✅ SOLVED Unidentified Bullet Mold

[Obrie2tm]

Hi Everyone,

I picked up this iron bullet mold at a flea market last year but have been unable to identify it. I have attached a few photos. Any ideas as to type and age?

Thanks
Tim

 

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[vpnavy]

Nice find. I just finished searching the net and did find out that it appears (you just have the hole) you are missing the sprue cutter (See: Definition of Bullet Mold). Now, I went through a ton of pictures and only found a few that had the tip squared off - maybe it is rear. Personally, I would have a little fun - melt some wax and punch out a bullet. You can then measure it and see what it is. Either way - I think it is neat!

 

[Obrie2tm]

Thank for the suggestion! Going to try that this evening or tomorrow and will post the result.

 

[vpnavy]

Super and sent you a PM.

 

[NOLA_Ken]

Without knowing the diameter I'd guess it could be a .44 cal, possibly .44-40. My grandfather had a similar mold that made the flat nose slugs like that.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

cool. here's one I found for round ball

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

The ruler in the photo isn't close enough to the bulletmold to allow more than an approximate estimate of size, but it indicates the bulletmold would produce a bullet which is a little bit larger than one centimeter in diameter. So, I agree with NOLA Ken, it is probably an early version of bulletmold for the Model 1873 Winchester .44-40 Rifle.

To see photos of a lengthy timeline of cartridges for that rifle, go here:
THE CARTRIDGE COLLECTOR

 

[BosnMate]

The ruler in the photo isn't close enough to the bulletmold to allow more than an approximate estimate of size, but it indicates the bulletmold would produce a bullet which is a little bit larger than one centimeter in diameter. So, I agree with NOLA Ken, it is probably an early version of bulletmold for the Model 1873 Winchester .44-40 Rifle.

To see photos of a lengthy timeline of cartridges for that rifle, go here:
THE CARTRIDGE COLLECTOR

Agree -- I'll go a bit further. The flat nosed bullet is intended to be use in a rifle with a tubular magazine like the rifle in the photo.


Note that the gun is loaded with the bullets one behind the other through the loading gate and are lined up in the tube below the barrel. If the bullets were sharp pointed, then each point would be resting on the primer of the bullet in front. The recoil of the fired gun would put undo pressure onto said primer, which could possibly cause the cartridge in front to go off, thus creating a problem for the left hand of a right handed shooter. So your bullet mold would not be older than the invention of the center fire bullet for use in a tubular magazine rifle. I don't know the exact dates, but probably sometime in the 70's, the Henry was a tubular magazine in the 1860's, but it was rim fire, and Winchester introduced the .44-40 in 1873. Your mold should have some numbers on it some place, have you looked it over really close?

 

[Obrie2tm]

Nice find as well Bigcypress hunter! Thanks Cannonballguy and BosnMate....I did a quick measurement and it indeed appears to be for a .44-40. I am still researching which weapon/model it goes with. I am buying some wax tonight to use in the mold and see how the full bullet looks. I will post the results. Thanks everyone for all the information thus far! I will post any updates.

 

[sutphin]

DANG NICE FLEA MARKET DEAL.

 

[Obrie2tm]

Finally got a chance to cast a wax bullet..here it is! Look familiar to anyone?

 

[SkaBa]

Nice wax cast.

 

[Obrie2tm]

Solved it! Late 1800s Remington .44 cal bullet mold! Thanks all for your help!