Wyatt Earp's loading bench ..........(TV version)

[Bob Wright]

Caught an opening scene of the old TV show The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, the Hugh O'Brien version. In this scene Earp is sitting at a table on the front porch of the marshal's office, loading cartridges. About a dozen empty cases sit upright on the table in front of him. The "loading tool" is horizontal and looks much like those nut crackers sold at Christmas time. He puts a case, supposedly charged and with the bullet started, into the "press" and swings the handle up and over, using both hands with considerable effort to finally crimp the case.

A passer-by asks "Are those copper bullets?"

And Hugh Earp replies "They're copper jacketed. More accurate than lead bullets."

A lady interrupts their conversation and despite a gusty wind, which musses Earp's neat hair and ruffles her dress, listens to her complaint as he continues loading.

Bob Wright

 

[JFB]

any more details about what episode that would have been?

 

[Bob Wright]

any more details about what episode that would have been?

I have no idea. That station was on when I turned on my TV and watched that momentarily then switched channels.

Bob Wright

 

[JFB]

the episode is "the gambler"
https://youtu.be/syi37VVzVWE?t=89

 

[Coop]

I have no knowledge of that particular broadcast.

However:

I would suspect his is using a Lyman Hand Reloading Tool for reloading cartridges back in that era. Lyman cartridge reloading stuff has been around for a long, long time.

 

[Bob Wright]

I have no knowledge of that particular broadcast.

However:

I would suspect his is using a Lyman Hand Reloading Tool for reloading cartridges back in that era. Lyman cartridge reloading stuff has been around for a long, long time.

Don't remember a horizontal press. All Lyman tools I remember were pliers (nut cracker) shaped hand held. And I think it was Ideal back then. Most old reloading tools incorporated a bullet mould in the design also.

Bob Wright

 

[Ale-8(1)]

Although historically a little "loose" I still think O'Brian's portrayal of Earp was quite good for the time. He was a heckuvan actor. He brought a certain believabilitly to the character without hamming it up.

JMHO

 

[don44]

+

 

[Mobuck]

Didn't Earp participate in buffalo hunting in his early years? If so, he would have been an experienced reloader as a result.

 

[Paul B]

I have no knowledge of that particular broadcast.

However:

I would suspect his is using a Lyman Hand Reloading Tool for reloading cartridges back in that era. Lyman cartridge reloading stuff has been around for a long, long time.

I strongly suspect that the loading "nutcracker" tools were by IDEAL. IDEAL was bought out by the Lyman family many years ago and the tools were then called Lyman Ideal. I have several sets of of the 310 tools with dies, some marked IDEAL and some Lyman Ideal. They're slow, only neck size but they make some darned accurate loads.
Probably to be accurate, the tool was a pre-310 model. Some even had the bullet mold as part of the tool.
Sometimes when I feel like going old timey, I'll cast up a batch of Lyman #311291 175 gr. bullets and load up a box or two 30-30 rounds with that old 310 tong tool. Then it's time for a slow leisurely walk out in the desert looking for a jack rabbit or two to harass. The rifle is an old 1894 Winchester made in 1911 and the sixgun on my hip a Colt single action 4 3/4" barrel. Guess you could call it a poor man's time machine. :mrgreen:
Paul B.