This is a VERY FINE condition brass Pritchett Bullet Mold for the .577 English Enfield rifle and rifle musket. Thousands of English-made, brass molds for Enfield pattern rifles and rifle muskets were imported by both the north and south during the American Civil War. One bullet mold was usually included with every twenty long arms delivered, or one mold per case of muskets. The large majority of these molds are unmarked, and maker or retailer marked examples are rather scarce. When the molds are marked, they are usually marked only with their caliber, expressed either in the English “bore” system, or less often with the actual caliber in tenths, hundredths and thousands of an inch. The most commonly encountered bore markings for long arm molds are 25 Bore which is .577 caliber, 24 Bore which is.58 caliber and much less frequently, 26 Bore which .57 caliber. Very rarely the molds bear a maker’s mark, and when they do, they are usually just the initials of the maker or a maker’s trademark.

This very nice Pattern 1853 Enfield Pritchett Pattern Bullet Mold is not only in VERY FINE and untouched condition, but it is also marked with the maker’s name and with the caliber. The left side of the mold block is marked in four lines:

No

3 4

S. BAKER

BIRMM

The mark is that of Samuel Baker, an “implement maker” who worked in Birmingham at 50 Price street circa 1860s-1870s. The meaning of the “No 34” is unclear, as it does not appear to relate to caliber, as the top of one of the left mold arm is clearly marked 577. “34 Bore” would be roughly .515 caliber, and the mold cavity measures larger than that.

The mold is in wonderful condition and is 100% complete and fully functional.  The large mold measures 9 3/8” in overall length, including the sprue cutter’s handle, and is 8” long from the tip of the arms to the end of the mold block, not counting the cutter. The long, curved handles are 6 ¾” long, and the exterior of the mold block is 1.49” tall, .9” long and 1.14” wide. The mold cavity is in pristine condition, and measures approximately .558” in diameter and casts a bullet about 1.14” in overall length and about 1” from the nose to the deepest recess in the base. The original iron base plug is in place in the bottom of the mold, and appears to be secured by its original screw. The plug is very shallow, measuring only about .14” in height, much shallower than most examples encountered. The mold would clearly cast lovely smooth sided Pritchett bullets today. The pointed base plug indicates that his mold casts traditional Minié style hollow base bullets, rather than the more traditional British bullet that accepted a boxwood plug in the concave base to aid expansion. The mold opens and closes smoothly and securely, and the original iron locating pin is in place and correctly indexes the mold block. The original iron sprue cutter is in place on the top of the mold block and functions smoothly. The cutter shows some light surface oxidation and minor roughness, but retains some traces of its original blued finish, mixed with a nice plum-brown patina and moderate surface oxidation. The brass mold has a lovely, untouched medium golden patina that is uncleaned and very attractive. The body and arms show a variety of small dents and dings, indicative of use, but not abuse.

Overall, this is a really wonderful example of a maker marked British Enfield bullet mold. Molds this well marked rarely find their way to market, as the majority of the molds that were imported during the war appear to have had no marks at all. This would be a great addition to any Civil War bullet mold collection and would be a fabulous accessory to add to the display of your Enfield rifles and muskets.