The Adam Park Project

Item Information:

Catalogue Number: 18/14/003 Source: TAPP Archaeology Surveys Location: No.18 Adam Park Report No: Report No.4 Artifact Type: Ammunition Production Date: 0010-02-27 00:00:00 Dimensions of Item: 25mm x 9.5mm dia Copyright with The Adam Park Project

Other Description:

The most unusual ‘dropped round’ to be found was 6g in weight and 25mm long with a cartridge and rim diameter of 9.5mm.

Historic Context:

At first the round was thought to be a Mauser 7.63 x 25mm round but it is too short. The best fit would be the .380 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol) pistol cartridge which is a rimless, straight-walled pistol cartridge developed by firearms designer John Browning. The .380 ACP has experienced widespread use over the years. It was famously used by many German officers during World War II in the Walther PPK (James Bond’s weapon of choice) as well as by Italian forces in the M1934 Beretta. However, as a service pistol round, its poor stopping power made it less liked for close combat situations. It did find use as a backup gun due to low recoil, and is popular in the civilian market as a personal defense round and therefore a viable choice for domestic pistols. The Colt Company produced two pistols capable of taking the round; the Colt Model 1908 Pocket Hammerless and the FN Model 1910, blowback-operated, semi-automatic pistol designed by John Browning and manufactured by Fabrique Nationale of Belgium.