What do you guys make of this...

Attached Images

IMG_20240407_060653.jpg (44.5 KB, 108 views)

It looks like the patterns to form the recesses for the cope (top)and drag (bottom) of a sand-casting mould for a revolver frame of some sort.

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Gunsmithing since 1961

I speculated about the sand-cast but the slot for the butt of the mainspring would leave a gap in the frame if cast. What is it?

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Mike Maher #283

Hi There,


At first glance, they do look like molding plates for casting but
there are some aspects of the form that go against normal foundry
practice. First, why is there a split in the frame right where the
mainspring would go? Second, it appears the center of the frame
would be cast solid and that would be a waste of metal and machin-
ing time. Plus, what are the blocks made of? They looked to made
from some kind of "white metal" (like aluminum). Now, in 1858,
aluminum was one of the most expensive metals in the world and
using it for making a molding board would be incredibly expensive!
Lastly, standard foundry practice is to put the two halves of the
cavity on either side of one molding board. The molding board
is then placed between the cope and drag and the sand is rammed
up to create the flask and then the cope and drag are separated
and the molding board removed. Gates and risers are cut into the
sand and the flask is reassembled and set aside for casting.


So, I don't know what this is?


Cheers!
Webb

Since we have no idea what revolver this would be for everything else can only be speculation. It is possible there would have been a screw going through the front of the frame, the mainspring, and into the solid bottom to clamp the mainspring in the slot? That's my last guess.
Trying to guess what metal this pattern is made of based on the color of a photograph is totally in vain! I agree it isn't aluminum though.

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Gunsmithing since 1961

My guess is they are molding blocks for toy guns back in the day when kids played with cap guns. Manufactured of low temp pot metal easily cast and milled.

Murph

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I agree with this!!!

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James Redfield
LM #497