Load DataWidenersRepackboxRotoMetals2
Lee PrecisionTitan ReloadingMidSouth Shooters SupplyReloading Everything
Inline Fabrication
Results 1 to 12 of 12

Thread: Is this an early "IDEAL" Mold?

  1. #1
    Boolit Master Oyeboten's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    Kansas
    Posts
    757

    Is this an early "IDEAL" Mold?

    Main Castings appear to be Bronze, Handle Ferrules are Brass ( but oddly look like Steel in my Twilight time of day outdoor image ), has the Number for the Boolit, but no other info or Text Stampings on it but for a tiny 2 ( as seen in the Oil Hole image ), Sprue Cutter is Steel...looks like it has an Oil Hole -

    Hosted on Fotki


    Hosted on Fotki


    Hosted on Fotki


    Hosted on Fotki


    Hosted on Fotki


    Hosted on Fotki

  2. #2
    Boolit Grand Master
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Central VA
    Posts
    5,513
    Look like early Ideal to me, but I've never seen them without the Ideal label. It would appear that the wooden handles are later replacements. They look too new and that's a more modern profile and finish.

    I do know that Ideal used to sell uncut blank moulds, perhaps it's one of those?

    Froggie
    "It aint easy being green!"

  3. #3
    Boolit Master Oyeboten's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    Kansas
    Posts
    757
    Quote Originally Posted by Green Frog View Post
    Look like early Ideal to me, but I've never seen them without the Ideal label. It would appear that the wooden handles are later replacements. They look too new and that's a more modern profile and finish.

    I do know that Ideal used to sell uncut blank moulds, perhaps it's one of those?

    Froggie
    The Bullet and it's Number are late 1800s early 1900s IDEAL offerings, so, would not seem likely to me that this was some home bore of a blank Mold.

    it is shown here on page 4 or so, but I do not know what year these illustrations are from.
    https://www.lymanproducts.com/media/...ld_bullets.pdf

    This was one of the Boolits for the .38 - 44 Target Cartridge of the Day, or could be alright with .38 S & W Target Revolvers also, however few those may have been.

    Maybe sometimes a Mold could have gone out the Doors having missed being stamped the Manufacturer's Identity info...?

    I have a few early ( non detachable ) Cast Iron IDEAL molds, if I can remember where they are, I'll compare them to this one.

    This is the first I have seen of what seems to be a Bronze IDEAL Mold, and I'd be curious to know if that was an option they may have had? - or if the earliest IDEAL Molds were Bronze, and then things changed to Cast Iron at some point, and no more Bronze? Or..?
    Last edited by Oyeboten; 09-15-2020 at 10:34 PM.

  4. #4
    Boolit Grand Master Bazoo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    Cecilia, Kentucky
    Posts
    6,715
    Just theorizing here, but maybe it was an in house prototype.

  5. #5
    Boolit Bub
    Join Date
    Apr 2019
    Posts
    55
    Did the early Ideal molds have an alignment pin like that one? I would have to go look at mine to compare.

  6. #6
    Boolit Master
    Bent Ramrod's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Southern Arizona
    Posts
    4,284
    Looks like a Yankee mould to me, with handles upgraded with Lee wood and ferrules.

    Not a bad idea, actually. Original Yankee handles were pretty much straight dowels, rounded on the bottom ends, and held to the mould tangs with a circle of wire.

    They featured the same cavity numbers as Ideal moulds, and there is a persistent speculation that some mole in the Ideal/Lyman mould shop lent out Ideal cherries to the Yankee Specialty Co. Or maybe Yankee bought the worn ones that were still good for a last cavity or two in the bronze castings they used.

    Later on, Yankee was taken over by W. Rohrbacher, and some Yankee moulds have his name stamped on them. On some of the moulds, you can see the scribed layout lines for the screw locations. Definitely a small operation rather than a factory setup.

  7. #7
    Boolit Master Oyeboten's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    Kansas
    Posts
    757
    Quote Originally Posted by Bent Ramrod View Post
    Looks like a Yankee mould to me, with handles upgraded with Lee wood and ferrules.

    Not a bad idea, actually. Original Yankee handles were pretty much straight dowels, rounded on the bottom ends, and held to the mould tangs with a circle of wire.

    They featured the same cavity numbers as Ideal moulds, and there is a persistent speculation that some mole in the Ideal/Lyman mould shop lent out Ideal cherries to the Yankee Specialty Co. Or maybe Yankee bought the worn ones that were still good for a last cavity or two in the bronze castings they used.

    Later on, Yankee was taken over by W. Rohrbacher, and some Yankee moulds have his name stamped on them. On some of the moulds, you can see the scribed layout lines for the screw locations. Definitely a small operation rather than a factory setup.
    Huh!

    I have not heard of 'Yankee' Molds before, interesting!

    Thank you!

  8. #8
    Boolit Buddy Steppapajon's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
    Location
    NC
    Posts
    101
    A little late but I found this at
    http://ps-2.kev009.com/ohlandl/Cast_...criptions.html

    358344 Square nose bullet for .38 Special designed by C. C. Crossman. Cuts a full size clean hole, giving shooter full count. (PB, WC, 150 - TP is 344)
    and
    360344 See 358344
    and
    360344-S Same as 360344, except cast small enough to size .358.

    SPJ
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails 358344_150g.gif   360344-s.jpg  

  9. #9
    Boolit Master
    NoZombies's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    N. Florida
    Posts
    2,493
    I agree this is a yankee or Rorbacher mold. The hollow point molds they made were an interesting interpretation of the early method that Ideal used for making hollow based bullets, using a plug that was captive to one block via screw.
    Nozombies.com Practical Zombie Survival

    Collecting .32 molds. Please let me know if you have one you don't need, cause I might "need" it!

  10. #10
    Boolit Master


    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Perryville, Ky,USA
    Posts
    4,513
    I was thinking that too. Integral handles, bronze, numbered like early Ideals. But the handles don't look right. May have been replaced as you say. I have a Yankee in the Squibb pattern (311413) and it's pretty complete with some charring on the handles. The twisted wire on Yankees are a dead giveaway./beagle

    Quote Originally Posted by Bent Ramrod View Post
    Looks like a Yankee mould to me, with handles upgraded with Lee wood and ferrules.

    Not a bad idea, actually. Original Yankee handles were pretty much straight dowels, rounded on the bottom ends, and held to the mould tangs with a circle of wire.

    They featured the same cavity numbers as Ideal moulds, and there is a persistent speculation that some mole in the Ideal/Lyman mould shop lent out Ideal cherries to the Yankee Specialty Co. Or maybe Yankee bought the worn ones that were still good for a last cavity or two in the bronze castings they used.

    Later on, Yankee was taken over by W. Rohrbacher, and some Yankee moulds have his name stamped on them. On some of the moulds, you can see the scribed layout lines for the screw locations. Definitely a small operation rather than a factory setup.
    diplomacy is being able to say, "nice doggie" until you find a big rock.....

  11. #11
    Boolit Master

    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Fredericksburg, virginia
    Posts
    1,347
    I have a very similar bronze mold I've wondered about. Its only mark is "358311". Its an Ideal number and the cavity appears to match the Ideal bullet. It has that same little oil hole too.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails 20201130_100902_copy_567x222.jpg   20201130_100846_copy_567x566.jpg   20201130_100832_copy_567x525.jpg  

  12. #12
    Boolit Master
    Bent Ramrod's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Southern Arizona
    Posts
    4,284
    Here's one of mine, with aftermarket file handles. It has no markings at all, except for casting flaws on some outer surfaces and battering on the outside from the frustrated user trying to get stuck boolits out of a block half.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	YankeewithFileHandles.jpg 
Views:	15 
Size:	16.5 KB 
ID:	272371

    I got the only casting I made out of it (eventually) and lapped the mould a little with it. Haven't had a chance to check it again.

    The handles are surprisingly comfortable in my hands; not a bad modification. Most Yankee moulds I've found cast very well.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check