Drams or Drachms?

[ResearchPress]

Confusion can arise from reading contemporary information concerning powder charges and muzzle loading firearms. This topic was studied by De Witt Bailey and W.S. Curtis and I have been given permission to reprint their findings on my Research Press web site:
Drams or Drachms?
Problems In The Measurement Of Gun Powder Charges Resulting From The Use Of Different Terminologies.

I hope you find it of interest.

David

 

[Zonie]

Interesting, as far as it went. It would have been a bit more enlightening had it given the authors weight equivalents for the drams and the Drachms.
It would have been interesting to compair their conclusion with the data given in the Dixie Gunworks Catalog (my most accessable source while I sit here on my rear).

The data I have at my finger tips as printed in Dixies Catalog under "Avoirdupois Weight" which states:
1 drachm = 60 grains
1 Dram = 27.34 grains. (16 drams = 1 ounce

Now if we want to discuss confusion, just compare the Avoirdupois system (16 ounces/pound) with the Apothecaries system (12 ounces/pound).

I bet someday, someone will invent a system where everyone is speaking about the same amount of stuff when they talk about a value.
I sure hope they don't call it metrics though. My boss was always wanting me to report on my "Metrics" and the answers never made him happy. :grin:

 

[Slamfire]

Sounds like a load for my smoothie. 1 drachm of powder and 16 drams of shot.

 

[ResearchPress]

Interesting, as far as it went. It would have been a bit more enlightening had it given the authors weight equivalents for the drams and the Drachms.

Isn't that what the tables at the end of the article provide? Over the years authors have referred to drams at 27.5 and 60 grains, drachms at 27.5, 54, and 60 grains. Then there is reference to Drs and Drms which could be an abbreviation of either drams or drachms.

There is no definitive weight equivalents for the drams and the drachms used by the authors, which is the point of the article. When reading contemporary texts this needs to be borne in mind; eg. Chapman (USA) referred to drachms at 60 grains in 1848 whilst many other contemporaries referred to it as 27.5 grains.

David

 

[Slamfire]

I didn't see any tables, and it looked like there should be another page to the article. But there was no poke field to use to go there. :shake:

 

[ResearchPress]

I didn't realise the navigation was so complicated! :shocked2:

At the top left margin there is a series of links:

Introduction
18th Century Texts
19th Century Texts
Measurings Devices
Tables

These are the five pages of the article......

I have added PREVIOUS | NEXT links at the bottom of the pages now as well to save you having to go back to the top.

David

 

[Slamfire]

Why thankee lad, jest what an old timer needs, someone to point out the way. :rotf: