Hi all, i just bought a Krag with a metcalf device and was wondering if anyone knows where i could pick up a cartridge holder for it or just the plans. I understand they were made of wood and if i had the plans i could probably make one. Surely the original wooden ones haven't held up too well.
Thanks for your help

I believe you meant to say you have a "trapdoor" .45-70 with a Metcalfe device? You can see picture of mine in both the ".45 Rifle", and the "Cartridge" albums at   (You need to Login

I've seen the block dimensions published somewhere. I was going to make one myself until I found a fairly reasonable original.

LOL i had Krags on my mind when i typed that. Yeah its a trapdoor and the wrong forum. But Dick being you have one can you point me in the right direction? Either to buy one or get the specs to build one?
Many Thanks

Wow thats in great shape Dick. My SN is 61981. Id love to get a cartridge box like yours. very close to yours at 61529. But mine is newer lol. Do you think they were ALL disassembled and how would you tell?

Bob,
I cannot cite a specific reference as to the break-up. One of those things which has appeared in numerous books, and is now taken as the truth. It IS known that large quantities of the special parts, showing signs of use, were once on the market. There are virtually NO contemporary serial number records, but we are close. I KNOW mine is a reassembly, because I did it.

You would have to look VERY carefully at yours to see if it "looks to have been together a long time". Is the metal all the same color, and degree of wear? Is the bar below the surface of the wood, with crud banked up at the edges? If so, I'd DEFINITELY NOT disturb it!!! Is the lockplate dated 1873? How is it relieved on the inside - perfect quality work, or crudely done? Of course, that would require disturbing the lock, which, if a really old fit, should ALSO be left alone!

I'm intrigued by your number - IF, by some slim chance (the odds are GREATLY against it) yours IS original, I guess I chose mine very luckily. I'd like to see some pictures of yours. The block dimensions are in the books by both Frasca and Waite/Ernst. They are 5" x 1.75" x 11/16", but the smaller cuts, and the holes are not dimensioned. Somehow, I could make a drawing and email it to you, with the missing data scaled from mine, but - in all honesty - it will be awhile.

Hi Dick my pictures were too big so i couldn't put them on here but my email is bgay82@verizon.net. Email me and i'd be happy to send them too you. I'd also like to know where you got that cartridge box. That would really complete it.
Thanks for all the help
Bob

By the way Dick how much are those cartridge boxes worth if i do find one.

I do not recall where I got my Metcalfe block - and that is odd, because I normally DO remember such things. I think it came from a private party in the midwest, about 1990.

I'd passed on one locally, for $2000, as being just TOO much. I was planning to make one also, until I blundered into the real thing. IIRC, think I paid $1000, and my wrapper has been opened! The more expensive one was sealed, and the wrapper was more legible.

Those are the only two I've encountered, but I do not do the big shows. They ARE quite rare.

I was only willing to pay for the block because I'd acquired my rifle rather cheaply, A good friend found the stock at a garage sale, and I'd also gotten a deal on the device, just as a curiosity. A spare lockplate was very carefully machined and cannot be distinguished from arsenal work, but when my collection is disbursed, the gun will be permanently ID'ed as a modern reassembly.

My email address is on my profile.