This is a VERY GOOD+ condition example of the one of the single cavity bullet molds provided by the Starr Arms Company of Yonkers, NY with their .44 caliber percussion revolvers. The Starr Arms Company was established to sell firearms designed by Ebenezer Starr, and their products includes an innovative double action percussion revolver known as the Model 1858, a single action percussion revolver designated the Model 1863 and a breechloading single shot carbine, which was made in both percussion and rimfire variations. The majority of the Starr revolver production was in .44 caliber, although a small number of .36 caliber “Navy” revolvers were produced on the double action Model 1858 revolver platform. Between 22,000 and 23,000 of the double action Model 1858 revolvers were produced circa 1858 to 1863, the majority of which were in .44 caliber, with only about 3,000 being produced in .36 caliber. The Model 1858 guns were superseded by Starr’s “improved” Model 1863 single action revolvers in 1863, which were only produced in .44 caliber. Approximately 32,000 of these revolvers were produced circa 1863 to 1865, continuing in the original serial number range from the Model 1858 guns. In total, roughly 52,000 .44 caliber percussion revolvers were produced by Starr in both models, of which about 45,000 were acquired by the US Ordnance Department for Civil War use. For these contract guns, implements were provided as well, both gun tools and bullet molds. The molds were really for emergency use in the field, as the Ordnance Department intended to supply the troops with premade nitrated paper or skin cartridges. As a result, revolver molds were typically acquired at a ratio of about one mold for every ten, or sometimes twenty, revolvers.
This .44 caliber Starr bullet mold is the traditional single cavity mold associated with their handguns. It has a brass mold block, a blued steel sprue cutter and a turned hardwood handle. The mold is unmarked other than a small B sub-inspection mark on the left side of the mold block. The mold is 5 3/8” in overall length with a brass mold block that is .86” tall, .53” wide and 1.14” long, including the extension that the pivoting sprue cutter is mounted to. The single cavity casts a conical smooth sided bullet that is nominally .44” at the base and about .75” in length.
The mold remains in VERY GOOD+ condition. The brass components have a nice, untouched golden bronze patina and show the numerous scattered dings and impact marks typically encountered on 19th brass bullet molds that saw any real use. The steel sprue cutter retains much of its dulling and fading blued finish with some scattered surface oxidation and some lightly scattered surface roughness. The turned wood handle shows scattered bumps, dings and mars, again typical of a mold that saw use. The cavity is undamaged and should cast very usable bullets. The sprue cutter pivots and moves smoothly, as it should and remains fully functional.
Overall, this is very nice example of a Civil War era .44 Starr Bullet Mold that would be appropriate as an accessory for either a Model 1858 or Model 1863 .44 caliber Starr Army revolver. It would also be a nice addition to a collection of Civil War era bullet molds. It is a solid and attractive example that will look good in your collection.