Examples of
Civil War Era Instruments with Typical Prices
Surgical instrument parts list with prices
Instruments typically
found in or associated with "Civil War era" surgical sets
Prices below are 'median
prices'
derived from sales catalogs, eBay, auctions, and private sales. Prices
can vary up or down greatly due to desirable or undesirable maker names and
condition.
Some maker names are more valuable than others due to rarity or when made.
The prices are general 'averages' and do not apply to post-Civil War instruments,
which would be much less valuable. Pre-Civil War instrument values vary
greatly due to collector interest or lack of interest. Not all makers
are desirable. Prices vary greatly with individual collector 'needs'
for filling out a personal surgical set.
Prices updated as of 3-2010
Excellent (exc.) means no rust, no
cracked handles, no problems.
Good means about average, but
serviceable
Add 20% for real ivory handles, not
bone
'Marked' means maker name on instrument
Click photos for enlarged view
| Amputation knife: large, unplated, composite handle with cross
hatching: exc. $90-150; good $70 |
 |
| Artery
forceps: unplated olive tip forceps for holding and tying off arteries:
exc. $45; good $25 |
 |
|
Amputation catlin: large, double sided blade, composite handle with cross
hatching: exc. $80-110; good $70 |
 |
| Blade
director: to direct knife blade: exc. $20; good $10 |
 |
| Bistoury
knives: unplated curve blade with blunt tip or curved blade and sharp
point: exc. $55; good $25, for ivory add 20% |
 |
| Bone
hammer and chisel: hammer: exc. $75; chisel $45 |
 |
| Bullet
forceps: long shank, serrated tips, marked: exc. $150-250; good $100 |
 |
| Chain
saw: both handles, unmarked, no rust on chain: exc. $250; good $100 |
 |
| End
cutting bone forceps: marked: exc. $180-220; good $95 |
 |
| Gemrig, bow
style capital amputation saw: for large military sets, marked: exc. $200-350;
good $100 |
 |
| Gnawing
bone forceps: round tip, marked: exc. $125-150; good $60 |
 |
| Hernstein amputation saw: military, marked: exc. $250-300; good $150 |
 |
| Hey saw:
skull trepanning saw, marked: exc. $95-180; good $50 |
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| Metacarpal saw: for small bones, marked, gutta percha cross hatched
handle: exc. $120; good $55 |
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| Muscle
retractor: unmarked: exc. $35; good $15 |
 |
| Scalpel:
small, marked: plain wood handle,$35; crosshatched: $55; trepanning (metal
on both ends, crosshatched middle: $55;
ivory: $65 each |
 |
| Sequestrum forceps: for bone fragments, holding tissue, shallow bullets;
short shanked, marked: exc. $75; good $40 |
 |
| Tenaculum: for artery traction during suturing, marked, gutta percha cross
hatched handle: exc. $70; good $35 |
 |
| Tissue
forceps: to clamp off artery or holding tissue, unplated, marked: exc.
$40-60; good $20 |
 |
| Tourniquet: Petit's brass screw frame, fabric strap, marked: exc. $300;
good $210 |
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| Tourniquet strap: belt type for field use : exc. $200; good $150 |
 |
| Trepanning bone brush: to remove bone dust from trephine, unmarked: exc. $65; good $35 |
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| Trepanning bone file: for smoothing edge and elevating tissues of skull,
marked: exc. $55; good $25 |
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| Trepanning trephine: for boring hole in skull, unmarked: exc. $150; good
$70 |
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| Trocar:
for draining fluids, unmarked: small: exc. $55; large: exc. $55; good $20 |
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| Urinary
staves or sounds: urethral dilators, common to military sets, unplated:
exc. $25 each, hollow catheters, $20 each |
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Various instruments and how they were used
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