Geo. A Hensley #51 HP

[7x57Hunter]

I recently purchased this Hensley #51 with 1 hollow point and 1 solid cavity. Does anyone know if this is an original hollow point mould? I have seen one this early. I can’t wait to cast with it.


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[7x57Hunter]

It casts a pretty sweet looking swc...156gr solid and 146gr hp243396

[Markopolo]

Is it casting for a 38 cal ???

[7x57Hunter]

It’s casting at around .360” on the rear bands, the front band is smaller at around .351”

[Forrest r]

No it's not an original h&g #51 hp mold. I sold an original #51 hp mold on this website last year, it had a strait .125" hp pin that was rounded/tapered on the end.

https://i.imgur.com/bMLyY53.jpg

A h&g #142 hp mold with original hp pin.
https://i.imgur.com/QCZLAQr.jpg

h&g molds use a strait hp pin like the lyman hp pins. They are not stepped down with a long handle.

[7x57Hunter]

Hi Forrest, I have been searching the web and found this article that shows the same pin as my mould. There must be a difference between the early Hensley pins vs the Hensley & Gibbs

http://www.lasc.us/Fryxell358477HP.htm

[FISH4BUGS]

I have a DUAL cavity HP in the #51. Extremely rare according to Tom Dugas, the resident expert in H&G's. In fact he said he has seen only ONE other FACTORY dual HP #51, and he owned it.....and I paid stupid money for it.
My #51 is a San Diego made mould, and I can say that my HP pins are very different. There is a LOT more meat on the top of the HP pins, and they appear to be extremely well made and machined. Yours does not show the high quality machine work of the other H&G HP pins.
There is a set screw in the body of the pin to allow different depths to seat the pins. Your appears to be a fixed depth.
There is a photo of an original HP pin shown in an earlier post.
That is not to say that yours MIGHT be a very early #51, and H&G changed the style of the pins later. But based on what I know and can see, i would say it is NOT original.
TEXASFLYBOY is our resident guru for H&G moulds. Also check his web site: http://www.hensleygibbs.com/

[Forrest r]

Hi Forrest, I have been searching the web and found this article that shows the same pin as my mould. There must be a difference between the early Hensley pins vs the Hensley & Gibbs

http://www.lasc.us/Fryxell358477HP.htm

Thank you for posting, never new about the "early" pins.

[7x57Hunter]

No problem, I hope some H&G experts weigh in so we can find out for sure. My grease groove appears larger than other 51’s I have seen

[FISH4BUGS]

No problem, I hope some H&G experts weigh in so we can find out for sure. My grease groove appears larger than other 51’s I have seen

It certainly is possible that H&G started with one style of HP pins and changed them early on. I think Tom could weigh in on that one. However, I have never seen originals that differ from what is shown for comparison.
As for the grease groove, it certainly looks right to me. Without exact measurements it is hard to tell, but one of the characteristics of the #51 is that it has a grease groove the size of the Panama Canal....it needed that extra lube to avoid leading when you drive them hard at magnum velocities....gas check or not....
By the way, this is my go-to mould for 357 and 38's. I have 3 of them - 4 cavity 51 plain base, 4 cavity 51gc and the 2 cavity 51 gc HP.
Cast away - they are great moulds and great bullet.

[7x57Hunter]

I emailed Tom and PM’ed Glen...the consensus is that it is an early mold...1935-1937 and that the pin is original. It is believed that the hp molds were a very small part of his business and the pins made one at a time as needed.

[FISH4BUGS]

I emailed Tom and PM’ed Glen...the consensus is that it is an early mold...1935-1937 and that the pin is original. It is believed that the hp molds were a very small part of his business and the pins made one at a time as needed.
Very nice to know. Pretty logical explanation.
It is a Geo Hensley mould - even before he joined with Gibbs.....you might be very correct that the pin is original.
I would suggest allowing Tom to put it on his web site as a very early example (if he has not asked already).
This is how we learn....one piece of info at a time.

[7x57Hunter]

Does anyone know the theory behind the front band being smaller diameter?

[Texasflyboy]

I would suspect that the customer requested that (front band diameter) in his letter to George as all hollow point factory Moulds were special order. George never made them as stock items according to my research. Special order only.

The pin is factory. Late 1930’s design. I’ve seen others. Dating it is easy because of the abandoned hinge design (rivet style hinge).