Before there was a 310, there was a #10

[Pressman]

I brought beauty this home from Denver, Ideal #10 tool for 30-06. And it is complete, lacking only the instruction sheet. Usually missing is the decapping pin, powder dipper and the priming hook.

Originally there were 9 Ideal tong tools, #1 through #10, there is no #9. #3 loaded rimed cases, #10 loaded rimless cases. Creative thinking on the part of an unknown individual in 1946 gave us the 310 tool we all know and love in 1947.

Ken

[Char-Gar]

Very nice find. Those things are lovely tools. The 310 brought all the Ideal tools together but without a bullet mold on the end.

[jrmartin1964]

Very nice, indeed! I am curious... what, if anything, is marked on the dipper handle?

[ascast]

nice catch!

[Pressman]

The dipper handle is marked "black". I thought that was kind of odd.
Ken

[Bazoo]

That is really neat. Great condition too. Congratulations.

[jrmartin1964]

The dipper handle is marked "black". I thought that was kind of odd.
Ken

Not what I was expecting for a dipper in a .30-'06 set!
Thanks!

Jim

[LUBEDUDE]

Nice pick up there Ken!

[jrmartin1964]

I could be mistaken, but I believe the die at left-center of the third picture is a Tru-Line Jr. combination decapping/muzzle resizing/expanding die. It appears to have an expander button on the end of the decapping rod. If so, that die is unsuitable for use with a No.10 (or any of the other tong-type tools, for that matter) as the extractor hook will not maintain sufficient contact with the case to pull the neck over the expander button.

[Pressman]

Jrmartin, I think you are right, I cannot see what purpose that die would serve with the #10. That one seems to be an extra that got added in somewhere, sometime ago. I got this from then Dick Chamberlain collection, so anything ids possible, including the powder dipper markings. .

Ken

[54bore]

I recently seen several of these at an estate sale type of place, the outfit buys out estate sales I should say, I can't remember the prices? What is the value of these things?

[Pressman]

54bore, value is spread over a wild range. Depends on the # of the tool, the caliber or calibers stamped on it and the condition (ie: box, paperwork, rust, missing parts). And when it was made. Most were made somewhere over a 50 year time span by four different people or companies. Original Ideal by John Barlow , Ideal by Marlin Firearms Co., Ideal by Phineas Talcott, Ideal by Lyman - New Haven, or Ideal by Lyman Middlefield.

Sorting just that out is for advanced collectors. So, generally, $75-$500 depending....

To paraphrase Forest Gump, "collecting Lyman is like opening a box of chocolates."

Ken

[ascast]

54bore I would modify Pressman values down a bit. The alloy tools new are about $70. Used they can be found for $30 ish in still usable condition. Same applies to used steel tools, but they will be rusty, pitted, plating gone; but still usable. caliber can be huge. Generally anything that would use a cast bullet has a higher price. I am not sure why. That is to say, 220 Swift, 222 Rem, 243, 270 Win. sets are generally not used with cast, so these set are cheap. 45-70, 32-40, etc sets go for more. Also, there are some odd ball tools out there which bring a bit more. my 2 cents