MODEL 1877 AND 1882 TRAPDOOR HEADLESS CASE
EXTRACTOR MANUALS – TWO MANUAL SET - ORDNANCE DEPARTMENT
MANUAL REPRINTS: These are quality reprints of
the “DIRECTIONS FOR THE USE OF THE HEADLESS CARTRIDGE
SHELL EXTRACTOR - 1877” and the “HEADLESS SHELL
EXTRACTOR FOR SPRINGFIELD RIFLE AND CARBINE, NATIONAL
ARMORY, MODEL 1882” that were supplied from the
Springfield Armory. These are exact reproductions of
the service broadsides issued by the U.S. Army to
instruct the soldiers on the proper use of the headless
shell extractors. These tools came about as the result
of the tendency of the soft copper cartridges becoming
stuck in the chamber of the M1873 Trapdoor Springfield
Rifles and Carbines upon being fired. As a result when
the soldier opened the breech block and attempted to
extract the shell, the head of the case was torn off
leaving the body of the cartridge stuck to the walls of
the chamber and rendering the firearm useless. This
occurrence is well documented as having been a problem
during the Battle of the Little Big Horn. These tools
allowed the soldier to drive out the cartridge case and
rejoin the battle. The 1877 pamphlet is 2 pages, and
the 1882 is three pages and they include descriptive and
instructive text on the use of these unique tools.
Offered here as a set of two, these are an important
addition to the library of any serious student of the
Indian Wars, and the Trapdoor Springfield Rifles and
Carbines. $4
