When I first started casting I was gifted several 1-C molds. I always thought it generous of that person, he is sly like a fox.
Went to an auction about that same time. Several NIB 1-C and pieces and halves all scattered in a big wooden box. Not one set of handles or any other casting stuff to be found or seen. There was more than one and less than forty molds in that box. I won't say what I gave for them, but it would not cover tax on 1k of primers or a pound of powder.
Once home and cleaned up, all the halves had mates! A few extra spru plates and screws, other than that they were all there. Traded a lot off but kept a few.
As mentioned above when going to a 2-C it seems like you are really throwing them out there,lol. I got a 6-C and I was like OMG, two of these running will empty a 20lb pot in nothing flat. Buddy has a 8-C iron mold I used. Even with a mold rest one will have popeye forearm or carpel tunnel in short order if used weekly.
Forward about 25 ish years. Helping clean up an estate and got a 10lb Lee pot and a Lyman 225415. Out side of mold looked pretty rough inside was perfect. I think it was either dunked in lard or beeswax, maybe a combo of the two, but it was full on the inside.
I swore I wold never cast for smaller than 30, yeah right. Yesterday and today I cast with the 10lb and the 1-C 225415. Several hundred total, while waiting for the 20lb RCBS to come up to temp.
Lol I can recall getting my first 20lb pot. Hot plate at the ready. Run till one would get frosty and grab another. Both get frosty and have another. I can remember having four different 1-C molds going at once. I thought I was cutting a pretty wide swath,lol.
Jeff