King George Priming Flask

[B. Miller]

Jarnagin used to carry a King George brass priming flask. The explanation was that prior to the revolutionary war, priming was seperate from loading the ball. The flask was a replica of one found at Fort Louden and had the Kings Coat of Arms on the outside. These were usually a wait listed items. It is no longer on the Jarnagin web site. Anyone know where else they are available from. It was a nice looking priming flask.

 

[Rifleman1776]

hotoSmile:

Jas. Townsend, Ted Cash, others might have them.

Edit: I Googled images for that flask. Didn't find any identified as George's but up came scads of priming flasks. Most very unique. Lot of ideas there for the home crafter.

 

[hawkeye2]

Many years back I was a member of the Maryland Forces at Ft. Frederick, a F & I War group. We drilled with the British Manual of Arms of 1742 and at that time the entire loading/priming sequence was from a paper cartridge. This is the first I have heard of priming from a flask in the mid 1700's. Jarnagin's is a first class outfit and I usually believe what the say but this time??

 

[Rifleman1776]

This is the first I have heard of priming from a flask in the mid 1700's.

Keep in mind, back then fancy folks had fancy stuff. Those cased sets with guns and accessories set the standard for fancy. Primer flasks were often part of the collection.

 

[hawkeye2]

I understand that but I understood this discussion to be only concerned with the military method of loading rather than how civilians did it and yes I have seen civilian priming containers that go back far before the F & I War.

 

[Rifleman1776]

I understand that but I understood this discussion to be only concerned with the military method of loading rather than how civilians did it and yes I have seen civilian priming containers that go back far before the F & I War.

I don't see anything in the OP about military only use.

 

[hawkeye2]

"The explanation was that prior to the revolutionary war, priming was separate from loading the ball." For a civilian priming was usually a separate procedure both pre and post AWI unless one was priming using the main horn and it could be argued that this was a separate procedure too. That is opposed to a soldier priming from a cartridge prior to using the cartridge to load with. Today we are taught to prime only after loading which of course removes it from the procedure of loading the ball.

"The flask was a replica of one found at Fort Louden and had the Kings Coat of Arms on the outside." That implied military usage to me.

Perhaps I read far too much into the OP, I have been guilty of that before. :v

I did quite an extensive search and couldn't find anything about a King George brass priming flask. If anyone can find a photo of an original or reproduction I wound be interested in seeing it.

 

[Bill Bizoff]

From Bland’s “ Treatise of Military Discipline” 5th edition 1743:
X. Prime. 2 Motions.
Hold the Firelock firm in the left Hand, and with the right turn up the Primer and shake as much Powder into the Pan as is necessary. Then tell 1, 2, and bring it back to its former Place behind the Butt, and remain in that Posture 'till the following Word of Command.
I can’t find any documentation that states when the military started priming from the cartridge.
Bill

 

[B. Miller]

I have been looking for a picture of this flask that I thought I placed on a disc prior to my computer crashing but I just can't seem to find it. Maybe I could just contact Jarnagin and they could point me in the right direction.