FRANKFORD ARSENAL RELOADING TOOL

[BMur]

I just picked this Frankford Arsenal tool up for a song. I have 2 others that are Military inspected and dated 1901, 1895.
This is a late one that is larger, longer, and normally unmarked for the 30-06 rifle round.
After cleaning it up some I found a cast marking on the left side frame. See photos

It looks like;

STD M 1

Standard M1 Rifle?

I’m amazed by this cast marking. I thought these tools were discontinued by 1907.

Hard to get a clear photo but with my loop I can clearly make out those letters and number.

The M1 would take these tools up into the 1930’s.

Murph

 

[BMur]

Any tools out there?

I’m surprised nobody has posted one of their tools. I was hoping someone had one with a clear stamp?

Murph

 

[desi2358]

I would tend to suspect that the marking is an ID for the tool itself, not it's intended usage. Post WWI fired cases were normally returned to the arsenal for reloading (as shown by the instructions for cleaning the cases that were printed on ammo boxes). The 30-06 is a higher pressure round than earlier US military rounds and really needs full length resizing to ensure proper functioning in guns other than the one the case was originally fired in. Problem enough in a bolt action like the 1903 but even more of an issue with a self loader like the M1 Garand.

Hand tools of this type worked well enough with black powder and some of the early smokeless rounds (and remained popular for individual users who were sizing cases they had fired in their own guns) but would have been likely to result in problems when the ammo had to work in a number of different guns. They simply lacked the leverage to full length resize a high pressure round like the 30-06. Which is likely one of the reasons the military reportedly dropped them before WWI.

 

[BMur]

Reloading tools

I totally agree from a procedural standpoint.
However,
The Military often you will find oddities and equipment/tools that stay in use for many years after they are deemed obsolete.
Especially overseas.
I remember a very small town they called “Sin City” in the Philippines was actually powered by an abandoned LST from WWII that was bombed by the Japanese, ran aground, and was salvaged by the locals.
They ran wire from the on board generator into this small town.

Old reloading tools could easily have been used for many years after they were discontinued for bolt action rifles. I totally agree that semi and automatic weapons would not appreciate a crudely reloaded round but bolt actions with a singular chamber? I’d say no problem. Especially when supplies are limited.

It’s also very possible to reload for the M1 if you are re-using the same cases for each rifle. War equals desperation and desperate measures are often taken to make things work.

Murph