I am looking at an unopened packet of original Kynoch ammo for the .404, and wondering what it is would cost these days...

It is a packet of 10 unopened boxes; the old Red, Yellow, and Black boxes. Each box contains 5 factory-loaded rounds.

This ammo was loaded in by Kynoch in 1971, and the packet label reads as follows:

Kynoch
.404 Nitro-Express
Cartridges
(10.75x73)
Smokeless Powder
Non-Mercuric, Non-Corrosive
Boxer Type Primers
Metal Covered Solid Bullet 400 Grains (25.9 GRM)

Made by
Imperial Metal Industries (Kynoch) limited
Birmingham 6, England
From Swedish Components



I know from checking cartridges from previous similar packets with a magnet, these are the old steel-jacketed solids.

Anybody have any idea what it might cost me to find some more of these little jewels?

The "brick" of ammo to which you refer was the commom method of packing ammo. Kynoch usually loaded .404 in poacks of 5 rounds (red/yellow packs) and then placed 10 such packs in an outer brick, usually of brown paper with an outer label affixed onto the outer surface.

The ammo you have before you was of the last run by Kynoch and just prior to the phasing out of sporting rifle ammunition production at their Witton, Birmingham site.

The fact that it mentions Sweedish components reflects the input of Norma at that time, for it was they who either loaded the ammo for Kynoch, or alternatively provided the last run of compoents for Kynoch to use in loading the ammo.

Final runs of .375 H&H rimless and .416 Rigby by Kynoch also featured components and or assembly by Norma in Sweeden,

The ammo still turns up for sale, here in the U.K a pack of 5 late production cartridges with non- corrosive 172 primers would sell for around £25 - £30 per pack.

Modern Kynoch (Kynamco) ammunition is presently offered by David Little and utilises the Woodleigh range of bullets, it is shipped and sold in the USA by Galazan (Conneticut Shotgun Manufacturing ?), they could possibly give you current prices.

As for prices of original Kynoch ammo, you could try Lewis Drake who list collectors ammo and proices on their web site in Kentcucky.

Hope this helps

$40/box in as new condition. Better to split it up if you want the most money but keep the brick if you want to collect it.

Sorry to butt in but I have always wanted to know how that word (Kynoch) is pronounced. Any volunteers? Thanks,KP

Ky (as in sky) noch (as in knock).

Ky (like in the Greek letter Chi) and nock (like in the Greek word Knockers).

I think Griffin and Howe web site has some old Kynoch 404 ammo for sale that you couild compare to.

The "Swedish" components mentioned is probably the bullet which Norma made in their Ã…motfors plant. The FMJ has a thick steel jacketed but it is not so blunt nosed as Woodleigh. The same bullet was loaded for Parker Hale, As Norma made the cases for Parker Hale -it would surprisme if the Kynoch case isn't made at Norma also.

What surprises me is the date 1971. Normas last run of Parker Hale .404 ammunition was on the 20th of March 1964!

I will check this up with Norma, also other calibers made for Kynoch. I know that Norma made 10,75x68 and .416 Rigby.

Cheers
Husky

If you can provide me with the batch number from the outer pack of the .404 Kynoch or from one of the inner 5 round packs I can give you the production date from the Kynoch records, the citation may well read something like

"17 R P/S"

the /S denoting a steel jacketed bullet as opposed to cupro nickel or plain copper/ gilding metal.

Production of certain Kynoch calibres did indeed continue into the early 1970's and certainly some of this did indeed use Norma cases, of those cartridges that I have pulled some had Kynoch produced bullets but the cases were by Norma.

I am away from my computer for a few days over Christmas, but will reply during the course of next week should you wish for your ammo to be dated.

In the meantime Merry Christmas to you all

JT