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FRANKFORD ARSENAL 20 GAUGE SHOTGUN CARTRIDGE
PACKET – FOR THE MODEL 1881 SPRINGFIELD TRAPDOOR FORAGER
SHOTGUN - FULL AND COMPLETE WITH ALL 10 MATCHING PRIMED
ROUNDS – A RARE INDIAN WARS PACKET:
As issued to the troops at
the frontier posts, these packets of 20 Gauge Shotgun
Cartridges were manufactured at the Frankford Arsenal
for the Model 1881 Springfield Trapdoor Forager
Shotgun. Supplied to the soldiers as unloaded primed
and unprimed cartridges in packets of ten, the soldiers
on the frontier used Ordnance Department provided
loading sets and components to load these cartridge
cases with powder and shot for use in hunting small game
to supplement their rations.
The individual Trapdoor Forager Cartridges have become
increasingly difficult to find available on the market,
and the demand for, and the continued scarcity of, the
single cartridges attest to the popularity of this
unique cartridge among Indian War collectors. Much
rarer are these full original packets produced at
Frankford Arsenal which apparently experienced a very
low survival rate, and subsequently are seldom
encountered on the collector’s market.
In relatively excellent
condition, this packet is full form, being manufactured
of the khaki colored card stock material used in other
Frankford Arsenal packets. The top label is fully
intact and completely legible. The packet was assembled
at the arsenal using staples at the corners rather than
the paper packing tape the arsenal used on other pistol,
carbine and rifles cartridge packets during this
period. The staples on the packet lid are all present
and only one is missing on the packet body. All of the
outer edges and corners are intact and while there is
some wear to the top edge of the body of the packet,
overall the packet retains its shape and integrity.
There is no evidence that these packets were sealed with
a paper wrapper, and none is present on this packet,
rather it is held shut by the friction of the lid over
the body.
The cartridges in this packet appear to be in “like new”
condition, showing no signs of having been loaded or
fired. All ten cartridges are in full form with no
crushing, crimps, splits, or other damage, and the case
walls retain clean, bright surfaces with a nice even
color to the brass. All ten bear the same matching
headstamp, “F 9 00 No. 20”. An added value, the
original paper sheet which divides the two layers of
cartridges is present and intact. These paper sheet
dividers seldom survive the passage of time.
A rare offering, this Frankford Arsenal packet of Model
1881 Springfield Trapdoor Forager 20 Gauge Shotgun
Cartridges would be a notable addition to your Indian
Wars or cartridge collection.
SOLD
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