Very Rare Full Wood Box Metcalfe Ammunition Trapdoor Attachment 8 Rounds

This is a very rare, full box, 8 original Benet primed rounds, of .45-70 ammunition manufactured for the Springfield Trapdoor rifle that had been equipped with the experimental Metcalfe attachment.  This allowed for the attachment of a wood block containing 8 rounds of ammunition directly to the rifle just forward of the action allowing for quick reloading.  Ammunition was ordered produced in wood blocks with the appropriate metal clips on the back for attachment and having a waterproofed material for the top section.  The top has raised embossed type stating “8 RIFLE CARTRIDGES CAL 45” with side label on the attachment side reading “8 RIFLE-BALL / Calibre .45.  70 Grains Musket Powder / Put Up at Springfield Armory , Feb'y 1876”  and on the outward side “CARTRIDGES. / Bullet, 405 Grains, / Made at Frankford Arsenal, January 1876”.  The top section has flaking with about 75% of the bottom portion of the label remaining, all darkened with the waterproofing agent applied when manufactured.  The box is solid and the cartridges are in excellent condition.   This is a very fine example of one of these surviving wood block boxes and a rare opportunity to acquire ammunition representing a fascination period in Military innovation scarcely seen outside of museums and very advanced collections.