Recently, I took a trip to New York City (well, OK it was my mini-honeymoon). While there, we made a stop at Obscura Antiques & Oddities where I picked up a few things. This item is one of which I didn’t have any examples in my personal collection.

So, what is a Blunt Hook anyway?

A Blunt Hook is an obstetrical instrument. They were standard tools in an obstrical kit throughout the 17th – mid 20th centuires. It had a few uses. Primarily it was used to to help a breech, transverse or otherwise malpositioned, fetus to be born. It was hooked around a part of the body and then the body would be manipulated into a more favorable position to birth.

Sometimes, a Blunt Hook would be used as a fetal extraction tool in cases of fetal demise. In other words, if the fetus was dead inside the mother’s uterus then this tool could be used to reposition and remove the body. Leaving a dead fetus inside would result in its putrefication and subsequesnt infection for the mother which lead to her death as well. Removing a deceased fetus is an imperative.

My Blunt Hook happens to have a maker’s mark on it. Discovering that after I got it home helped me identify it. The maker’s mark reads, “D.W. Kolbe & Son”.

Who is D.W. Kolbe & Son?

Luckily, this company was a very successful manufacturer of surgical tools in the middle 19th century. They were located in Philadelphia, PA. According to Temple University, Dietrich W. Kolbe was a German immigrant who had trained in Germany and Paris in making surgical instruments. He came to Philadelphia in 1874. He make his mark, so to speak, during the Civil War making surgical equipment and prostethics for the Union Army.

For more detailed information on the man, please visit: The Autry Collections and Powelton History Blog.

The mark “D.W. Kolbe & Son” was used in the manufacturing years 1867 – 1878. My lovely Blunt Hook was made in that time period. The hook will sit on display in my private collection. It is not currently for sale.

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