I thought perhaps you might like to see this “gun implement set”. It is for reloading 12 gauge paper shotshells with blackpowder and lead shot. The box is marked “Bridgeport Gun Implement Co, Torrington, Conn.” On the bottom of the box one can still see the pencil marked price of 55 cents.
The wooden knob can be fitted on either end of the wooden rod to serve as both a de-capper and a wad ram. The fired shell would be set in the recessed wooden disk and the de-capper used to expel the spent primer. The shell is then dropped into the hole in the black metal piece, a new primer started into the primer pocket and the other handle is swung over and squeezed to fully seat the new primer. It is then set back on the wooden disk and the thin wall nickel platted tube is slipped over the shell where it then serves as a funnel for powder and shot, as a wad guide and finally by pushing it down hard it will start to roll the paper shell inward and with use of the rammer it will provide the final roll crimp. The little ring has three prongs which grip the shell rim to extract the finished shell from the tube.
The dipper is marked for both drams of powder and ounces of shot. It is adjustable from 2 ½ drams or one ounce shot up to 4 ¼ drams or two ounces of shot.
I love old tools that still work and I’ve reloaded paper hulls with black powder using this tool. It takes some practice to get a good roll crimp but this was all the tool granddad needed to keep his old 12 gauge popping.
