Desultory Comments Concerning Late Model Remington Rifle Molds
I am one of those people who has always been impressed by the quality and craftsmanship exhibited by Remington products. I guess it started when my father presented me with a Remington model 510 single shot rifle on my 7th birthday. Even at the time, I thought it curious that Dad, an avid collector of Winchester rifles, would choose a Remington for my first gun. Looking back, more than forty years later, I understand. Simply put, the Remington model 510 was a better quality rifle than the comparable Winchester models 47, 67, or 68.
My first Remington rifle mold came as part of a collection of loading tools purchased many years ago. There were around 100 tools in the collection which included many nice Winchester tools, but only a single Remington mold. It was marked 40 2 1/2 and was for the 40-65 or 40-70 Remington cartridges which were so popular with the rolling block and Hepburn rifles. 
I did not know it at the time, but that ratio of Winchester to Remington loading tools, roughly 100-to-1, is not far from what one sees in the collector's marketplace. In my own experience, Remington rifle molds are encountered less frequently than Sharps molds. That point is illustrated by molds seen for sale at the recent Beinfeld Antique Arms Show in Las Vegas (Feb 2002); 8 Sharps molds were seen for sale and NO Remington rifle molds were noted. Some of that difference, however, may be an artifact related to the differential value accorded Sharps products. That is, the relatively high value of Sharps tools acts as a strong incentive for those tools to enter the market, and Remington tools, if similarly valued, might be seen more often.
All original late model Remington molds cast bullets which are either round nose, or show varying degrees of "flat-pointedness". So far, only a few molds with pointed bullets have been seen, and those appear to have resulted from post-production alterations. Anyone having examples of original Remington molds casting a spire point bullet are invited to submit images and details of the specimens for inclusion in our "virtual collection". Holes for the alignment pins were bored directly through both blocks, although it is sometimes difficult to spot on one side where it is neatly finished following insertion of the alignment pin. Look carefully at the profiles of the grease grooves; some have distinctly rounded profiles like those seen with this 32-175G mold.
Others, have a much "squarer" profile with the base of the grease grooves being flat and at right angles to the edges. That is illustrated by this 38-40-245 mold.
As we consider late model Remington rifle molds (incidentally, Remington produced several earlier types of bullet moulds which are not the subject of this discussion), at least four distinct variations are suggested. Here is a little listing of comparative features.
Type I
Medium sized mold blocks
Tend to include moulds with more complete caliber markings (caliber, powder charge and bullet weight), but many are seen with simple caliber markings too
Infrequent examples have apparent small matching assembly numbers stamped on the top of the mold blocks or on the top of the handles near the hinge screw; most such examples have abbreviated caliber markings ("38", "44") on the top of the left handle
Caliber markings are typically seen on the top left handle near the hinge, on the sprue cutter, or on the bottom of the blocks
Handles are more curved and slighter heavier overall compared with Type II molds
Hinge screw is flush with the top of the top handle
Holes for the alignment pin are usually more or less vertically centered just inside the front edge of the mold with rare examples for larger (45-50) calibers having the alignment hole somewhat off-center to allow more room for the larger bullet
Alignment pins are typically anchored in the left block and are larger in diameter than those seen in Type II molds
Most frequently encountered variation
Type II
Small sized mold blocks
Tend to have abbreviated caliber markings (e.g. "50", "38")
Rare examples may have matching assembly numbers stamped on each of the mold handles near the hinge screw
Caliber markings are typically seen on the bottom of the mold blocks (usually left block as viewed from above)
Handles are lighter overall and have a straighter appearance in both vertical and horizontal dimensions
The hinge screw head protrudes above the surface of the top handle
Alignment pins are typically anchored in the left block and located near the bottom edge of the blocks just inside the front edge of the mold
Alignment pins are usually slightly smaller in diameter than those seen in Type I moulds
Second most frequently encountered variation
Type III
Large sized mold blocks
Mold bullets without grease grooves for use with paper patches
Usually observed in "target rifle" calibers (e.g. 40-50 or 40-70)
Bullets are poured from the nose and the sprue cutter cuts off the flat point of the bullet
The base of the bullet is supported by a removeable cylinder held in place by a screw
The bottom of the removeable cylinder shows a small indentation used to "center" the cylinder while being turned in a lathe
1 to 3 digit numbers (presumbably assembly numbers) are seen stamped on the top of the blocks and underside of the sprue cutter
Assembly numbers for original molds appear to match
Hinge screw head is flush with the top of the top handle as seen in Type I molds
Handles have the appearance and profile of the Type I molds
Type IV
Cast bullets without grease grooves for use with paper patches
In contrast with the Type III molds, these are base pour molds
Sprue cutter cuts and forms the bottom surface of the bullet
Few specimens examined show the hinge screw head flush with the top of the top handle
Medium sized mold blocks
1 to 3 digit number (presumbably assembly numbers) are seen stamped on the top of the blocks
Here is an image showing two Remington late model rifle molds; both are marked for 45-70, and the bullets are similar. There are three panels in the image showing vertical profiles, horizontal profiles, and detail around the top of the hinge screw. In each panel, the Type I mold is above the Type II mold. You can "Click" on the images to see a larger version, if you wish (use the "back" button to return to this page).
Notice the larger mold blocks typical of the Type I model. Also, the handles of the Type I mold are a little thicker, straighter when viewed from above, and have a more pronounced flange toward the end which is most apparent in the side view. The images of the hinge screws show the flush profile of the Type I mold, and how the screw head sits above the surface of the handle in the Type II tool.
The chronology in manufacture of the various types of mold is not clear. One could argue that Type I molds were more expensive to manufacture, and, therefore, may have pre-dated the Type II ones. More metal was needed for the larger blocks and handles typical of the Type I molds, and the shape of the handles seen with the Type I molds certainly would have been more difficult to machine, and, therefore, more labor intensive that of the Type II molds. The same is true for countersinking of the hinge screw. Those facts, and the truism that companies usually try to reduce the costs of manufacture over time, suggest the Type II molds may have been a less expensive and easier to manufacture offspring of the Type I design. However, lack of late of "Hepburn" caliber markings on the Type II molds and presence of abbreviated caliber markings corresponding to "early" calibers would suggest that they might have been an earlier variant. Infrequent examples of both Type I and Type II molds may be seen with assembly numbers. The definite order in which the various types of mold were made will probably have to await analysis of more examples or finding information from factory records.
Here are two composite images showing three molds for 40-50 Remington. The Type II is at the top, Type I in the middle and Type III at the bottom. Since these are all for the 40 caliber cartridge, they nicely show the difference in size of mold blocks between the three variations. Note also the typical placement and variation in caliber of the block alignment pins.
Remington paper patch molds are scarce and may have been a special order product. The 1877 catalogue lists "Bullet moulds" for $2.50 each, and the 1882 catalogue lists "Bullet moulds for rifle" at $1.50, but no actual listing of calibers is found. The 1899 and 1902 catalogues list grooved bullet moulds in 22-45, 25-67, 25-86, 32-125, 32-150, 32-165, 32-175, 38-245, 38-265, 38-306, 38-330, 40-265, 40-330, 40-370, 43-390, 45-405, 50-450, 50-465, and 50-565 at $1.10 each. I am not aware of a catalogue listing for Remington bullet moulds which specifically includes mention or description of moulds casting bullets for use with paper patches, however, I only have access to a very limited amount of Remington promotional material, and it certainly is possible that a catalogue or advertisement may have noted the production of moulds for patched bullets. If anyone has such information, please provide the details so we can bring that information to light.
An important feature of the Remington paper patch molds are the small (1-3 digit) numbers stamped on the top of the blocks and underside of the sprue cutter. Those appear to be assembly numbers such as seen on Sharps Bridgeport molds, Winchester third model brass molds, and others. Of note, earlier model Remington molds typically show similar numbers on grooved bullet variations also.
This image shows an 8" X 2" x 2" two-piece box in which a nearly new 32 caliber mold was found. The box is unmarked, and has a light green outer box which slips over a blue-purple, slight smaller inner box. Both of the boxes show rectangular pieces of tape or fabric which reinforce the corners; those can barely been seen causing slight "bulges" under the colored surfaces. It seems likely that this box is an original Remington rifle mold box; however, that cannot be stated with certainty.
Bolstering that thesis; however, is this recently submitted image from an essentially identical box. Notice the similar color and size; presence of the half-round finger slot at the bottom, and cloth or tape reinforcements at the corners. Both boxes are unmarked. It seems unlikely that two boxes of such similar design, size, color and structure would be randomly associated with Remington molds. This additional evidence now makes it very highly likely that these two boxes represent original Remington mold boxes. Again, if others have additional examples or information concerning original boxed Remington moulds, we would be delighted to include images of those in the "virtual collection". Boxed Remington rifle moulds seem to be very scarce, and information about them is also hard to locate.
-myron
