Samuel Jackson was a widely advertised cutlery and surgical instrument manufacturer in the Baltimore area prior to and through the Civil War period. Most of the cutting instruments in this set bear his maker's mark. Sets such as this would have been a part of a larger compliment of instruments deployed by surgeons in treating battlefield trauma. The kit includes two scalpels, one lever elevator, one tenaculum, one metacarpal knife, one circular knife, one pair of pointed forceps, and a pair of cutting forceps, all marked with Jackson's maker's mark. Also included in the set is a long catlin/amputation knife with H. Hernstein maker's mark, one Hey's saw, two trephines with a shared bone handle, a bone brush, a capital saw, a small bow amputation saw (housed under the capital saw), and a Petit's tourniquet. Most of the edged tools have what appears to be checkered ebony handles, while the long catlin has a checkered antique ivory handle. The whole set is housed in a fitted unmarked hardwood case.

Fine overall, the instruments themselves showing generally mild wear, a few with some edge nicks and scattered light pitting, as well as mostly crisp checkering on the grips. Brass components show an attractive aged patina. The case is very good with a significant crack in the lid, minor handling/storage marks throughout, and generally mild wear.