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Powder Measure....What gun could it be for?

2036 Views 11 Replies 2 Participants Last post by  Gizamo
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Wanted just a bit more exposure for this then in the Black Powder sub-forum. This measure when extended can measure to 150 grains of Black Powder. Fully extended it is about 16" long :shock: It starts at 40 grains and is graduated by 10 grain intervals. The two halves work together, although they are independant pieces. Just can't imagine what BP gun needed to have a 150gr. measure made for it...

So what (I assume rifled) gun could they have possibly been made for? Lord Slashcat had a few suggestions, but even he thought to remind me it was pure speculation.

The machining is impeccable, this is no cheap accoutrement....and yet there is not a single clue as to the maker was...

Anyone here, gotta clue?


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I don't believe that it was made for a specific rifle - mainly because of the wide range of possible charges from 40-150 gr. I believe that it is simply an ingenious device made for transferring a precise amount of powder from the main container (flask) to the measure without dribbling away and losing a single grain.

Many flasks have screw-in interchangeable nozzles for dropping a set charge, and I've noticed that many BP shooters fail to observe the very important step of never charging the gun directly from the flask - lest a lingering spark set off the whole thing! Your device prevents omitting that important step and further allows you to be precise with how much BP you would like to pour down the barrel or into the cylinder.

I can't believe that there isn't a country of origin stamped somewhere on it. I have a similar No-Name flask - but with the standard single-volume nozzle - and it is stamped "India" on the bottom. I've also seen them stamped with China, Taiwan, and Ukraine. We usually see their slipshod junk, but there are quality craftsmen who work mighty cheap in all four places - just look at the high quality Ukranian tang sights for BPCRs.

As to the 150gr.....a heavy Hawken-type rifle in .56-.58 cal. might need that much powder. I usually load my .50 cal Hawken with 85-90gr. but the best, most accurate load is 105-110gr.

xtm
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I was thinking that this would be a very inexpensive alternative to a spark proof Powder Dispenser. Some BPCR's use some plus 100 grain loads and this would be a great way to load a cartridge prior to seating a bullet. Especially as the dispensers are getting rather pricey. You could also use this to charge a drop tube. The more I think about it, the handier it seems.

And no, no maker or import mark anywhere....quite the oddball.

giz
Well in that case, I think that it's a custom-made rig using a couple of hard-to-make parts from store-bought items (like the springy jobber-do on the flask and the measure itself) - then modified and fitted them to his own flask body. Someone spent a lot of time on that project - and is probably sorry that he let it go!

The spring-loaded opener to the flask looks identical to the one on my Indian one - even down to the two lathe turnings.

xtm
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xtm....

Who but you and me could have a conversation about such an oddball item? Or who else would be as interested.... :mrgreen:

I have a unintentional collection of powder flasks that go with the various BP guns. Everything from some pretty nice horn to this one shown...and many in between. All kiddin' aside, a fella could do worse then to collect powder horns and flasks. I find them fascinating, useful tools...from a bygone era.

I'm guessing that you and a few other fella's like Leighton and I, ~ could go to a major gun and knife show...and have a heck of a good time going from table to table together :) We would need to bring George (LordSlashcat) along for the ride....he'd have a heck of a time keeping us straight and on point :mrgreen:

giz
My Encore barrel is capable of 150 grains. I am not :mrgreen:
The big Tulsa gun show is next weekend and I was hoping to drive the 300 miles up there, but No Joy - have too many other obligations. Some folks from down in south Texas will be passing through to spend the night coming and going, so I'll get to see what they're selling and what they bought.

That's probably where we should all meet sometime - biggest and best show in the country.

xtm
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George and I almost considered going this year. We talked about it. Making it a road trip and hitting a bunch of interesting sites on the way....Alas, with all the surgery that Jules went through ~ it wasn't in the cards. I'd really like to make Tulsa some year, and would hope to meet up with a bunch of my pards....heck with the gunshow, I'd show up for the comaraderie... ;)

giz
Next time I head up that way to visit my relatives, the Bar Harbor Skaggs, I'm droppin' in for a chat!

xtm
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I'll be waitin' ..... :mrgreen:

Promise you some good times, Amigo...

giz
Here is a photo of my similar but lower quality brass flask. I bought it in the clearance bin at the local Sportsman's Warehouse and it doesn't have any markings other than "India" stamped on the bottom.

Note that the spring-loaded openers look very much alike.


Yours is an excellent dribble-free design.

xtm
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xtm,

I have several of that style in various sizes...collected over the years. I actually like using them and they serve the user well. There are a couple of them that came with various grain charge tubes. But most of them top out at about 50 grains. What makes them a bit of a pain, comes when you have a 50 grain tube on one and need to put 60 grains down your muzzleloader...

Think that is the improvement in the one up in the original post. You could easily measure a charge for your flintlock pistol, then a larger one for your rifle ~ just by dialing in the charge you want. And if you wanted to add just a few more grains to the next one, then it is a easy and quick changeover.

Think this one is going into the possible bag for all the Percussion Cap guns. Might not be period correct for the flintlocks, but when no-one is looking..... :mrgreen:

giz
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