Whistle Categories > Extractor Whistles
Where did extractor whistles originate?
Extractor whistles by nature are very restricted as to use and one would think that hunting in different countries would have spawned more models. Yet it does not seem to be the case.
The earliest extractor whistles seen were made by Dixon, G & J.W. Hawksley, Bartram in Sheffield of the UK, very early in the 1800s. Later they showed up in the States and in France ( single prong ). Surprisingly, none have come to light from Germany.
Two and three prong extractor whistles appear to be exclusively from just two countries. How many makers inside these two countries are yet to be determined.
How are extractor whistles identified?
Extractor whistles, beyond the whistle part itself, have three prongs, two prongs and single tooth shell extractors, which are unmistakable. They are usually stamped with a number for the shell gauge, such as 16, 12, 10 etc.
These were produced circa 1830s to 1930s, with names stamped on them, seen in catalogs and even advertisements. So, we are looking at 100 years of extractor whistles which has lent itself to being found in catalogs and patent papers.
They come in a remarkable array of models. Initially straight pieces, then folding models and then combined with tools, which were fairly bulky to carry in one’s pocket or to hold while blowing the dog whistle.
Why were they made?
Understandably with the sharp edge of the shotgun shells of the day, a tool was needed and was manufactured for grabbing on and removal. Certainly along these lines combining an extractor with a dog whistle made sense and came along as well and in turn, tools such as a turnscrew or powder primer etc.
This leads to the question why other countries did not also make them or at least rudimentary singular examples.
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