List of military headstamps

Military Headstamps

Two digits are the last two digits of the year of manufacture. Early 20th century cartridges may have additional digits or a letter indicating the month of manufacture. The letter code indicates the place of manufacture:

US Arsenals

World War II manufactured cartridges with a single "4" as the year of production were made in 1944. The demand was so great for cartridges that most manufacturers just ground off the "3" on the "43" stamp to save time.

AO or KS Allegheny Ordnance Plant (Kelly Springfield) - Cumberland, Maryland (1943-1945); Operated by Kelly-Springfield Tire Co., a division of Goodyear Rubber. Conversion back to rubber tire production began in 1944.

CB Curtis Bay Ordnance Depot (CBOD) - Baltimore, Maryland (1917-1957). Used to store, examine, and repack ammunition.

DEN Denver Ordnance Plant - Denver, Colorado: a division of Remington Arms. (1941-1945)

DM Des Moines Ordnance Plant - Des Moines, Iowa: a division of US Rubber Co. (January 1942 to July 1945)

EC Evansville Ordnance Plant (Chrysler) - Evansville, Indiana: a division of Chrysler-Plymouth. (June 1942 to April 1944)

ECS Evansville Ordnance Plant (Chrysler-Sunbeam) - Evansville, Indiana: a division of Sunbeam Refrigerator Co.; Chrysler bought the plant to keep up with demand. They manufactured brass-cased (and later steel-cased) .45 ACP ammunition. It was the first plant to manufacture ammo in vacuum-packed metal cans. (1942-1944)

EW Eau Claire Ordnance Plant - Eau Claire, Wisconsin a division of US Rubber Co. (August 1942 to December 1943)

FA Frankford Arsenal - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1816-1977).

HAW Hawthorne Naval Ammunition Depot - Nevada. (1926-1977 (HAW); 1977-1992 (HWAAP); 1992-Present (HWAD))

KOP Kingsbury Ordnance Plant - Kingsbury, Indiana. (1941-1945; 1950-1959).

LC Lake City Ordnance Plant, Independence, Missouri: a division of Remington Arms. (1940–present)

LM Lowell Ordnance Plant - Lowell, Massachusetts (1942-1943)

M Milwaukee Ordnance Plant - Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Operated by US Rubber Co. (August 1942 to December 1943).

P, PC, PCC Kings Mills Ordnance Plant (Peters Cartridge Company) - Kings Mills, Ohio: a sub-contractor owned by Remington Arms from the 1930s to 1980s. (1942-1943)

ROP Redstone Ordnance Plant - Huntsville, Alabama (1941-1949). Combined with the Huntsville Depot facility to form Redstone Arsenal in 1949.

SL St. Louis Ordnance Plant - St.Louis, Missouri: (November 1941 to June 1945)

TW Twin Cities Ordnance Plant - Minneapolis, Minnesota: (1942-1945; 1950-1957; 1965-1976; 2002-2005)

U or UT Utah Ordnance Plant - Salt Lake City, Utah; a division of Remington Arms (March 1942 to December 1943).

Civilian Contractors

FC or FCC Federal Cartridge Corporation - Anoka, Minnesota

NC National Brass & Copper Tube Co., Hastings, New York.

OMF Saint Marks Powder Co. - Saint Marks, Crawfordville, Florida. A division of Olin-Mossberg.

RA Remington Arms - Bridgeport, Connecticut

RA H Remington Arms Company, Hoboken, New Jersey.

US United States Cartridge Company - Lowell, Massachusetts (1867-1926).

W, WC, or WCC Western Cartridge Company - East Alton, Illinois

WRA Winchester Repeating Arms Company - New Haven, Connecticut

Commercial Cartridges

The US military used commercial cartridges for its training rifles, non-standard weapons, and shotguns. These usually had different headstamps than the military ammunition (usually their civilian one) and were shipped in commercial crates rather than military packaging.

♦ Western Cartridge Company - East Alton, Illinois:

F Federal Cartridge Corporation - Anoka, Minnesota

H Winchester Repeating Arms Company - New Haven, Connecticut:

P, PCCo or PETERS Peters Cartridge Company - Kings Mills, Ohio:

R-P Remington-Peters - Lonoke, Arkansas (1970–present). Lonoke facility only produced centerfire ammo from 1970; took over rimfire production from Bridgeport in 1989.

R--P Remington Peters - Bridgeport, Connecticut (1960-1989). Bridgeport facility only produced rimfire ammo from 1970, then finally closed down in 1989.

REM-UMC Remington-Union Metallic Cartridge - Bridgeport, Connecticut (1911-1960). Renamed Remington-Peters in 1960.

U Remington Arms - Bridgeport, Connecticut:

Competition-Grade Military Cartridges

Ammunition designed for military competitive shooting was made by a variety of manufacturers.

MATCH Ammunition used for target shooting. It is also used by Designated Marksmen and Snipers because it is more accurate than regular rifle ammunition at long ranges.

NM National Match. Match ammunition specially made for the Camp Perry National Rifle and Pistol shooting matches.

Special cartridges

During World War II the Western Cartridge Company made 7.92mm Mauser ammunition for the Chinese Nationalists. There are Chinese characters at the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions and the year of production (42, 43 or 44) at the 6 o'clock position.

In 1953, large batches of .30-06 ammunition were manufactured under unique arsenal headstamps. The case had red lacquer sealant around the primer. The headstamp has a two-letter manufacturer code and the lot code (rather than the year) is the number 40 followed by a third numeral. Collectors allege that the cartridges were intended to be aid to anti-Communist insurgents and Allied forces equipped with US weapons.

AN 40# Twin Cities Ordnance Plant, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

BN 40# St. Louis Ordnance Plant, St. Louis, Missouri.

CN 40# Lake City Ordnance Plant, Independence, Missouri.

During the Vietnam War the Lake City Ordnance Plant (LC) produced unmarked Boxer-primed M43 7.62×39mm cartridges for use by American and Allied personnel. This allowed reconnaissance and Special Operations units to utilize captured Communist Bloc weapons like the SKS carbine and AKM assault rifle. Afterwards Bell Laboratories (BEL) made batches of 7.62x39mm ammo in the 1970s and 1980s for training soldiers in the familiarization and use of Communist Bloc weapons.

Commonwealth Military Cartridges

The number in parentheses is the nation's Nation Code.

Australia (66)

A/|F Small Arms Ammunition Factory No.1 - Footscray; Melbourne, Victoria; Australia (1888-1945) The broadshead arrowhead between the "A" and "F" was the Government Property mark.

AFF Small Arms Ammunition Factory No.2 - Footscray; Melbourne, Victoria; Australia (1940–1994)

CAC Colonial Ammunition Company - Auckland, New Zealand. (1890-1920)

/|F - Military Factory Footscray - Footscray; Melbourne, Victoria; Australia (1888-1945). The broadshead arrowhead before the "F" was the Government Property mark.

ICI-ANZ Imperial Chemical Industries of Australia & New Zealand -

MF Small Arms Ammunition Factory No.1 - Footscray; Melbourne, Victoria; Australia (1888-1945)

MG Small Arms Ammunition Factory No.2 - Footscray; Melbourne, Victoria; Australia (1940–1994)

MH Small Arms Ammunition Factory No.3 - Hendon; Adelaide, South Australia; Australia (1940-1945)

MJ Small Arms Ammunition Factory No.4 - Hendon; Adelaide, South Australia; Australia (1940-1945)

MQ Small Arms Ammunition Factory No.5 - Rocklea; Brisbane, Queensland; Australia (1942-1945)

MW Small Arms Ammunition Factory No.6 - Welshpool, Western Australia; Australia (1942-1945)

SAAF Small Arms Ammunition Factory - Footscray; Melbourne, Victoria; Australia (1888-1945)

Canada (20 and 21)

Arsenals

The "C" in "DAC" and "VC" had a small broadshead arrowhead (/|) inset to indicate it was Canadian Government Issue property.

C-I-L or CIL Canadian Industries Ltd. (1955-1976). A corporation formed in 1910 from a merger of five Canadian explosives companies and their assets. It ran the Defence Industries Ltd. munitions plants from 1940 to 1946. It owned the Dominion (1955-1966), Imperial (?-1976) and Canuck commercial ammunition brands. It used the CIL headstamp on its cartridges from 1955 until 1976, when IVI bought out its commercial ammunition production.

DA, DAC, or DAQ Dominion Arsenal Co. - Quebec City (1882-1955) - Quebec City, Quebec; Canada. Dominion Arsenal used the DAQ headstamp from 1914 to 1918, the DAC headstamp from 1919(?) until 1955, and the CIL headstamp from 1955 to 1976. From 1945 to 1986 Dominion Arsenal was under the control of a nationalised crown corporation called Canadian Arsenals Ltd.that was controlled by the Department of Supply and Services. Canadian Arsenals Ltd. was privatised and bought by SNC-Lavalin in 1986.

DAL Dominion Arsenal - Lindsay (1914-1918) - Lindsay, Ontario; Canada. A division of Dominion Arsenal Co. formed in 1914 to expand munitions production for the war effort.

DI Defence Industries Ltd. (1940-1946) - Park Avenue, Brownsburg, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. A division of Canadian Industries Ltd. formed in late 1939 to produce munitions for the projected war effort. In 1941 they began to make high-quality boxer-primed .303 "Red Label"-type ammunition for use in aircraft machineguns. In 1942 they made the first Canadian government-manufactured 9×19mm Parabellum cartridges for Commonwealth forces. They also made 7.92×57mm Mauser rifle ammunition for use in the British 7.92mm BESA machine gun and issue to European Resistance groups and the Nationalist and Communist Chinese.

DIV Defence Industries Ltd. - Verdun (1940-1946) - Verdun, Quebec; Canada. A division of Canadian Industries Ltd. formed in 1939 to produce munitions for the war effort.

IVI Industries Valcartier Inc. (1977–present) - Saint-Gabriel-de-Valcartier, Quebec, Canada. In 1935, an ammunition manufacturing facility called Val-Rose was built on the grounds of the disused World War 1-era Valcartier Military Camp. From 1945 to 1967 the facility was part of Canadian Arsenals Ltd. and specialized in small arms ammunition. It was privatized as Industrie Valcartier Incorporee in 1967. It bought out Imperial, CIL's commercial cartridge division, in 1976. It was acquired by SNC-Lavalin (SNC Tec) in 1980, which renamed it IVI Inc. The IVI plant in Valcartier ceased making commercial ammunition in 1988. IVI Inc. was later amalgamated into General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems - Canada Inc. in 1989. The Valcartier plant itself finally closed in 1991.

TR Dominion Rubber & Munitions (1940-1945) - Trois Rivieres, Quebec; Canada.

VC Canadian Industries Limited - Verdun Arsenal - Verdun, Quebec; Canada

Civilian Contractors

RR Co Ross Rifle Co. (1914-1919) - Verdun, Quebec; Canada.

Commercial Manufacturers

DCCO, Dominion Dominion Cartridge Co. Ltd. (1886-1955) - Brownsburg, Quebec, Canada. A division of Dominion Arsenal that produced ammunition for the civilian market from 1911 to 1955. It was made part of Canadian Industries Ltd. (CIL) in 1928. During World War II it made military ammunition for CIL under the DCCO headstamp. It changed its headstamp to DOMINION in 1947 and to CIL in 1955, but was still sold under the Dominion brand. It was sold to IVI in 1966.

Imperial A commercial brand of ammunition manufactured by Canadian Industries Ltd. (CIL); it later used the headstamp CIL-Imperial from 1954 to 1976. It was bought out by IVI Inc. in 1976, restarted production in 1977, and ceased production in 1991(?).

South Africa (18)

M M or MUS Musgrave Manufacturers and Distributors (Pty) Ltd. (1940?-1945?) - Bloemfontein, South Africa. Safari rifle manufacturer who manufactured cartridges during the war.

SAM South African Mint (1962 - ?) - Pretoria, South Africa. Later became Pretoria Metal Pressing LTD.

U (1939-1961) - Pretoria Branch Mint - Pretoria, South Africa. Converted to ammunition production in 1938. Later became South African Mint (SAM) in 1962.

U <> (1939-1961) - Kimberley Branch Mint - Kimberley, South Africa.

United Kingdom (99)

/| = UK Government Property. Formerly the badge of the Sidney family, the broad arrow (or "Devil's Claws") symbol was appropriated by the British government to indicate the item was government issue.FF = Filling Factory.GCF = Government Cartridge Factory (1918-1919).ROF = Royal Ordnance Factory.SAA = Small Arms Ammunition Factory (1940-1946).

/| (used 1940-1941) - ROF Radway Green SAA (ROF 13). After 1941 the use of the broad arrow was dropped and switched to the letters "RG".

/| /| (used 1940-1941) - ROF Spennymoor SAA (ROF 21). After 1941 the use of the 2 broad arrows was dropped and switched to the letters "SR".

/| /| /| (used 1940-1941) - ROF Steeton SAA. After 1941 the use of the 3 broad arrows was dropped and switched to the letters "ST".

BBC - Barking Brassware Co. Barking, Essex, UK

BMARC, BMARCo - British Manufacturing and Research Company, Grantham, Lincolnshire.

B, BE, E, & BPF (1940 - 1946) - Royal Ordnance Factory Blackpole SAA (ROF 20), Blackpole, Worcestershire, UK. This Cadbury Bros. Ltd. factory was temporarily converted into an ordnance plant for the war effort.

C-P Crompton Parkinson Co. Ltd, Doncaster, Yorkshire, U.K.

E (1866–present) - Eley Brothers, Edmonton, London, UK.

GB - Greenwood and Batley, Leeds, Yorkshire, UK.

G18F1, C18F1 (1918) - Government Cartridge Factory No.1 (production overseen by Birmingham Metal and Munitions Co.) - Blackheath, Staffordshire. The digits "18" are the last two digits of the year of production.

G##F3, C##F3 (1918-1919) - Government Cartridge Factory No.3 (production overseen by Kings Norton Metal Co.) - Blackpole, Worcestershire. The ## are the last two digits of the year of production.

GKB (1884? - ?) - George Kynock & Co. of Birmingham (later Kynoch Ltd. in 1896). Made percussion caps from 1862 and metallic cartridges from 1884.

H - Hall Telegraph Co.

HN (1942-1945) - ROF Hirwaun, Hirwaun, Rhondda Cynon Taf, South Wales, UK.

K Kynoch Factories, Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd. - Birmingham, UK.

K - Kynoch & Co, Witton, Birmingham, UK.

K2 (1943-1944) - I.C.I. (Kynoch), Standish, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, UK

K3 - There was no Kynoch factory designated K3.

K4 (1942-1944) - I.C.I. (Kynoch), Yeading, Middlesex, UK.

K5 (1944) - I.C.I. (Kynoch), Kidderminster, Worcestershire.

P&S - Platers & Stampers Ltd.

RC, RCC, & RH (1941-1945) - Raleigh Cycle Co., Carlton, Nottingham.

RG (1940–present) Royal Ordnance Factory Radway Green - Radway Green, Cheshire; England, United Kingdom.

R^L Royal Laboratory (1696-1965). - Woolwich, Greenwich, London, England, United Kingdom.

RNADC Royal Naval Armaments Depot, Caerwent, Wales, United Kingdom.

ST Royal Ordnance Factory Steeton, Steeton, West Yorkshire

SWN Royal Ordnance Factory Swynnerton. Swynnerton, Staffordshire, United Kingdom.

TH - ROF Thorp Arch, Thorp Arch, West Yorkshire, England, UK

NATO Manufacturers

The number in parentheses is the nation's Nation Code.

Austria (41)

GR Georg Roth Vienna, Austria. Headstamp is a cypher of G & R combined.

H or HP Hirtenberger Patronen-, Zündhütchen-und Metallwarenfabrik A.-G. - Hirtenberg, Niederdonau, Austria.

KC or K&C Keller & Co - Hirtenberg bei Wien, Austria.

ÖJP Österreichische Jagdpatronenfabrik (1948 - ?) - Kramsach, Tirol, Austria. Founded in 1948, taken over by Hirtenberger on 1964.

German P-Codes (1938-1940) - Operated under German occupation

P.635 Gustloff-Werke, Otto Eberhardt Patronenfabrik, Hirtenberg, Niederdonau, Austria.

Belgium (13)

JA Jules Ancion & Cie, Liege, Belgium.

FN or FNB, Fabrique Nationale d'Armes de Guerre (FN), Herstal, Belgium.

P Fabrique Nationale d'Armes de Guerre (FN), Herstal, Belgium.

SF I Société de Métallurgie Franco-Belge de Issy-les-Moulineaux ("Franco-Belgian Metallurgic Society of Issy-les-Molineaux") - The Belgian division of Société F.A.çaise des Munitions de Issy-les-Moulineaux.

Bosnia-Herzegovina (75)

ИК, IK Igman Zavod - Konjic, Bosnia.

Brazil (19)

CBC Companhia Brasileira de Cartuchos - Ribeirão Pires, São Paulo, Brazil.

Czech Republic (16)

bxn Sellier & Bellot - Vlasim, Czech Republic.

Denmark (22)

From 1968 to 2007 ammunition packaging was stamped or embossed with the letters HMAK ensigned by a crown - standing for (Haerens Materielkommando Army Materiel Command)

AMA Ammunitionsarsenalet ("Ammunition Arsenal") (1676 - ?) - København, Denmark.

Egypt (36)

Egypt uses Arabic letters and numerals in its headstamp - which are read from right to left. At 12 o'clock is the three-letter acronym for Gomhoreyyet Maṣr el-ʿArabeyya (Arab Republic of Egypt) - which looks like the English letters ERC in cursive from left to right but represent the Egyptian Arabic letters GMA from right to left. At 4 o'clock is the two-digit Arsenal Number and at 8 o'clock is the two-digit year.

GMA 01 Military Factory 10 - Alexandria, Egypt.

GMA 72 Military Factory 27 - Cairo, Egypt.

Finland (58)

LAPUA Lapuan Patruunatehdas ("Cartridge Factory at Lapua") (1949–1998) - Lapua, Finland. It is now called Nammo Lapua (1998–present), a division of the Nammo Group.

VPT Valtion Patruunatehdas ("State Ammunition Factory") (1923 - 1949) - Lapua, Finland. The forerunner to Lapua. In 1949 it was absorbed by Valmet and renamed LAPUA.

Sako Sako A. B. ("Suojeluskuntain Ase-je Konepa ja Oy") (1921–present)- Riihimaki, Finland

France (14)

Note: French headstamps mark the 1-digit Quarter of the year of production and 2-digit Year at the 12-o'clock position (e.g. Q-YY), the letter code for the metal supplier for the case at the 3-o'clock position, the cartridge caliber and model at the 6-o'clock position, and the manufacturer at the 9-o'clock position.

APX Atelier de Construction de Puteaux (Manufacturing Workshop of Puteaux) Puteaux, France.

ARS, RS Atelier de Construction de Rennes (Manufacturing Workshop of Rennes) Rennes, France.

ATE, TE Atelier de Fabrication de Toulouse (Manufacturing Workshop of Toulouse) Toulouse, France.

ATS, TS Atelier de Construction de Tarbes (Manufacturing Workshop of Tarbes) Tarbes, France.

AVE, VE Cartoucherie de Valence (Cartridge Factory of Valence) Valence, France.

AVIS, VS Atelier de Fabrication de Vincennes (Manufacturing Workshop of Vincennes) Vincennes, France.

CN Ateliers Mécaniques de Normandie (Mechanical Workshops of Normandy).

ECP Ecole Centrale de Pyrotechnie (Central School of Pyrotechnics) Bourges, France.

F Cartoucherie Française (Cartridge Factory of France) - Paris, France

G Gévelot S. A. (Société Française des Munitions de Issy-les-Moulineaux) Paris, France

LM Cartoucherie du Mans (Cartridge Factory of Le Mans) Le Mans, France.

MGM Manufacture Générale de Munitions - Bourg-les-Valence, France

MR Manufacture de Machines du Haut-Rhin ("Machine-Building Factory of the Upper Rhine) (Manurhin) (?-1990) - Mulhouse-Bourtzwiller, France. Bought out and merged with GIAT in 1990. Manufactured cartridges as well as the industrial machinery to make bullets and casings and load cartridges.

RY Établissements Rey Frères ("Rey Brothers Enterprises") - Nîmes, France

SF, SFM Société Française de Munitions de Issy-les-Moulineaux (French Association for Munitions) - Issy les Moulineaux, France. The munitions division of Gévelot S. A.

SMI Robert Paulet & Cie (Société Méridionale d'Industrie > "Meridian Industrial Association") - Marseille, France.

TH Cartoucherie de la Seine ("Cartridge Factory of the Seine").

French Colonial Arsenals

AR Cartoucherie d'Alger ("Cartridge Plant of Algiers") Algiers, Algeria.

CV Cartoucherie Voltaïque ("Cartridge Plant of the Volta") - Ouagadougou, République de Haute-Volta

EID Établissements Industriels de Défense ("Defense Industry Establishments") Damascus, Syria; Mandat Français pour la Syrie et le Liban ("French Mandate of Syria and the Levant") Uses Arabic letters and numbers on the headstamp since independence.

Germany (12)

(1918-1940)

AI Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken A.G. - Lûbeck-Schlutup, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Headstamp used by Germany to covertly supply the Spanish Nationalists during the Spanish Civil War. The headstamp has "AI" at the 12 o'clock position (perhaps to copy the headstamp of the Dutch Artillerie-Inrichtingen munitions works), large lower-case letter "e"S.A. the 3- and 9-o'clock positions, and the year of production at the 6 o'clock position.

DWM B Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken - Berlin, Borsigwalde, Germany.

DWM H Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken (1940-1945) - 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands. The Nederlandsche Wapen-en Munitiefabriek NV. factory run by the German occupation forces.

DWM K Deutsche Waffen uund Munitionsfabriken - Karlsruhe, Germany.

DWM L Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken - Lübeck, Germany.

P Polte Armaturen-und-Maschinenfabrik A.G., Werk Magdeberg - Sachsen, Magdeburg, Germany.

SKD Selve-Kronbiegel-Dornheim A.-G. (1924-1940) - Sömmerda, Thuringia, Germany. A partnership between three former arms manufacturers who were turning to cartridge manufacture. Selve owned the Braun und Bloem pinfire cartridge trademarks, manufactured pinfire cartridges at the Fabrik von Braun und Bloem, and operated out of Düsseldorf. Kronbiegel owned the Dreyse und Collenbusch needlefire cartridge trademarks and operated out of Sömmerda, Thüringen. G.[ustav] C.[arl] Dornheim A.G. owned the GECADO trademark, the B.STAHL Metallhulsenfabrik - Suhl ammunition plant in Suhl, which made cartridge cases, and the Lindender Zünderhütchen-, Patronen- und Tonwarenfabrik in Empelde, Hannover, which made percussion caps and primers, assembled cartridges, and made clay pottery and dishes. They manufactured ammunition under the SELKADO ammunition trademark until 1940. G.C. Dornheim A.-G. sold the cartridge plant in Suhl in 1925 and Dynamit-Nobel bought the factory in Empelde and the GECADO ammunition trademark from G.C. Dornheim A.-G. in 1927, so RWS began producing ammunition for G.C. Dornheim.

Rdf. Dynamit Nobel, Werk Reinsdorf - Reinsdorf, Germany. Absorbed by I.G. Farben in 1926, and then by WASAG in 1945.

P-Codes (1926-1941)

P.14A Waffenwerke Brünn A.-G., Werk Povazska Bystrica - Považská Bystrica, Czechoslovakia. Operated under German occupation. Later renamed Povazske Strojárne ("Factory at Povaska").

P.25 Metallwarenfabrik Treuenbritzen G.m.b.H, Werk Sebaldushof, Sebaldushof, Germany

P.28 Deutsche Waffen u. Munitionsfabriken A.-G. (DWM), Karlsruhe, Germany

P.69 Patronen-, Zündhütchen- und Metallwarenfabrik A.-G. (formerly Sellier & Bellot) Schönebeck-an-der-Elbe, Salzlandkreis, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany.

P.94 Kabel- und Metallwerke- Neumeyer A.-G., Nürnberg, Germany

P.120 Dynamit A.-G. (DAG), Werk Empelde (1928-1945) - Empelde, Ronnenberg, Hannover, Germany. Formerly Lindender Zünderhütchen- und Patronen-fabrik (?-1927); closed for a year for reorganization and then reopened in 1928.

P.131 Deutsche Waffen u. Munitionsfabriken A.-G. (DWM), Berlin-Borsigwalde, Germany

P.151 Rheinisch-Westfälische Sprengstoff A.-G. (RWS), Werk Nürnberg-Stadeln, Nürnberg-Stadeln, Germany.

P.154 Polte, Werk Grüneberg - Grüneberg (Nordbahn), Germany

P.163 Metallwarenfabrik Treuenbrietzen, Werk Selterhof - Selterhof, Pommern, Germany.

P.181 Hugo Schneider A.-G. (HASAG), Leipsig, Germany.

P.334 Mansfeld A.-G. Metallwarenfabrik, Werk Rothenburg - Saale, Rothenburg, Germany

P.369 Teuto Metallwerke G.m.b.H., Osnabrück, Germany

P.405 Rheinisch-Westfälische Sprengstoff A.-G. (RWS), Werk Durlach (formerly Gustav Genschow & Co.), Durlach, Germany.

P.413 Deutsche Waffen-u. Munitionsfabriken A.G. (DWM), Lûbeck-Schlutup, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany

Letter Codes (1940-1945)

emp Dynamit A.-G., Werk Empelde - Empelde, Ronnenberg, Hannover, Germany.

fer Metallwerke Wandhofen GmbH - Wandhofen, Schwerte an der Ruhr, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany.

hhw Metallwerke Silberhütte GmbH, St-Andreasberg-im-Harz, Goslar, Lower Saxony, Germany.

hla Metallwarenfabrik Treuenbritzen GmbH, Werk Sebaldushof - Sebaldushof, Brandenburg, Germany.

hlb Metallwarenfabrik Treuenbrietzen, Werk Selterhof - Selterhof, Pommern, Germany.

hlc Zieh-u. Stanzwerke GmbH - Schleusingen, Thüringen

hrn Presswerke GmbH - Metgethen, Ostpreußen, Germany (now Imeni Alexandra Kosmodemyanskogo, Kaliningrad oblast, Russian Federation)

(1946–present)

DAG Dynamit Nobel A-G () - Troisdorf, Rhein-Sieg-Kreis, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany and Fürth. It owned the RWS, Geco, and Rottweil brands. In 2002 its ammunition factories and their brands were purchased by RUAG (Rüstungs Unternehmen Aktiengesellschaft) and were spun off to form RUAG Ammotec GmbH (Fürth).

ME or MEN Metallwerk Elisenhütte Nassau G.m.b.H. (1957–present) - Nassau, Lahn, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. Made part of the CBC Group in 2007.

MS Manusaar A-G (1953-1973) - Büdingen, Hessen, West Germany. Also known as Manusaar-Diehl-Büdingen, Saarbrucken, FRG; Manusaar-Büdingen Saarbrucken; and Société Manusaar-Büdingen. Manusaar-Diehl was founded in the '50s as a partnership between Manurhin (France) and Munitionsfabrikanten Karl Diehl (Germany); the name Manusaar is a combination of MANUrhin and SAAR (the Saar Valley, where the factory was based). It manufactured primers from 1953-1972 and cartridges from 1957-1973; it went out of business in 1973 due to a loss of market share to other, larger European manufacturers.

Greece (23)

EPK, GPC, or HXP (Pyrkal) Greek Powder & Cartridge Company - Athens, Greece. (1908-2004). Manufactures cartridges and disintegrating belt links.

P C H Pouderie et Cartoucherie Hellenique (Pyrkal).

India (72)

KF Kirkee Factory, Poona, Kirkee, Maharashtra state, India.

KH Khamaria Factory, Khamaria, Jabalpur district, Madhya Pradesh state, India.

OFV Ordnance Factory at Varangaon - Varangaon, Jalgaon district, Maharashtra state, India.

OK Ordnance Factory at Khamaria - Khamaria, Jabalpur district, Madhya Pradesh state, India.

Israel (31)

Israel has supposedly manufactured ammunition under the S, SA, and SB headstamps. They might be new or reloaded cases acquired from Spain for the underground workshops operated before independence, ammunition produced under contract for the Spanish government, ammunition produced discreetly for special customers (like embargoed South Africa or devoutly Muslim Egypt), or "sanitized" ammunition hidden under Spanish headstamps for use by Israel's special operations forces.

AE Eretz Ayalon ("Ayalon Institute") (1945-1948) - Kibbutzim Hill, Rehovot, British Mandate, Palestine. An underground munitions factory hidden in the basement of a community center that had a working bakery and a laundry. The copper for the casings was acquired by scrap dealers who supposedly were using it to make brass lipstick cases. They made 9×19mm Parabellum and 7.92×57mm Mauser cartridges.

IMI, TK, TKK, or ת צ (T'aasiya Tz'vaeet, "Military Industries") Israeli Military Industries - Tel Aviv, Israel. Manufactures cartridges, clips, and disintegrating belt links.

Italy (15)

BPD Bombrini Parodi Delfino - Colleferro, Rome, Italy.

GFL Giulio Fiocchi Lecco - Lecco, Italy.

LBC Leon Beaux & Company - Milan, Italy.

MCM Munizioni e Cartucce Martignoni - Genoa, Italy.

PC or PECA Stabilimento Pirotecnico dell'Esercito di Capua ("Army Pyrotechnical Factory at Capua") - Capua, Italy.

PERFECTA Manufactured by Fiocchi Munizioni.

SMI Società Metallurgica Italiana - Campo Tizzoro, Pistoia, Italy.

Japan (30)

P##S Showa Kinzoku Ltd., Tokyo, Japan. The ## symbol stands for the last two digits of the year of manufacture (P54S would mean 1954 production). The P prefix stands for "Police" contract ammunition.

TE Toyo Seiki Manufacturing Company, Limited. Tokyo, Japan.

TS or TOYO Toyo Seiki Manufacturing Company, Limited. Japan.

Lithuania (47)

L D Linkaičiai Dirbtuves ("Workshop at Linkaičiai") (1931-1940) - Linkaičiai, Lithuania. The factory originally just bought the components from Belgian companies like Fabrique Nationale and assembled them onsite from 1931. They weren't able to make their own components self-sufficiently until after 1937. The headstamp has the "L" at the 9 o'clock position and the "D" at the 3 o'clock position; the 2-digit year of production is in the 12 o'clock position and the batch number is at the 6 o'clock position.

GGG Giraitės Ginkluotes Gamykla ("Giraitės Armament Factory") (2000–present) - Giraitės km., Uzliedziu sen., Kaunas raj., Kaunas County, Lithuania. First manufactured 7.62×39mm Soviet rounds in 2002, NATO-standard 5.56×45mm NATO and 7.62×51mm NATO rounds in 2005 (earning the NATO interchangeability rating in 2006), and sporting .223 Remington and .308 Winchester rounds in 2012.

The Netherlands (17)

AI Artillerie - Inrichtingen NV (1679-1983) - Zaandam, Netherlands.

EMZ Eurometaal Zaandam NV (1983–present) - Zaandam, Netherlands.

NWM Nederlandsche Wapen-en Munitiefabriek de Kruithoorn NV (1948-1998) - 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands

Norway (25)

AYR A/S Raufoss Ammunisjonsfabrikker, Raufoss, Norway. Now divided into several smaller ammunition and munitions companies: Nammo, Raufoss Technologies, etc. RA headstamp.

Pakistan (76)

POF Pakistan Ordnance Factories.

Poland (43)

Poland (1918-1939)

The cartridge manufacturer placed their code at the 12 o'clock position. Government factories that made ammunition for the military placed the Polish National Eagle stamp instead. The case manufacturer's code letter or numeral in the 6 o' clock position and the two digit percentage of copper in the case's brass was placed at the 9 o'clock position. The last two digits of year of production was placed at the 3 o'clock position.

I Wytwornia Amunicji (WYTW. AM., "Ammunition Factory") No.1 (Brest-Litovsk).

II Wytwornia Amunicji No.2 (Poznań).

III Wytwornia Amunicji No.3 (Warsaw).

IV Wytwornia Amunicji No.4 (Kraków).

V Wytwornia Amunicji No.5 (Przemyśl).

F A S Fabrika Amunicji Skarzysko. Skarzysko-Kamienna, Poland. Civilian ammunition brand manufactured by P.W.U. Fabryka Amunicji.

W Wojskowa Wytwornia Amunicji Karabinowej (WWAK, "Military Rifle Ammunition Factory"), Warsaw, Poland. Founded in 1921 using nationalized machinery acquired from the Georg Roth A.G. subsidiary factory in Poznań (formerly Posen). It made bullets, primers, cases, and complete cartridges. It was closed in 1925 and moved to Skarzysko.

SK Państwowa Wytwornia Uzbrojenia Fabryka Amunicji (P.W.U. Fabryka Amunicji, "National Armament Factory - Ammunition Plant"), Skarzysko-Kamienna, Poland. Founded in 1925 by moving the WWAK's machinery from Warsaw.

N Norblin S.A.. Ammunition factory founded in 1922 in Warsaw. It had a metal foundry and cartridge production plant at Glownie that made cartridge brass for other firms as well.

Pk Zaklady Amunicyjne, Pocisk, Spolka Akcyjna ("Munitions Works, 'Bullet', Joint Stock Company"), or Z.A. Pocisk S.A. ("Ammunition Works 'Bullets' Joint Stock Company"). A Franco-Polish Joint Stock Company created in 1921 to supply the Polish Government with ammunition. Using machinery purchased from Hirtenberger of Austria, a cartridge plant was set up in Warsaw and a munitions plant was set up in Rembertow. In 1932 it was nationalized by the Polish Government, who consolidated all production at Rembertow.

Poland (1939-1945)

kam HASAG Eisen und Metallwerke G.m.b.H., Skarzysko-Kamienna, Poland. Manufactured ammunition and small arms for the German military using slave labor. The Germans removed all the machinery in 1945, then wrecked whatever they could before they retreated.

Poland (1945-1989)

The Polish headstamp for Factory 21 either has the factory number in an oval or upside-down to keep it from being confused with the Hungarian and Romanian Factory 21s. This was extended to other Polish headstamps for consistency.

(21) Panstwowa Fabryka Amunicji Skarzysko-Kamienna (“State Ammunition Factory at Skarzysko-Kamienna”) (1945-1948) - Skarzysko-Kamienna, Poland. Made small arms ammunition.

21 Zakłady Wyrobów Metalowych Skarzysko-Kamienna ("Skarzysko-Kamienna Metal Products Works") (1948-1988) - Skarzysko-Kamienna, Poland. Made small arms ammunition and the civilian MESKO brand, along with appliances and metalware. MESKO is an acronym for Zakłady Metalowe Skarzysko Kompania ("Metal Works Company at Skarzysko"). It was merged with the PREDOM appliance brand and renamed PREDOM-MESKO S.A. in 1975. It then separated again and was renamed MESKO S.A. in 1985.

21 General Sikorski Zakłady Metalowe MESKO ("General Sikorski MESKO Metal Works") (1988-1993) - Skarzysko-Kamienna, Poland. Renamed as an expression of Polish independence.

54 Factory 54 - Skarzysko-Kamienna, Poland. MESKO's autocannon, rocket, and missile division.

343 Factory 343 - Krupski Mlyn, Silesia, Poland. They made propellants and explosives.

MESKO Marka Export Solidnosc Knokurencyjnosc Otwartosc ("Brand for Export - Reliability, Competitiveness, and Honesty"). Skarzysko-Kamienna, Poland. Civilian hunting and competitive shooting ammunition brand. In 2005 MESKO joined the PHZ Bumar Group, which consists of 22 manufacturing companies from the now privatized Pol'shi Promyshlennost' Oborony (PPO, "Polish Defense Industry").

NITRON - NITRON S.A. Krupski Mlyn, Silesia, Poland. The privatized version of Factory 343.

Portugal (24)

AE Arsenal do Exercito ("Army Arsenal") - Lisbon, Portugal.

FA Fabrica de Armas ("Arms Factory") - Portugal.

FCPQ Fábrica de Cartuchos e Pólvoras Quimicas ("Cartridge & Gunpowder Factory") - Chelas, Portugal.

FNM Fabrica Nacional de Municoes de Armas Ligeiras ("National Small Arms Munitions Factory") - Lisbon, Portugal.

FPC Fábrica de Pólvora em Chellas ("Gunpowder Factory in Chelas") - Chelas, Portugal.

Norway (25)

BF Bakelittfabrikken Norway. The headstamp has the NATO symbol (+) at 12 o'clock, 2-digit year at 6 o'clock, BF at 9 o'clock, and 2-digit batch code at 3 o'clock.

Serbia (73)

FOMU Fabryka Oruzja i Municje, Užice ("Weapons and Munitions Factory - Užice"), Užice, Serbia, Yugoslavia.

PP, PPU, or ППУ Prvi Partizan Užice ("First Partizan [Factory] at Užice"); Užice, Serbia.

Singapore (32)

CHJ Chartered Industries of Singapore (1967-2000) - Singapore. The headstamp used a letter code for the date (O = 0, A = 1, etc.; "J" is used instead of "I"): the first two letters were the last two digits of the year and the third was the letter 'B' for "Berdan primed". FI B would be 1969, GG B would be 1977, and JH would be 1998. When the company switched to Boxer primed cartridges in the 1980s, the third letter was dropped. Chartered Industries was merged with ST Kinetics in 2000.

Republic of South Africa (18)

South Africa left the Commonwealth of Nations in 1961 and was re-admitted in 1994. It remains a Republic.NOTE: The manufacturer and last two digits of the year are on the upper arc of the stamp (e.g., WA 80 for Walter Annexe, 1980). The symbols on the lower arc of the stamp indicates the caliber (7.7mm, 5.56mm or 7.62mm) and R# or R#M# indicate the model (R) and mark (M) of the cartridge, like the Commonwealth L#A# stamp (e.g., R1M1 is the first model and second Mark of a cartridge). Later, the 2-digit year is in the 12 o'clock position and a digit in the 6 o'clock position on the headstamp indicated the load identification code.

A Factory A, Pretoria Metal Pressings. Pretoria, South Africa.

B Factory B, Pretoria Metal Pressings. Kimberly, South Africa.

LA Luther Annexe, Pretoria Metal Pressings. A factory named for Stephanus "'Fanie" Luther, a former PMP employee. Produced mostly civilian ammo, but there was some military production during high volume orders.

WA Walter Annexe, Pretoria West factory, Pretoria Metal Pressings. A factory named for Allen Walter, a former PMP employee. Produced military ammo.

South Korea (37)

KA Pusan Government Arsenal, Pusan, Republic of Korea. Manufactures military cartridges.

PS (Poong-San), Poongsan Metal Mfg. Co. Ltd. - Angang Ammunition Plant, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Manufactures military cartridges.

PSD (Poong-San - Dongrae), Poongsan Metal Mfg. Co. Ltd. - Dongrae Ammunition Plant, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Manufactures military cartridges.

PMC (Precision-Made Cartridges), a division of Poongsan Metal Mfg. Co. Ltd. - Seoul, Republic of Korea. Manufactures commercial cartridges. Note: The "M" in the headstamp looks like an upside-down "W".

Spain (33)

ENSB, SB, or SB-T Empresa Nacional Santa Barbara de Industrias Militares ("Saint Barbara National Military Industries Enterprise") (?-2001); Toledo, Spain. Later absorbed as part of General Dynamics in 2001.

FNP Fábrica Nacional de Palencia ("National Factory at Palencia"); Palencia, Spain.

FNT Fábrica Nacional de Toledo ("National Factory at Toledo"); Toledo, Spain. Later reorganized as Empresa Nacional Santa Bárbara de Industrias Militares, part of Santa Bárbara Sistemas.

P or S Pirotecnia Militar de Sevilla ("Military Explosives Factory at Seville"), Seville, Spain.

SBS Santa Bárbara Sistemas ("Saint Barbara Systems") (2001–present); Toledo, Spain. The new name for Empresa Nacional Santa Barbara de Industrias Militares since it was absorbed by General Dynamics.

Sweden (65)

AMF stands for Ammunitionsfabrik ("Ammunition Factory"). They used a royal crown at the 12 o'clock position, the 2-digit year at the 9 o'clock (tens) and 3 o'clock (ones) positions, and the location letter or number at the 6 o'clock position. Early ammunition had a 4-digit year with the first 2 digits (thousands and hundreds) at 9 o'clock and the second 2 digits (tens and ones) at 3 o'clock.

K Amf Karlsborg - Karlsborg, Sweden.

M Amf Marieberg - Marieberg,Sweden.

H Hirtenberg, Austria. H is in the 12 o'clock position and the company headstamp (HP or KC) is at the 6 o'clock position.

Native ammunition producers include:

FFV Förenede Fabriksverken - Karlsborg, Sweden.

N Nordiska Metallaktiebolaget - Västerås, Sweden. The N is at the 12 o'clock position, the 2-digit year is at the 9 o'clock (tens) and 3 o'clock (ones) positions, and the caliber is at the 6 o'clock position.

NORMA ÅB Norma Projektilfabrik - Amotfors, Sweden.

Foreign ammunition producers included Deutschen Waffen- und Munitionsfabrik (DWM) of Germany; Hirtenberger Patronen-, Zündhütchen- und Metallwarenfabrik A.G. (HP) and Keller & Co (KC or K&C) of Austria; Société Française des Munitions (SFM) of France; and Valtion Patruunatehdas (VPT) of Finland.

Turkey (27)

MKE - Makina ve Kimya Endüstrisi Kurumu ("Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation"). Its munitions are distributed in North America by Zenith Quest International (ZQI), which owns the commercial Guardian Ammunition (GA) brand. Military ammunition corporation

Soviet Union

3 Factory 3 (Ulyanovsk Machinery Plant) - Ulyanovsk, Ulyanovsk Oblast, Russia. Owned the Sapsan (Sapsan > "Peregrine Falcon") brand.

7 Factory 7 (Amursk Machine-Building Plant) - Amursk, Khabarovsk Krai, Russia. Later reorganized as Vympel State Production Association (Vympel > "Pennant"). They owned the Golden Tiger brand.

10 Factory 10 (Unknown) - Manufactured ammunition during World War 2.

17 Factory 17 (Barnaul Cartridge Works) - Barnaul, Krasnogorsky District, Altai Krai, Russia. They own the Centaur and Monarch brands.

38 Factory 38 (Yuryuzan State Factory) - Yuryuzan, Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russia.

60 Factory 60 (Frunze Cartridge Plant) (?-1991) - Bishkek, Kyrgistan (formerly Frunze, Kirghizia).

188 Factory 188 (Novosibirsk Low Voltage Equipment Plant) - Novosibirsk, Novosibirsk Oblast, Siberian Federal District, Russia. Owned the LVE (Low Voltage Equipment) ammunition brand.

270, ЛПЗ (LPZ), LU, LCW Factory 270 (Lugansk Cartridge Works) - Luhansk (formerly Lugansk), Luhansk Oblast, Ukraine. The 270 headstamp was used on military ammunition from 1953 to 2008 and ЛПЗ (LPZ, for Luganskij Patronnyj Zavod, Russian > "Lugansk Cartridge Works") from 2008 to present. The LU headstamp (for Luhansk, Ukraine) was used on commercial and contract ammunition for Red Army Standard. The LCW headstamp has been used since 2002 on exported ammunition.

304 Factory 304 (Kuntsevo Cartridge Works) - Kuntsevo District, Moscow, Russia.

539 Factory 539 (Tula Arms Plant) - Tula, Tula Oblast, Russia.

541 Factory 541 (Chelyubinsk Cartridge Works) - Chelyabinsk, Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russia.

710 Factory 710 (Podolsk Cartridge Works) - Podolsk, Podolsk Urban Okrug, Moscow Oblast, Russia.

711 Factory 711 (Klimovsk Stamping Plant) - Klimovsk, Podolsk Urban Okrug, Moscow Oblast, Russia.

Bulgaria (50)

Bulgaria is now a NATO member. It often manufactures ammunition for other NATO partners.

((10)) Factory 10 (1946–present) - Kazanlak, Bulgaria. Manufactured ammunition and clips. A double ring was added around the number so that it would not be confused with the defunct Russian #10 ammo plant. Now privatized as Arsenal.

B or BAO Durjava Voenna Fabrika ("State Military Factory") (? - 1946) - Kazanlak, Bulgaria.

Czechoslovakia

Czechoslovakia has since been divided into the Czech and Slovak Republics.

O O Sellier & Bellot - Prague, Vlašim, Czechoslovakia. The "O"s (often referred to as "rosettes") are at the 3- and 9-o'clock positions on the headstamp.

PS Povazske Strojarne ("Factory at Povazska") (1946-1952) - Povazska Bystrica, Czechoslovakia.

S&B Sellier & Bellot - Prague, Czechoslovakia.

SBP Sellier & Bellot - Prague - Prague, Czechoslovakia.

SBR Sellier & Bellot - Riga - Riga, Latvia. A satellite factory set up for sales to Northern Europe and the Baltic region. It was later seized and nationalized by the Soviet Union.

ZV Zbrojova Vlašim ("Vlašim Armory") - Vlašim, Czechoslovakia. Zbrojova Vlašim was the Nationalized name for the Sellier & Bellot plant in Prague from 1945 to 1990.

Yugoslavia

ППУ (PPU) Prvi Partizan, Užice ("First Partisan" Ammunition Plant) (1945-Present) - Užice, Yugoslavia (now Serbia).

ВТӠ (VTZ) Vojno Teknicki Zavod ("Military Technical Institute") (1853-1941; 1944-1992) - Kragujevac, Yugoslavia (now Serbia). Began as a cannon foundry and pyrotechnics laboratory in 1853. The Laboratory was spun off to manufacture munitions and pyrotechnics from 1883 to 1941. Production was halted from 1941 to 1944 due to the German occupation during World War II and again briefly in 1991 during the Yugoslavian Civil War. It is now focused on artillery ammunition and explosives manufacture.

Argentina (29)

The headstamp has the caliber on the upper arc. The lower arc contains the factory's initials flanked by the two-digit month on the left side and the last two digits of the production year on the right side (e.g., 03FLB82 means March-Fabrica Militar Frey Luis Beltran-1982).

FLB Fábrica Militar Fray Luís Beltran (Military Factory - "Brother Louis Beltran") - San Lorenzo, Argentina. A military supply and ammunition factory named after a friar who took care of General José de San Martín's wounded after the Battle of San Lorenzo.

FM Fábrica Militar de Cartuchos de San Lorenzo (Military Cartridge Factory at San Lorenzo) - San Lorenzo, Argentina.

SF Fábrica Militar de Cartuchos de San Francisco (Military Cartridge Factory at San Francisco) - San Francisco, Argentina.

Chile (52)

F. Fábricas y Maestranzas del Ejército (FAMAE) - Santiago, Chile.

Paraguay

F D FAMAE & DIMABEL. Made in Chile by FAMAE for the Paraguayan Armed Forces' Armaments Directorate (Direccion de Material Belico - DIMABEL).
NOTE: On its headstamp, F is in the 9 o'clock position and D is in the 3 o'clock position; the 2-digit year is at the 6 o'clock position and the metric caliber (7.62×51mm, 9×19mm) is at the 12 o'clock position.

IMP Industrias Militares de Paraguay ("Military Industries of Paraguay"), a division of DIMABEL - Piribebuy, Paraguay (1988-1993; 1995–present). Originally set up with Fabrique National equipment and assistance; reformed and reorganized with help from FAMAE from 1993 to 1995. It manufactures small arms ammunition and owns the Yaguareté (Guarani > "Jaguar") civilian ammo brand.

MDRP Ministerio de Defencia, Republica Del Paraguay ("Ministry of Defense, Republic of Paraguay"). Made in France by Société Française des Munitions for the Paraguayan military. Some ammunition with this headstamp was seized before it could be diverted to South Africa in violation of the arms embargo.

Venezuela

CAVIM Compañía Anónima Venezolana de Industrias Militares ("Venezuelan Military Industries Limited Company") - Caracas, Venezuela. (1975–present)

VEN Ministerio de la Defensa, Servicio de Armamento, Arsenal y Fábrica de Municiones ("Ministry of Defense, Armaments Service, Arsenal and Munitions Factory") - Caracas, Venezuela.

Zimbabwe

ZI Zimbabwe Defense Industries - Harare, Zimbabwe City, Zimbabwe. Headstamp has the 2-digit production year at 12-o'clock and ZI at 6-o'clock. It sold surplus military ammunition under the civilian Cheetah brand through Vector Arms, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA from 1993 to 2005.

China

NORINCO (North Industries Corporation), headquartered in Beijing, People's Republic of China, oversees various state-owned arsenals engaged in the production of weaponry and ammunition for both military and civilian sectors. The ammunition features a headstamp marking, with the arsenal's identification number at the 12 o'clock position and the final two digits of the manufacturing year at the 6 o'clock position. The following are arsenals known to exist before 1979.

11 State Factory 11 - Mudanjiang, Heilongjiang province, People's Republic of China.

31 or 031 State Factory 31 - (Commercial ammo is packed in two-tone red-black box with white lettering and the NORINCO and China Sports names in gold lettering.)

41 State Factory 41

51 or 051 State Factory 51

61 State Factory 61 (Long Jiang Special Equipment Company, Ltd.) - Harbin, Heilongjiang province, People's Republic of China.

71 State Factory 71 - (Commercial ammo is packed in plain green box with black lettering and the NORINCO name and symbol in red lettering on white backing)

81 State Factory 81

Headstamps 1, 101, 111, 121, 131, 201, 211, 221, 141, 301, 311, 351, 391, 501 / 0501, 651, 661, 821, 846, 911, 964, 6201, 6202, 6203, 9121, and 9141 are confirmed as Chinese, while 451, 671 and 946 are unconfirmed. They are either a subterfuge method to conceal the actual locations and numbers of Chinese arsenals (e.g., 946 as a cover headstamp for State Factory 964) or a designation for annexes attached to an arsenal (i.e., 311 is an annex of State Factory 11 or State Factory 31).

121 Heilongjiang North Tool Factory - Mudanjiang, Heilongjiang province, People's Republic of China.

Indonesia (45)

P or PINDAD or PIN PT Pindad (Persero), under management of PT Bahana Pakarya Industrisi Strategis (Persero) - Turen Malang, West Java, Indonesia. Formerly known as Pabrik Senjata Mesiu.

Malaysia (34)

MAL Syarikat Malaysia Explosives Ltd., Batu-Arang, Malaysia. Winchester and Radway Green sub-contractor for NATO ammunition.

Taiwan (?)

TAA 205th Arsenal, Material Production Center, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. A sub-contractor for General Dynamics. They manufacture 5.56mm NATO and 7.62mm NATO cartridges.