Bullet forceps by Civil War medical instrument maker “Wade & Ford, NY”

This is another rare Civil War item being offered, it is a Civil War Surgeon’s bullet forceps. It has an overall length of 12” and is marked with the maker “WADE & FORD, NY”. During the Civil War, surgeons documented and treated 245,790 gunshot wounds, accounting for 94% to 99.6% of all recorded battlefield injuries.

While much the same in design as modern examples, this one is fashioned out of unplaited iron, as opposed to the plaited variety of the later 1800s. Bullet forceps and extractors, of various types and sizes, were in use during the Civil War. Wade and Ford were minor medical  instrument makers during the war; they were in business from 1860 – 1866.

A surgeon would remove the bullet or shrapnel by first locating it with a flexible probe or through palpation. Once located, he would use the forceps to retrieve the projectile. The wound was then typically sutured, packed with medicinal lint, and bandaged.

These forceps show their age and use, but remain in good condition, easily opens and closes. This is a great opportunity to add a rare piece to your Civil War collection, and extra unique being that was made for the war.