Lot 304 at this week’s Holts is something I have not previously encountered.



It is a multi function mould and tool to re-load the .300 Rook Cartridge.



It is clearly set up to de-cap Boxer primed cases, although Kynoch factory loads for the last 100 years or more have used Berdan primers ( which I de-cap hydraulically). Remington UMC did make the cartridge, no doubt with Boxer primers.

Functionally very similar to the Ideal No. 4 mould and tool it also incorporates at stab crimper for the loaded round.

I saw one of those sell on Ebay perhaps 15 years ago - IIRC it brought almost $1200.

I believe paradoxically that Berdan primers became predominant in Europe; Boxer primers in America which might explain the Remington Cartridges. Berdan patented his primer in America in March 1866; Boxer in UK 13 October 1866. How this juxtaposition came about, which persists to this day, is history to be explored.

Neat tool. I load .300 Rook and was fortunate to pick up quite a few sealed boxes of the stuff recently. It is still out there but hard to find. Lagopus.....

It sold for a hammer price of £700, so £910 to get it out of the room.