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Tombstone, A.T. Cast Iron Smelting Reloading Tool

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:75.00 USD Estimated At:250.00 - 500.00 USD
Tombstone, A.T. Cast Iron Smelting Reloading Tool
Featured in this lot is this Tombstone, Arizona Territory cast iron smelting reloading tool circa 19th century and displayed in the Tombstone Western Heritage Museum; Provenance: From the Tombstone Western Heritage Museum in Tombstone, Arizona. This is a cast iron smelting tool used for reloading ordinance in the 19th century and was used by Weldon Humphrey. The smelting tool comes with an original museum tag that reads as follows: Tool for melting lead Weldon Humphrey's. In the 19th century, lead melting and reloading tools were essential for frontiersmen, soldiers, and hunters who needed to cast their own bullets. Using simple iron or brass molds and ladles over open flames, individuals could melt scrap lead to produce ammunition, allowing for self-sufficiency in remote areas where factory-made cartridges were scarce or expensive. The condition of this smelting reloading tool is preserved with heavy patina and some oxidation adorning the cast iron construction but otherwise shows a well preserved condition. The measurements of this melting tool is 9 3/4" x 2 7/8" x 1 7/8". The collective weight of this smelting tool is 14oz. Hum-27