ARTCA member Dick Salzer just published some nice notes on the Smith carbine molds used during the Civil War. His article, published in the "Accoutrement Corner" of volume 48 number 9 of The Gun Report (February 2003) p. 42 illustrates four examples of Smith or Smith-like molds. These molds differ from the more common Maynard molds in that they are designed to cast only a single 52 caliber ball; that is in contradistinction with most Maynard molds which cast two bullets. Two of the examples Dick discussed were marked with inspector's initials...his two examples were stamped "J.H." and "H.D.H". Here are two additional examples of Smith molds. One is marked as being "Manufactured by MASS. ARMS. CO Chicopee Falls" and the other has the "H.D.H." inspector's initials.
Here is another mold which is essentially identical with the more usual Smith molds, except it is stamped "COLTS PATENT" similar to Colt-made molds. That certainly is a mystery...Dick invites comments about this one!!
