Vintage black powder reloading tools?
- Thread starter jabberwoki
- Start date
Farmer J.
Well-known member
Yea, I think the little hook thing at 4th from left in the centre is a 'Cartridge Extractor' for pulling stuck shotgun cartridges out of a chamber. After firing the cardboard casing can partly disintegrate, expand and the remains stick in the chamber. The tool has a hole to stick your finger through to pull with and a hook to fish the remains out of the chamber. Various grabbing claws around the top help get hold of the cap first.
Not checking for a clear chamber and removing all the remains of an old cartridge can be a bit dangerous, as the next cartridge has no room to expand and can burst the barrel. According to my late Father, that's how Great Uncle lost the top of his head. He survived, but Father said he was not so 'sharp thinking' afterwards, and less handsome.
Information about them here:
finesportingcollectablesltd.co.uk
Not checking for a clear chamber and removing all the remains of an old cartridge can be a bit dangerous, as the next cartridge has no room to expand and can burst the barrel. According to my late Father, that's how Great Uncle lost the top of his head. He survived, but Father said he was not so 'sharp thinking' afterwards, and less handsome.
Information about them here:
Cartridge Extractors – their development and amazing variety – Fine Sporting Collectables | Blog
finesportingcollectablesltd.co.uk
Last edited:
Dave455
Well-known member
Yes, most of them are tools for loading shotgun cartridges (shotshells).
The tool 3rd from left is a priming tool, and the tool below it looks like a powder measure. I think this is the only one that is specifically a “black powder” tool.
The tool fifth from left is definitely a cartridge extractor, and the bigger tools with the handles you wind put a “roll crimp” on the front of the cartridge once it’s loaded.
I would say most of those are late 19th century / early 20th.
The tool 3rd from left is a priming tool, and the tool below it looks like a powder measure. I think this is the only one that is specifically a “black powder” tool.
The tool fifth from left is definitely a cartridge extractor, and the bigger tools with the handles you wind put a “roll crimp” on the front of the cartridge once it’s loaded.
I would say most of those are late 19th century / early 20th.
Joe Huld
Well-known member
X2 most of these tools are shot shell reloading tools except for the wire cutter looking tool center 2nd from the right which looks to be a WWII vintage wire cutter issued to front line troops for cutting barbed wire with insulated handles to avoid nasty surprises when cutting electrified wire. The wire cutter is probably marked HKP or Shcollhorn
Adk Mike
Well-known member
I have a lot of those same tools. Handed down to me. I use the brass measure when shooting my muzzle loader to this day.