Antique Reloading Tool Collectors Association Banner


In the early days of Winchester tool making, before the range of "Express" calibers was developed, there was only the 50 Express. Since there was only one "Express" Winchester referred to it as simply "Winchester Express". In later years, a whole range of cartridges shooting relatively light weight, high velocity bullets was developed. Among the more popular were the 50-105-300 Express, 40-75-260 Express, 40-110-260 Express, and 38-90-217 ("Winchester Express Single Shot") Express. The earlier loading tools were marked simply "Express" or "Winchester Express". This 50 caliber 1880 model tool has " Winchester Express" for a caliber marking. The separate decapping pin is difficult to photograph with its rounded surface, but is also marked "Winchester Express".

Winchester 50 caliber 1880 tool marked