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Pitt Rivers Museum

1923.36.30

Snuff-box made from two cartridge cases, one for a rifle and one for a pistol. [HH 17/04/2010]


1923.36.30

Digital asset copyright: Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford

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Collection type
Object
Description
Snuff-box made from two cartridge cases, one for a rifle and one for a pistol. [HH 17/04/2010]
Geographical reference
Aïr massif Ti-n-Telloust
Cultural groups
Tuareg Berber
Date / Period
Date made: Circa 1880-1890
Date collected
1922
Acquisition information
Donated: 1923
Materials and processes
Material Metal, Process Recycled
Dimensions
Length: max 80 mm
Object numbers
Accession number: 1923.36.30
Research and responses

Cartridge-case snuff-box, Niger, c. 1880–90. Battlefields were littered with used brass cartridge cases. Since brass is fairly easy to work, soldiers occasionally collected them to recycle into something else. This container for snuff (powdered tobacco) is made from a French Gras rifle bullet casing forged with a smaller one for a pistol. The breech-loading Gras Mle 1874 was essentially a Chassepot rifle adapted for use with metal cartridges. Although replaced by the Lebel rifle in 1886, the Gras was used by Greek resistance fighters in the Second World War. [draft label, object ultimately discounted from firearms display, HH 30/09/2010]

Battlefields were littered with used brass cartridge cases. Since brass is fairly easy to work, soldiers occasionally collected them to recycle into something else. This container for snuff (powdered tobacco) is made from a French Gras rifle bullet casing forged with a smaller one for a pistol. The breech-loading Gras Mle 1874 was essentially a Chassepot rifle adapted for use with metal cartridges. Although replaced by the Lebel rifle in 1886, the Gras was used by Greek resistance fighters in the Second World War. [HH 19/04/2010]

Search terms: Narcotic, Box, Firearm Weapon, Snuff Accessory, Cartridge