Description

BULLET EXTRACTOR, English, c. third quarter 19th century, unsigned but attributable to Coxeter of London. Measuring 9-1/2″ (24 cm) overall (closed), the extractor has a polished steel probe / scoop, with opposable toothed shaft for securing the bullet. Using the finger pulls made of a fine alloy, one withdraws the shaft, inserts the probe into the wound until the bullet is touched and then surrounded by the spiked scoop, and finally squeezes the spiked shaft closed against the bullet and withdraws the instrument. Condition is fine noting a little rust spotting. We have had one other example of this form, that one by Coxeter “Inventor & Maker” (Tesseract Cat 28, Item 63). Longmore illustrates and describes the instrument in his book “Gunshot Injuries,” and explains that it was much used during the Crimean War of the 1850’s.