If the sizing die is not marked Lifetyme, than it is not Lifetyme, but could still be a carbide die.? You would need to check for a carbide ring which should be clearly visable,? ?I have one carbide die marked "Perfection" RLS which is blued steel.? I also, have a couple of carbide dies from Star Machine Works of Pioneer California (Not the original Star).? One of these dies is clearly marked Lee, so I'm sure it is a turned down Lee die.? The other is only marked with the caliber.? ?I have two original Star (non-carbide) dies.? they are hardened steel, (but not blued).
As for the decapping pin, the sizing die should have a screw in piece in the center with a decapping pin at the end.? The decapping pin is held in with a set screw.? If it is only missing, the pin, you can substitute the correct diameter drill rod.? If the die is missing the whole decapping assembly, you may be able to get one from Star Machine Works in Pioneer.
The 45 ACP machine should have a taper crimp die.? Taper crimp dies were availabe for 38 Special, but are rare, and I have never seen one on a Progressive, only on Universals.
The machined parts of a Star are often brownish with a rust stain, but they clean up remarkable well.
If the machine had an indexer on it, you should remove the shell plate and look at the base below the shell plate.? Machines with indexers were sometimes exposed to a great deal of hard use (like in a police station) and they can develop a substantial ware pattern below the shell plate.? This can be a problem if it has developed an indentation in the base which catches the shell base as you are trying to advance it from one station to another.? ?Sometimes the indentation can be polished out sufficiently to eliminate the problem.