I purchased on ebay a 38 military police s.w reloading kit. I collect reloading tools, tool kit is 95 percent mfg. 1889-1912 in the kit bullet mould has round ball and bullet cavity also you prime cases with bullet mold, kit is complete,also 2 pwdr. meas. 1 for black powder and one for smokeless. This is the only one that I have seen on the market picture of one in Quigleys book How rare is this tool all info. a plus for me. NO CAMERA

Bill, I took the liberty of adding the pic of your reloading kit to my post so it can be seen by all.

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THANK YOU VERY MUCH. BILL

Very interesting. I never knew that S&W marketed anything like that. Just another tidbit of knowledge I gleaned from this forum.

That is a very cool set. Just out of curiosity, if you are willing to share, how much does something like that go for?

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James Redfield
LM #497

Bill
That is a very nice set. It is the second version of the bullet mould make. The first version had a steel handle. Collectors refer to your as a "Peanut Mould", due to the wood handles look like a peanut shell. You are missing the wooden mallet. These sets do show up on occasion. I've seen sets sell anywhere from $500.00 to $1000.00.
Don Mundell
Assistant Historian
Smith & Wesson Historical Foundation

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Don Mundell

Don gave a good description of this set, but I'm not sure this particular set ever included the wooden mallet. There are two styles of mallets and some sets included them, and some did not. If you compare the photo of the box with the contents, it does not seem there's enough room in the box for a additional mallet. Complete sets can easily bring the prices Don quotes and some even more. Try to find a complete set for a revolving rifle for a grand! Good Luck! Also, don't be fooled by an earlier set w/o the wood handle that a seller claims is a S&W, as Remington made almost identical sets. Neither S&W or Remington always marked the sets as theirs, usually markings were for the caliber only. After market vendors also made sets. Ed.

Ed, given the two powder measures, and the round ball capability of the mold, I make this to be (specifically) for the .38-44 S&W cartridge---which is to say one could certainly load up, and shoot gallery loads in a .38 S&W revolver of the era, but why would they bother?

Agree----Disagree---Why---Why not?

Ralph Tremaine

The box label (which is correct) says "38 Military and Police"
I didn't think the 38 M&P existed until the Model 1899....

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Dean
SWCA #680 SWHF #446

The wooden handle molds were made from 1889 to 1912. While there were most certainly M&P revolvers during the mid/latter part of this period, I recall none during the earlier portion.

The next fish to fry is bullet diameter---------.38 Special (early M&P's) is .357, thereabouts. The .38-44 S&W is .361 (or so I've been told)---as is the .38 S&W (again, or so I've been told). The diameters of these mold cavities remain an unanswered question.

(It occurs to me the M&P terminology is a S&W favorite for a looooooooooooong time. As such, while I too noted the label, I chose to ignore it. Whether or not that was a wise choice remains to be seen.)

Ralph Tremaine

And-------I have just been informed by the OP the bullet cavity diameter is .363" (measured with "shaky hands"). Shaky hands or not, that ain't for no .38 Special----nohow!!!

Don, box not large enough to hold mallet. paid 700.00 dollars for it I collect hand tools 1st one I have ever seen for sale...Bill

Thanks for supplying the price. As much as I would love one for the collection, that would have been too rich for my blood.

Saw a box the other day go for $1,100. Boy can you imagine if Horace and Daniel were alive today or could at least see the prices that things are bringing???? I think that they would be absolutely amazed. A cardboard box going for 20 to 30 times what they sold the gun for. What a country!!!!

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James Redfield
LM #497

I hate disagree but there is room in the box for the mallet and all the tools, see photo below. In fact all the loading too sets I have have a mallet that will fit in the box with the tools

B. Mower

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Ralph,

The wood handle molds for the 38 S&W and the 38-44 target cartridge for the New Model #3 are the same mold. The bullet mold 38 S&W and 38-44 only has one grease groove, the 38 M&P (38 Special) bullet mold has two grease grooves.

B. Mower

OK, with the mallet included I would pay $700. Being a carpenter by trade, I just love hammers.

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James Redfield
LM #497

Those mold handles sure do look comfortable. Are both cavities round ball? How does it cast ?

one cavity round the other cavity conical