Whatever happened to Herters reloading equipment?

mikenbarb · June 28, 2008, 03:44 PM

I have acquired alot of Herter's Reloading and misc. equipment and wondering what ever happend to the company and where did they go? The equipment looks like its great quality and made well.

Gbro · June 28, 2008, 04:12 PM

This site has a little HX on it.http://www.wildturkeyzone.com/turkey...rs/herters.htm

If you like the quality of there products, you have got to read some of his books!

dmickey · June 28, 2008, 04:43 PM

I have a set of Herter's .32 Winchester Special reloading dies and a powder measure. Any offers??

JWT · June 28, 2008, 04:56 PM

The brief Herters history on the site referrenced was very nostalgic. As a kid in the 50's I read Herters catalogs with amazement at the wonderful hunting and fishing equipment they offered. George Leonard Herter had a great ability to make almost exact copies of brand name goods, call them something similar, and sell them for significantly less.

Their quality was generally good, especially for the prices paid.

Still have a fly tying vice and a few other goodies from Herters laying around.

Cabellas now seems to 'own' the Herters brand and sells a few items under that name.

Scorch · June 28, 2008, 04:56 PM

Herter's was the mail-order king back in the '50s and '60s. Anything you wanted that related to guns could be found. It was always "finest", "best", "rare find", "exclusive" stuff, mostly a lot of hot air but pretty good products. They had a lot of stuff that was made exclusively for them, and some that you could find just about anywhere under different brands. Herters was crippled by the GCA '68, and got the 'coup de grace' after Herters' financing fell through for a chain of sporting goods stores across the country. The company collapsed and went bankrupt in 1971, IIRC. Nowadays, Cabela's is kind of what Herter's wanted to be.

As far as their reloading stuff, it was made by a variety of manufacturers, primarily Hollywood and Redding, IIRC. It was of very good quality, but most of the presses had screw-in shell holders and are difficult to convert to the snap-in type.

mikenbarb · June 28, 2008, 06:41 PM

I got a Herters catalog and its pretty neat to see what they charged back then. $14.95 for a Heavy cast iron C Press.

And lots are still in use today. I found a couple herters shell holders on sleez-bay and their cheap as heck. I am acquiring alot of Herters reloading and gun stuff and selling here it if I cant use it. Im gonna try to get a Herters reloading book just to check it out. Im sure alot of data is still the same now as it was then. I would love to get my hands on one of their 2 die presses, They look pretty cool.

thebaldguy · June 28, 2008, 09:47 PM

My dad used to get Herter's catalogs all the time. I always liked reading them. They had stores in Mitchell SD and in Waseca MN. I remember going to the Waseca store as a kid.

Herter's also had some books as well. They had a Guide's Manual and a Bull cookbook. They are pretty amusing reads.

Gnarly · June 28, 2008, 10:19 PM

The only presses I own are 2 'antique' Herters Super #3 presses; one I bought in (I think!) 1977 and was taught to handload on.I got snap-in shellholder adapters from ch4d. I plan on handing the setups down to my grandsons.

I have some extra Herters shellholders, large & small primer arms, a primer catcher & 2 original Herters boxes for sale, if anyone is interested.

----Gnarly

mikenbarb · June 28, 2008, 10:27 PM

Thebaldguy, I just acquired 2 Belgian engraving tools that have the original stickers from the Mitchell store. I posted them for sale on the for sale threads. I know a guy that has ALOT of Herters stuff and im getting it little by little. Its all NIB and cool items that you dont see anymore. If anyone knows where to get a Herters 2 station press, Please let me know. I would love to have one fastened to my bench.

BntBrl · June 29, 2008, 12:45 PM

Ir seems like there was an article somewhere a while back about Herters. If my memory recalls me correctly, one of the first things to hurt him was that you couldnt ship guns in the mail any longer because of a law change. I also want to say he either got depression or some other similar condition. Im too young to know about him other than in reading. I do remember reading the outlandish claims on some of the products, but thats just good old fashioned marketing.

dmickey · June 29, 2008, 03:05 PM

Does anyone remember Herter's Cactus candy. I gave a piece to one of my coworkers. He said it tasted like hair oil! You know, he just might have been right!

jamaica · July 2, 2008, 09:06 PM

Well........... There is a Model 3 press on my bench and numerous dies still doing duty. I think I paid all of $13 for the Model 3. Ya, that was a few years ago.

Ruger4570 · July 2, 2008, 10:02 PM

Lord knows I sure miss the old Herter stuff and catalogs. Somewhere in my storage bin, I still have a reloading book with stories of Jacques Herter and others.
They really had advertising down pat, and the stuff was pretty good for the price too.

Far Side · July 4, 2008, 10:45 PM

I recently "inherited" all of my brother-in-laws reloading equipment. As a kid, he would take me target practicing with him and/or varmint hunting.

Specifically, I am interested in reloading dies, etc. that will fit a 1960's Herters C-3 Super reloading press. I am specifically interested in 7mm mag, 30-06, .45, .40, 9mm and .223 calibers. I appreciate the help!

mikenbarb · July 4, 2008, 10:55 PM

Farside, I think it takes regular dies.

Rembrandt · July 5, 2008, 07:38 AM

Found this Herters model 234 turret press and powder measure for $5 at a garage sale.....too bad they don't make 'em like that anymore.

Gnarly · July 5, 2008, 10:19 AM

Amen! to that, Rembrandt-they don't make 'em like that anymore!

And to FarSide, Mikenbarb said it right: any modern dies will fit your press.

The trick part is the shellholder; if yours didn't come with an 'updated' shell-holder adapter that allows you to use modern (Redding/RCBS/Lyman,etc.) shellholders, you can get one at: ch4d.com or VegaTool.com.They're about $19 + shipping. [Be sure you buy extra clips! About $1 each;an extra or two is good insurance in case you lose the original.]

I have some spare original Herters parts for sale, including one original shellholder to fit some of the caliber you named, but I believe you'd be better off to just get one of the adapters named above.

Wish I could trade Rembrandt outta that turret & powder measure....

wncchester · July 5, 2008, 04:55 PM

"...acquired alot of Herter's Reloading and misc. equipment and wondering what ever happend to the company and where did they go? "

What happened to Herter's ? Well, mostly, it was the Gun Control Act of '68 which cut off the public ordering any firearm through the mails, all to cut crime you know but you can pretty well guess how effective it was. But, at the same time, Cabala's, Gander Mountain and several other broad based mail maketers were rising. Altogether, it was just too much for Herters to combat. When they failed we lost the small time hunter/shooter's best friend ever.

We lost access to great things like Sako and FN barreled actions for under $100 as well as good quality but inexpensive loading tools for half or less of the bigger brands. Herter was the Richard Lee of his day!

Rico567 · July 5, 2008, 08:55 PM

Above all, if you ever see one of Herter's books, read at least part of it, if you can. George Leonard Herter is an -unique- read, to say the least. My favorite title: How To Live With A Bitch. Although I suppose his book of Bull Cook recipes is more useful.

mikenbarb · July 6, 2008, 10:55 AM

Rembrandt, Cool press. I just picked up a Herters Super 81, 2 ram that im setting up and its gonna ge great! Got any extra holders?

RICO, I just picked up the live with a bitch book and it great! I have a few other Herters books that they offered and love to read them. They have great info and some funny stuff in them. I find their reloading books very usefull because I have one of their press's and other items and the manual covers them all.

TEDDY · July 6, 2008, 03:49 PM

they had a fantastic fishing product and the hooks were priced like 70 cents a hundred.the best part to me was the stocks they sold for $10 and I had a Gew 43 stocked and glass bedded by them for like $25 complete.I have most all the shell holders and some dies.as well as the #3 pres.they also had a bullet sweging tool.could it be a c&h?i also have the scale which I think is a REDDING as I have a redding.

Far Side · July 8, 2008, 01:29 PM

Gnarly and Mikenbarb,

Thanks for the info!! I appreciate it.

Far Side

June 28, 2008, 03:44 PM	#1
mikenbarb Senior Member Join Date: October 10, 2007 Location: N.J. Posts: 1,111	Whatever happened to Herters reloading equipment? I have acquired alot of Herter's Reloading and misc. equipment and wondering what ever happend to the company and where did they go? The equipment looks like its great quality and made well. __________________ Mike B. Gun control= Being able to hit your target. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pifinnercircle

June 28, 2008, 04:12 PM	#2
Gbro Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,084	This site has a little HX on it.http://www.wildturkeyzone.com/turkey...rs/herters.htm If you like the quality of there products, you have got to read some of his books! __________________ Gbro CGVS For the message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, But to us who are being saved, It Is The Power Of God. 1Corinthians 1-18

June 28, 2008, 04:56 PM	#5
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	Herter's was the mail-order king back in the '50s and '60s. Anything you wanted that related to guns could be found. It was always "finest", "best", "rare find", "exclusive" stuff, mostly a lot of hot air but pretty good products. They had a lot of stuff that was made exclusively for them, and some that you could find just about anywhere under different brands. Herters was crippled by the GCA '68, and got the 'coup de grace' after Herters' financing fell through for a chain of sporting goods stores across the country. The company collapsed and went bankrupt in 1971, IIRC. Nowadays, Cabela's is kind of what Herter's wanted to be. As far as their reloading stuff, it was made by a variety of manufacturers, primarily Hollywood and Redding, IIRC. It was of very good quality, but most of the presses had screw-in shell holders and are difficult to convert to the snap-in type. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

June 28, 2008, 06:41 PM	#6
mikenbarb Senior Member Join Date: October 10, 2007 Location: N.J. Posts: 1,111	I got a Herters catalog and its pretty neat to see what they charged back then. $14.95 for a Heavy cast iron C Press. And lots are still in use today. I found a couple herters shell holders on sleez-bay and their cheap as heck. I am acquiring alot of Herters reloading and gun stuff and selling here it if I cant use it. Im gonna try to get a Herters reloading book just to check it out. Im sure alot of data is still the same now as it was then. I would love to get my hands on one of their 2 die presses, They look pretty cool. __________________ Mike B. Gun control= Being able to hit your target. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pifinnercircle

June 28, 2008, 10:19 PM	#8
Gnarly Member Join Date: June 4, 2008 Location: Western KY Posts: 43	Herters Stuff The only presses I own are 2 'antique' Herters Super #3 presses; one I bought in (I think!) 1977 and was taught to handload on.I got snap-in shellholder adapters from ch4d. I plan on handing the setups down to my grandsons. I have some extra Herters shellholders, large & small primer arms, a primer catcher & 2 original Herters boxes for sale, if anyone is interested. ----Gnarly __________________ ~~ Pray for Peace but reload more ammo ~~

June 28, 2008, 04:43 PM	#3
dmickey Senior Member Join Date: January 18, 2006 Posts: 124	I have a set of Herter's .32 Winchester Special reloading dies and a powder measure. Any offers??

June 28, 2008, 04:56 PM	#4
JWT Senior Member Join Date: March 16, 2007 Location: Southern Arizona Posts: 3,888	The brief Herters history on the site referrenced was very nostalgic. As a kid in the 50's I read Herters catalogs with amazement at the wonderful hunting and fishing equipment they offered. George Leonard Herter had a great ability to make almost exact copies of brand name goods, call them something similar, and sell them for significantly less. Their quality was generally good, especially for the prices paid. Still have a fly tying vice and a few other goodies from Herters laying around. Cabellas now seems to 'own' the Herters brand and sells a few items under that name.

June 28, 2008, 09:47 PM	#7
thebaldguy Senior Member Join Date: April 18, 2001 Posts: 139	My dad used to get Herter's catalogs all the time. I always liked reading them. They had stores in Mitchell SD and in Waseca MN. I remember going to the Waseca store as a kid. Herter's also had some books as well. They had a Guide's Manual and a Bull cookbook. They are pretty amusing reads.

June 28, 2008, 10:27 PM	#9
mikenbarb Senior Member Join Date: October 10, 2007 Location: N.J. Posts: 1,111	Thebaldguy, I just acquired 2 Belgian engraving tools that have the original stickers from the Mitchell store. I posted them for sale on the for sale threads. I know a guy that has ALOT of Herters stuff and im getting it little by little. Its all NIB and cool items that you dont see anymore. If anyone knows where to get a Herters 2 station press, Please let me know. I would love to have one fastened to my bench. __________________ Mike B. Gun control= Being able to hit your target. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pifinnercircle

June 29, 2008, 12:45 PM	#10
BntBrl Member Join Date: June 8, 2008 Posts: 95	Ir seems like there was an article somewhere a while back about Herters. If my memory recalls me correctly, one of the first things to hurt him was that you couldnt ship guns in the mail any longer because of a law change. I also want to say he either got depression or some other similar condition. Im too young to know about him other than in reading. I do remember reading the outlandish claims on some of the products, but thats just good old fashioned marketing.

June 29, 2008, 03:05 PM	#11
dmickey Senior Member Join Date: January 18, 2006 Posts: 124	Does anyone remember Herter's Cactus candy. I gave a piece to one of my coworkers. He said it tasted like hair oil! You know, he just might have been right!

July 2, 2008, 09:06 PM	#12
jamaica Senior Member Join Date: March 24, 2006 Location: Northern Utah Posts: 705	Well........... There is a Model 3 press on my bench and numerous dies still doing duty. I think I paid all of $13 for the Model 3. Ya, that was a few years ago.

July 2, 2008, 10:02 PM	#13
Ruger4570 Senior Member Join Date: April 3, 2005 Location: Rochester, New York Posts: 2,136	Lord knows I sure miss the old Herter stuff and catalogs. Somewhere in my storage bin, I still have a reloading book with stories of Jacques Herter and others. They really had advertising down pat, and the stuff was pretty good for the price too.

July 4, 2008, 10:45 PM	#14
Far Side Junior Member Join Date: July 4, 2008 Posts: 2	Herters reloading equipment I recently "inherited" all of my brother-in-laws reloading equipment. As a kid, he would take me target practicing with him and/or varmint hunting. Specifically, I am interested in reloading dies, etc. that will fit a 1960's Herters C-3 Super reloading press. I am specifically interested in 7mm mag, 30-06, .45, .40, 9mm and .223 calibers. I appreciate the help!

July 4, 2008, 10:55 PM	#15
mikenbarb Senior Member Join Date: October 10, 2007 Location: N.J. Posts: 1,111	Farside, I think it takes regular dies. __________________ Mike B. Gun control= Being able to hit your target. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pifinnercircle

July 5, 2008, 07:38 AM	#16
Rembrandt Senior Member Join Date: August 10, 2002 Posts: 2,108	Found this Herters model 234 turret press and powder measure for $5 at a garage sale.....too bad they don't make 'em like that anymore.

July 5, 2008, 10:19 AM	#17
Gnarly Member Join Date: June 4, 2008 Location: Western KY Posts: 43	Herters Stuff Amen! to that, Rembrandt-they don't make 'em like that anymore! And to FarSide, Mikenbarb said it right: any modern dies will fit your press. The trick part is the shellholder; if yours didn't come with an 'updated' shell-holder adapter that allows you to use modern (Redding/RCBS/Lyman,etc.) shellholders, you can get one at: ch4d.com or VegaTool.com.They're about $19 + shipping. [Be sure you buy extra clips! About $1 each;an extra or two is good insurance in case you lose the original.] I have some spare original Herters parts for sale, including one original shellholder to fit some of the caliber you named, but I believe you'd be better off to just get one of the adapters named above. Wish I could trade Rembrandt outta that turret & powder measure.... __________________ ~~ Pray for Peace but reload more ammo ~~

July 5, 2008, 04:55 PM	#18
wncchester Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2002 Posts: 2,832	"...acquired alot of Herter's Reloading and misc. equipment and wondering what ever happend to the company and where did they go? " What happened to Herter's ? Well, mostly, it was the Gun Control Act of '68 which cut off the public ordering any firearm through the mails, all to cut crime you know but you can pretty well guess how effective it was. But, at the same time, Cabala's, Gander Mountain and several other broad based mail maketers were rising. Altogether, it was just too much for Herters to combat. When they failed we lost the small time hunter/shooter's best friend ever. We lost access to great things like Sako and FN barreled actions for under $100 as well as good quality but inexpensive loading tools for half or less of the bigger brands. Herter was the Richard Lee of his day!

July 5, 2008, 08:55 PM	#19
Rico567 Senior Member Join Date: October 19, 2005 Posts: 162	Above all, if you ever see one of Herter's books, read at least part of it, if you can. George Leonard Herter is an -unique- read, to say the least. My favorite title: How To Live With A Bitch. Although I suppose his book of Bull Cook recipes is more useful. __________________ "Dear reader, suppose you are a member of Congress. Now, further suppose you are an idiot. But I repeat myself." - Mark Twain

July 6, 2008, 10:55 AM	#20
mikenbarb Senior Member Join Date: October 10, 2007 Location: N.J. Posts: 1,111	Rembrandt, Cool press. I just picked up a Herters Super 81, 2 ram that im setting up and its gonna ge great! Got any extra holders? RICO, I just picked up the live with a bitch book and it great! I have a few other Herters books that they offered and love to read them. They have great info and some funny stuff in them. I find their reloading books very usefull because I have one of their press's and other items and the manual covers them all. __________________ Mike B. Gun control= Being able to hit your target. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pifinnercircle

July 6, 2008, 03:49 PM	#21
TEDDY Junior member Join Date: December 10, 2006 Location: MANNING SC Posts: 837	Herters they had a fantastic fishing product and the hooks were priced like 70 cents a hundred.the best part to me was the stocks they sold for $10 and I had a Gew 43 stocked and glass bedded by them for like $25 complete.I have most all the shell holders and some dies.as well as the #3 pres.they also had a bullet sweging tool.could it be a c&h?i also have the scale which I think is a REDDING as I have a redding.

July 8, 2008, 01:29 PM	#22
Far Side Junior Member Join Date: July 4, 2008 Posts: 2	Gnarly and Mikenbarb, Thanks for the info!! I appreciate it. Far Side