What-is-it question XC.

[2209patrick]

This silver item is in the shape of, and about the size of, a small vesta case.
Has a gilded interior and contains small pegs marked with numbers.
These were popular from roughly 1880 to 1910.

What was it used for and what was it called?



Pat.
.

[2209patrick]

Had a hunch this would be a difficult one.
Here's a clue: it was used in hunting.

Pat.
.

[dognose]

Hi Pat,

Some years ago I saw something similar that was used on pheasent shoots. How they used or for what purpose, I have no idea, but they were held by the gamekeeper and allotted to guests at the shoot. I assume maybe for position and order of the shooting?

Trev.
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[2209patrick]

Hello Trev.

Well done. Yes, this was used to determine where each hunter of a grouse-shooting party should stand.
They used it to avoid favoritism or a mad scramble for the best spots.
Pegs, or butts, were drawn from the case to decide each participant's place in the line to drive the grouse across the moore.

These were called "Butt markers" or "Butt selectors".

Pat.
.