Vintage Pacific Gun Sight Co. [Hornady] Refurbished Super DeLuxe “C” Reloading Press

This is a fantastic Super DeLuxe “C” reloading press manufactured by Pacific. The Pacific Gun Sight Company opened its doors in the early 1920s and began a rich reloading history for multiple companies whose reloading products are still seen today.  In 1953 Pacific Sight Company left their San Francisco headquarters and moved to Palo Alto, California.  Soon after the company was sold to Henkle & Joyce Hardware (H&J) of Lincoln, Nebraska.  Robert Deitemeyer, who had established the DL Products Company that made shot shell loaders had convinced H&J to buy the company.  Hence the subsequent “DL” model numbers seen throughout much of the Pacific product line and later with Hornady.  The tool colors changed to blue with the move from California to Nebraska. While in Lincoln, the Pacific product line was manufactured by Bair Machine Company until there was a parting of the ways in 1969. This resulted in Bair offering the identical Pacific tools under the Bair label and did so throughout their existence. In January 1971, H&J sold Pacific Gunsight Co., now known as the Pacific Tool Company, to J. W. Hornady.  All tools were then converted to red by December of that year. Starting in 1972, a new plant was constructed next to Hornady Mfg. Co., in Grand Island, Nebraska and by 1974 the plant was fully relocated.  At this time, many of the Pacific-designed products (many with the “DL” model number) carried a Hornady sticker indicating Pacific was now a “Division of Hornady”.  In 1992, the Pacific name was dropped as all Hornady companies (Pacific and Frontier) were merged into one corporation and Hornady began offering reloading tools under its own name.  In fact, many of the Hornady products seen today on Ebay are actually products of the Pacific Gun Sight Company.

 

According to the previous owner, this cast iron press had just been refurbished so it honestly has that new press smell.  It looks fantastic with what really appears like a quality paint job and polished metal surfaces.  It’s really gorgeous.  In fact, it doesn’t appear to have been used or even mounted after the work was performed.  The press feels tight without any slop, which is a good indicator that it was not abused and was presumably well taken care of.  And of course, this press is ready to accommodate the near universal industry standard rifle and pistol dies (7/8" x 14 tpi) and shell holders sold today by almost every manufacturer (RCBS, Redding, Lee, Lyman, CH4D, etc).  Perhaps most intriguing is this is one of the few presses that was advertised as enabling the reloader to remove the handle from the standard down stroke position and reinsert it at another position on the linkage and actually perform on the up-stroke.  No idea why you would want to do that, but you have that option with the Pacific Super DeLuxe.  The cast iron frame is very sturdy and according to Pacific, was made from non-springing Paxmite annealed cast iron.  I really don’t know what that means but it sounds good and maybe you will enjoy the merits of learning whatever that means first-hand when reloading on this wonderful press.  I believe in full disclosure and mention things like this in my auctions for accuracy. Please check photos carefully, but I think you will find this piece is really in great condition.  If you want a quality vintage press with excellent “curb appeal”, this just might be the one for you!

 

Please see my other reloading equipment items that I have for sale.  I am always happy to combine shipping.  I do not charge anything additional as a "Handling Fee".  The shipping costs you see are what it costs me to send it to you.  If you have any questions, please feel free to ask and I will try to answer them to the best of my ability.