns versus the emerging breechloader technology, with Eley Brothers entering the conversation by offering British-made cartridges. 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