.357 Die Identification (Diedentification?)

I was going through some parts and ran across this die. It's pretty peculiar to me. Best I can figure is that it's a case mouth truer for .357?

It's not a sizing die; it won't size .357/.38 on the outer diameter.

Any idea?

It has a lot of damn adjustments for what it looks like. Not sure what to make of this one (yeah, a hat, or a brooch, or a pterodactyl, I know).

The inner plunger definitely fits a .38SPL case on its inner diameter. Not sure what the rest is for.

Mic the diametre of the ball and the Bullet start area. 
Does the middle body threads fit a Star?

Jack H wrote:Mic the diametre of the ball and the Bullet start area. 
Does the middle body threads fit a Star?

The outer body fits a standard RCBS (7/8 - 14?) press.

I haven't mic'd the ball but I'm guessing .357.

Good call on checking the inner to see if it fits a Star.

Will let you know.

Jack H wrote:Mic the diametre of the ball and the Bullet start area. 
Does the middle body threads fit a Star?

The ball is 0.357". Not sure what you mean by "bullet start area".

The middle body does not fit a Star.

Curiouser and curiouser...

Inner diameter of the middle body is 0.500"

john bickar wrote:

Jack H wrote:Mic the diametre of the ball and the Bullet start area. 
Does the middle body threads fit a Star?

The ball is 0.357". Not sure what you mean by "bullet start area".

The middle body does not fit a Star.

Curiouser and curiouser...

Is the straight just below the flare slightly larger than the ball?

Would the ball area expand down equal to the length of HBWC?

Just guessing on my part.

Jack H wrote:

Is the straight just below the flare slightly larger than the ball?

Would the ball area expand down equal to the length of HBWC?

Just guessing on my part.

I think I see what you're getting at. I will have to measure it.

The central "plunger" with the ball and possibly a flare makes sense to me.

The Matryoshka dolls of the rest of the die continue to baffle me.

Thanks for puzzling through this with me. At worst, I'm glad to learn that this isn't something slap-myself-on-the-head obvious.

John:

I believe what  you have there is an older TrueLine,  Lyman, etc., expansion die (back when the die bodies were smaller in diameter than today) and then an external adaptor so it will fit the modern 7/8 X 14 presses. 

CR

Could be the guts from an old 310 tool.

Ah, thank you both. Certainly makes sense.

Now, what to do with it?

Ah! Life's eternal question. You finally figure out that it had a purpose, but that purpose does not align with your purpose.

Amazingly, back in about 1979, in UK, immediately after finishing college, almost penniless, I bought a Lyman 310 tool to reload 38 special for UK Centerfire competition. I do not remember much about it, but I somehow still have it. My first "BIG" handgun at the time was a new Taurus K14 clone - I had to sell that when I got posted overseas.

Sorry John. Just sad musings from the distant past!

RoyDean wrote:Ah! Life's eternal question. You finally figure out that it had a purpose, but that purpose does not align with your purpose.

Amazingly, back in about 1979, in UK, immediately after finishing college, almost penniless, I bought a Lyman 310 tool to reload 38 special for UK Centerfire competition. I do not remember much about it, but I somehow still have it. My first "BIG" handgun at the time was a new Taurus K14 clone - I had to sell that when I got posted overseas.

Sorry John. Just sad musings from the distant past!

Do you want to buy a .357 expander die for your 310 tool?

Rainy day special for you, Roy - only $999.99!

I could make a meaningless racist remark, but only you and I would appreciate it and I might get banned from the Forum I love. Ho, hum!

Put it on E-bay, call it "vintage", ask for a ridiculous amount of money and just wait for the pigeons to land.

CR

CR10X wrote:Put it on E-bay, call it "vintage", ask for a ridiculous amount of money and just wait for the pigeons to land.

CR

Definitely thought of that.

Unrelated: what's your eBay username?

Greetings,

My eBay UserID is "Pigeon".

Send me a discounted offer once I put it on my Watch List.

Cheers,

Dave

John:

"Chasseaupigeon"