Old PAcific C press

[richhodg66]

I have an old one I picked up cheap at a gun show a while back, this is not it, but looks exactly like it;


I plan to set it up as my portable/indoor reloading set up. Anyone know wbout when it was made and what the original color was? Mine has been painted black by a former owner, but there is some light blue showing through in a few places. I have cleaned it up and tomorrow will prime it, I'd like to get close to the original color.

[Pressman]

Light blue is the original color, just like the one pictured. These were from 1959/1960 when. Dietmier was taking control of Pacific, before he got his new designs to market.

[bmortell]

This is my pacific i use for everything. My grampa bought it somewhere around 1960 im assuming and its original condition except maybe the rubber thing that pushes the primer arm back out. But i shined a white light on it for color reference.

[bmortell]

Some closer paint photos




Color kinda changes with lighting but the last one is probably most true to the eye, and the texture is more wrinkled than pebbled.

[richhodg66]

Thanks for the input. This one is not nearly as stout as that one, I had kind of figured it to be older than late fifties. Anyway, I think it'll be a good little press for what I have in mind, we'll see. I'll hit it with some rustoleum primer tomorrow and go look at light blue shades.

[Pressman]

Richdogg, it is older than the late 50's. It is a 1st Gen Super press. It's a reinforced Standard model introduced in 1947 to improve on the weakness of the Standard.
Over the next 10 years Pacific did little to grow or improve their reloading tool line. So the Super remained the same as it was in 1947, only the color changed. Until Dietmier took over and redesigned everything by 1961.

[Mytmousemalibu]

I have one just like Rich's, original finish and in very good condition. I'd like to find a handle cover that matches the original. Im missing the primer tube setup also. It does have the primer arm. Anyone know what the original grip looks like?

[TNsailorman]

Someone with more knowledge will have to provide the following question for me. When was the Pacific C press first put on the market? I have seen those presses advertised as 1930's models (at least I thought they were Pacific's). I think Herter's had those type presses in the 30's. james

[Char-Gar]

I started reloading in 1959 with a Pacific Super C and have a great fondness for them. I am now down to just two a 1930's C and a 1950's Super C. The Pacific C is the primogenator of most modern reloding presses.

[richhodg66]

The patent # on this one of mine is 1 933 940 just like the picture I posted. Is there somewhere that you can index a patent number to see what date it was issued?

[Pressman]

Richdogg, you can Google the patent number to see the entire document.
It's 1932.

[Pressman]

Someone with more knowledge will have to provide the following question for me. When was the Pacific C press first put on the market? I have seen those presses advertised as 1930's models (at least I thought they were Pacific's). I think Herter's had those type presses in the 30's. james

The Pacific was written up in 1931 in the American Rifleman.
Herter's started with their Model 3 in 1954, or late 1953. They copied the Lachmiller that was on the market in 1952.

[gwpercle]

This is my pacific i use for everything. My grampa bought it somewhere around 1960 im assuming and its original condition except maybe the rubber thing that pushes the primer arm back out. But i shined a white light on it for color reference.

The black rubber thing is original , one came with mine . I cut a replacement from a heavy truck tire inner tube...do truck tire inner tubes even still exist ?
Pressman might be able to shed some light on this very low tech piece of Pacific Press , I can't .

Does anyone know of a site where one could read about the history of the Pacific loading presses, my main press is a Super Deluxe , used for decades , but know little or nothing of their history.
Was there a connection with a company called Bair or Bear ? My Pacific Press was given to me with several pieces of Bair equiptment...all the same color blue , for 25 years I thought the Press was Bair but it has a large capitol P cast into the back....that was the giveaway...P = Pacific .
Interesting subject , wish I knew more .
Gary

[Gewehr-Guy]

I've got an old one without the Pat. no., Pacific on one side and SF CAL on the other side of the frame. Lots of original black paint, but no original handle. Bought it to use with my Pacific bullet luber-sizer, but they are not of the same era.

[Char-Gar]

The Pacific was written up in 1931 in the American Rifleman.
Herter's started with their Model 3 in 1954, or late 1953. They copied the Lachmiller that was on the market in 1952.

I have a copy of that article.

[Alstep]

Love the old Pacifics. I started loading on the middle press illustrated here. Bought it in the late '50's or early '60's.

[TNsailorman]

Years ago I was in a gunsmith's shop to get some machine work done and I saw one of the old Pacific presses like the one Alstep's picture. It was in excellent condition and it was what he reloaded custom ammunition for his customers. He made custom rifles mostly for the Safari trade use. He was an older gentleman even back then and I always wondered but never asked how long he had been using that press. james

[Char-Gar]

Alstep---- That Pacific C marked S F Cal is one of the very early ones before they started marking them with the patent number. It is a rare bird and very collectable.

[Alstep]

Alstep---- That Pacific C marked S F Cal is one of the very early ones before they started marking them with the patent number. It is a rare bird and very collectable.

Thanks Char-Gar, had no idea.
I'm not one to stop at garage sales very often, but the one time I did a few years ago, I picked up that old press for a dollar. A little minor cleanup & lube, and it's really in great shape. It's assigned to light duty to size boolets through a Lee sizer. Somebody's trash turned out to be my treasure. My lucky day.

[Alstep]

I have a copy of that article.

Char-Gar, any chance you could post that article here?