Big Scatter die

[shaune509]

Year ago picked up at small town gun show [the best type] a die for loading 38cal shot shells.
Box says "Big Scatter' by the Merwin co of Box414 Hurst, Tx. 76053.
It is simply an overshot card seating and tapper crimping die, sheet says they made them for 38, 44, and 45colt as shot or black powder blank loading die.
Tried to date the dies and have not found any thing on line or my limited collection of Gun Digest and Shooter Bibles from the '60s and '70s.[no bar code but 5 digit zip].
My question has any one seen of or used these type of dies and when were they made?
Shaune509

[Bent Ramrod]

I've got Big Scatter dies in .44 and .45 calibers, as new in the boxes, made "in the heart of greater Dallas-Ft. Worth." I picked them up as curios, and have never tried them out.

I have all the Handloader's Digests from the first to the 17th Editions and could find no mention of The Merwin Co. in any of them. The market for "snake load" dies must have been saturated quickly; probably the availability of shot capsules from Speer and other outfits quickly ran such specialty die manufacturers out of business.

[Doublegunner]

In nov 1964 American Rifleman there was article about it sold for $5.95 500 over shot and 500 over powder wads were $2.65

[Bent Ramrod]

Thanks for that info, Doublegunner. Always nice to find some "provenance" on these obscure tools.