This Ideal Loading Tool followed me home from the Tulsa Symposium. I thought it might be for the 44 Special but now, I am not so sure. The little square after the S&W might have been an incomplete R but really doesn't look like that either. I had been looking for a 44 special tool to match my Triple Locks. Interpretations?

These old tools just bring the guns to life for me.

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Randy
Provenance nerd

That is almost certainly "44 S.&W. R". If that last character isn't an "R", I'll eat my hat.

Mike

The 44 Russian and Special bullets(mold cavity) are basically identical with the "POST" 1902 Ideal loader....That is what your example is. A Post 1902 manufactured field loading tool. That little screw next to the sprue screw was introduced in 1902.

So your loader dates to between 1902-1910 when Ideal sold out to Marlin. However, prior to about 1898 the bullet design was different for the 44 Russian having a shorter round nose cone and one less lube groove and prior to 1887 you have the earliest 44 Russian bullet design having the "outside lubricated single lube grove" (VERY RARE).

This 1902 loader is definitely a keeper and congrats but the earlier loaders are much rarer and worth a ton these days. These tools are only going up in value. As well they should be.

*** Also, they did actually make a 44A (American) as well. I have one "in the original box" My pride and joy. The bullet design is very early.

So, earliest was the 44A (American)
44R (Russian)
44S (Special)

The 44 Special in this tool is also rare since that round wasn't introduced until about 1907....So, only 3 years for Ideal.....Then about 6 years with the scarce "Marlin Firearms Stamp"....then the post 1926 tool having the Middlefield address Stamp instead of New Haven...

Can you tell that I collect them?

PS: how about a photo of the bullet cavity?

Murph

Thank you, Murph I knew there would be some kindred spirit here with more info.

Here is the bullet mold portion.

And a photo of my 44 Russian tooll.

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Randy
Provenance nerd

It seems that collectors of reloading tools see significant value in the Smith & Wesson caliber tools. The only destroyer of value is poor bullet cavity condition...If the bullet cavity is damaged, cherried, drilled out, or in poor condition due to corrosion etc? Value drops to about zero. This cavity would be considered Fine/ Very Fine condition, which translates to "A Keeper"! There are exceptions when the cavity has been cherried? (caliber changed)....It depends on the work performed and what the caliber is as altered....I've seen some that were altered from a smaller caliber to a larger caliber that still sell for a lot.

Ideal, not unlike Smith & Wesson, would fill special orders as well. So one never knows.


Murph

Same Bullet as ".44 S & W Special".

.44 Special had same FPS, same Bullet, and same Ballistics as .44 Russian, just a slightly longer Cartridge Case, and intended for 'Smokeless' Propellant instead of Black Powder, so...

You are Good-to-Go for .44 Special using an erstwhile "44 S&W R" Mold.