Who made these bullet molds?

[bedbugbilly]

I had the information at one time but can't seem to locate it in my files. Can anyone tell me who made these bullet molds? I have owned a number of them over the years - both in round ball and conical. They are all in one piece - i.e. blocks and handles are all in one piece. They were, IMYO, very well made and all that i have cast in have thrown good boolits. The blocks are usually stamped with the caliber on the end but no maker's marks - all that I have owned have had red painted handles. I believe they date to the 1960s / 70s ? Any information would be greatly appreciated. Looking for the maker / his company name or location and if possible, the years he was making them - just to answer my curiosity! Thanks!

[JMtoolman]

Dixie gun works molds.

[bedbugbilly]

No - these weren't made and marketed by DGW - Turner Kirkland utilized the curling iron conversions. These were made by a different maker - IIRC, he may have lived in TN and had a shop there. I'm old enough to remember meeting Turner Kirkland and what he carried as far as molds - their curling iron conversion molds and various bag molds. DGW marked their molds - the gentleman who made these didn't - at least in all of them I have owned over the years the only markings on them were the caliber on the end of the blocks.

[flint45]

It sure looks like the molds Dixie had back in the 70's in there giant catalogs .

[bedbugbilly]

If they carried them in the 70s, then I may be incorrect but I only remember their sissor handled converted hair straighteners. If they carried any of these they got them from the manufacturer and usually when they sold things, if it would take a stamp they would have their name on it - whether it be a Italian revolver copy or their hair straightener molds.

I have owned a number of these through the years - all single cavity molds and the only markings on them was the caliber not he end of the blocks. All of mine were "second hand" - i.e. gun shows, etc. I have seen them in conical cavities as well as RB. Very well made, tight pivot, well aligned cavities - good machining all around and always an excellent sprue cut on the ones I've cast with. I had a couple of them listed in the WTS section here - they didn't sell so put them on fleabbay . I had a fellow who I have sold molds to before contact me wanting to know more about the maker and background of them. I had it all written down and I thought I knew just where to put my hands on it but for the life of me, I can't locate the info. Chalk it up to old age! LOL

[Buckshot]

............It'd be fun to know their history, but they're similar in design if not in detail to bunches of similar types offered for over 200 years. Since they're not marked as to the manufacturer, probably the only way to know for sure would have to be from someone who'd bought an identical mould face to face with the maker.

................Buckshot

[bedbugbilly]

Buckshot - I probably won't get an answer unless someone who purchased one originally sees this post so you're probably right! A number of years ago, there was a similar post to mine about the same line of molds on here but after much searching, I couldn't come up with it. I wrote the information down, put it in my files and now can't find it. We moved a couple of years ago and I'm thinking it may have been misplaced (by me) when I planed out my file cabinets for the move. IIRC, the maker lived in TN but can't swear to it and I believe had a small shop in which he turned these molds out. Just wish he would have stamped them with his name as well as he stamped each one with the caliber.

[Dutchman]

[rmark]

Dutchmans photo is a Dixie Gunworks mold based off an old fashioned hair straightener, according to their catalog.