Yes sir, that right there is where a lot of 44-40 information is hiding…..in someone’s safe. I could do so much more but just can not afford it!!!  All of the 44 cal bullets a cases recovered from the Battle of the Little Bighorn is hiding in a museum somewhere and I can not find them. Every time I call or email a contact given from a contact, from a contact etc, , the lead ends as soon as it starts.

Pretty much the same with the 45 Items being discussed, it’s all hiding.

Maverick said
Its funny to me that you use the term Unicorn, as they do in fact exist! At least from a certain point of view and your definition.

A lot of atheist love to point out that they believe the Bible is made up because the King James version uses the term “Unicorn”. But they fail to look any further and gleam from reality what is being described to them.

What “One Horned” animal is found on the plains of Africa?

Regarding Loading Tools I know for certain, Winchester made the 1874, 1875 and 1882 Tools chambered in 45 Colt. Along with at least three different versions of their Bullet Molds for 45 Colt. In what collectors call the 3rd, 4th and 5th Model Mold. But I wouldn’t rule out the possibility of them having been made in the 1st and even possibly the 2nd Model Molds. I think the 1874 Tool being found in 45 Colt speaks to this possibility.  They first cataloged 45 Colt in the 1876 Catalog. The 1874 cartridge board, also known as the Rimfire board, has the rimfire version of the 45 Colt on it. The next board made the 1879 cartridge board has the 45 colt center-fire cartridge on it. 

They did vary how they marked the tools and molds. I’ve seen them marked Colt 45, 45 Colts, 45 C. and one 1875 Tool even marked 45 C. with Colt on the lower handle.

Here is a 3rd Model Mold marked 45 Colts.

Here is a 4th Model Mold marked 45 C.

Here is a 1874 Tool marked Colt 45.

Here is a 1875 Tool marked 45 C.

Here is another 1875 Tool marked 45 C. with Colt on lower handle.

Here is a 1882 Tool marked 45 C.

As too rarity, I wouldn’t consider them to be in the mythical unicorn status, but are certainly hard to come by. You’ll find them after you pass by all the standard 44 WCF, 38 WCF, & 32 WCF, then the S&W calibers, and then you’ll stumble across the Colt stuff. But there are certainly a lot more rarer hard-to-find calibers out there. In example the 1882 Tool in 44 & 45 BLANK, and plenty of the various Rifle calibers. It make take you some time, months or even years, but they can be found.

Also the older model the tool or mold, they are harder to find. For instance I can count of one hand the number of 1874 Tools in Colt 45 I’ve come across. And also believe you wouldn’t find the 45 Colt in certain model tools. The 1880, 1888, 1891, & 1894 Tools were basically only for Rifle Calibers.

Sincerely,

Maverick

P.S. Best of Luck to you!

  

Mavrick,

have you cast any of the 45 Colt bullets with the earliest Winchester mold?

Thanks Mavrick, I was just wondering what weight the original early 45 Colt molds (enter mold date here) dropped.

Thanks!!

Thanks, I am thinking the same thing I guess. The first I see where Winchester shows the bullet weight and powder charge is in 1895…255/35. This is really the earliest I can confirm a 255gr bullet, but can not confirm an early use of 40gr of black powder. I too feel there was no reason to change from the beginning…..much the case with the Winchester vs UMC 200gr/217gr 44 lead bullet saga.