Bertram Brass Cases

On a recent visit to Henry Krank & Company, in Pudsey near Leeds, I came across the selection of Bertram brass cases that they carry in stock. In over 140 calibres, the range caters for most rare, obsolete and unusual cases and there are some really odd-looking ones amongst them.

Made in Australia, the brass is good quality and the cases all look wellmade and finished. I took away a small sample of interesting calibres and put them through the caliper, to see how they measured up. The consistency of the cases is excellent and all the calibres I have showed a good and consistent thickness of brass at the rim. The case heads all showed good, crisp headstamps and were well-shaped, with no sharp edges or machining marks. The primer pockets and flash holes are all well-formed and consistent in diameter. In the larger calibres, there is a significant weight of brass and this no doubt contributes to the price, along with the amount of skill and effort that must go into producing them.

Quality doesn’t come cheap!

Overall, these are very high-quality cases and it is easy to see why they carry the price tag that they do. Costing up to £36.80 each (most calibres are priced at around £5) they represent a significant investment, particularly if you want a large quantity, but if you are actually intending to make ammunition with them they will no doubt last a good few reloadings. If you do shoot a rare or obsolete calibre, having the necessary FAC in order to fire it of course, then these cases will be of particular benefit and will allow you to use your gun. These items are also very collectable and would make good conversation pieces for anyone into the old and forgotten calibres. Oddballs, like the .43 Mauser, with its very unusually shaped head face, are particularly interesting. Averaging around four to five pounds each, it would be easy to pick one up now and then and build a collection, possibly mounting them in a cartridge board.

All the calibres are detailed on Henry Kranks website and are available for delivery from stock. Although I do not shoot any of these rare and interesting calibres, I can see a case coming home with me each time I visit!