Gang Bullet Mold

PeriodLate 18th century

MediumSoapstone

Dimensions3.75 × 2.5 × 2.5 in. (9.5 × 6.4 × 6.4 cm)

SignedIn pen, on cloth adhered to underside of mold, "7/1/66 GIFT OF / JAY W. / STERNER"

ClassificationsMilitary Artifacts

Credit LineGift of Jay W. Sterner, 1966

Object number2018.507

DescriptionA bullet mold consisting of two blocks of carved soapstone, each half with two holes on top that align when the mold is closed. A wooden dowel is inserted into one of the two sets of holes. The flat undersides of each block contain 14 carved round molds ranging from 1/4 inch to 3/4 inch in diameter. In the closed position, the sides align to form 5 sprue holes on one long edge, and 6 on the opposite.
NotesBullet molds were used by soldiers to create lead musket balls. The two halves of each mold were joined together with wooden dowels, and molten lead poured through sprue holes along the edge to harden inside.

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