Old black powder.

[GANGGREEN]

This is a new one for me, does anybody recognize this brand. surely it's very old, but the powder seems fine and I'll burn it.

 

[Pete G]

Widely available in the 70's. Use it, but save the can.

 

[GANGGREEN]

Thanks, my first thought was that the can was likely worth more than the powder, but in these days, maybe not.

Widely available in the 70's. Use it, but save the can.

 

[Musketeer]

From the little I've read, it appears to have been made in Scotland originally and was a very well thought of powder. It seems the company was later bought out or merged and the later stuff was made by Nobel in Germany. Perhaps one of our UK members can give more specifics (or correct me if I'm wrong). The can is a keeper for sure.

 

[Melchi577]

I have a couple of plastic tubs of the same name from the late 90's. had been told it was made at Kennal Mills in Cornwall at some point, looks like it was bought out by ICI / Nobel Scotland and then production moved to Hungary more recently. how accurate this is i'm not sure at it's word of mouth.

 

[Rifleman1776]

As others have said, keep, use but save the cans.

 

[Feltwad]

Curtis & Harvey powder tins made in Scotland and an early one made in Hounslow
Feltwad

 

[GANGGREEN]

Thanks for all of the great info folks, glad I posted the photo. I hadn't really read the small print on the can and had no clue that it was made overseas.

 

[GANGGREEN]

It's definitely manufactured in Great Britain, I should have just read the can. Anyone want a venture a guess on possible value of the empty can?

 

[tenngun]

When Lyman published its Blackpowder ballistic book CH was one of the test powders. It tended to produce lower velocities charge for charge, but when you increased the charge to get same velocity you had lower breech pressure

 

[jimhallam]

ICI was a conglomerate, formed by amalgamation in 1926. Googling "Imperial Chemical Industries" will give you more than enough information. When I was at college (starting 1963) I used to tramp the Derbyshire moors with a 14-bore DB M-L. I bought my supplies from the local gunshop -- a pound of that powder was £1 (one British pound -- about 4 bucks then) and #6 shot was "half a crown" a pound --- that was two shillings and sixpence -- 1/8 of a £ -- so a "crown" (there was no 5 shilling coin in regular circulation) was about a buck. To put that in context when I started teaching 3 years later my salary was just under £50 a month.

 

[Melchi577]

this might be of interest and explains the Kennal mills connection as well as Scotland and Hounslow . Curtis's and Harvey - Graces Guide

 

[Barry Strickland]

I used quite a bit of C&H in the early 70's because that was about all you could find. I did not care for it much but it worked, made fire and smoke. I think I still have a 1/2 pound can of 4f in storage.

 

[Rudyard]

Dear Jim My first wage was just under 3 pound a week & powder was 7 & 6 pence a pound ,Shot being 2/6 pence from Smiths at Newark. Maybe you shopped at the' Bishop of Beetwell Street ' Frank Hall in his deer stalker & breaks . or Turners' West Bar with that long Twigg duck gun on the beam , or maybe the good shop up South Street ? hanged if can remember his name but remember the bullet hole in his cabinet. You might have been involved with Sheffield Branch MLAGB ?. Small world ( glad I hav'nt got to paint it !) ' Bulmers selling service' in York was always worth the trip he sold Martini ramrods for 6 pence each still have one or two .I bought a LH flnt gun & a 50'' long barrelled flint gun off Bulmer .The local Derbyshire farm I shot on owner said to me "Wi can see thee cumin afoore wi can see thee". Dyson started in his loft at Honley later he did me his first flint conversion just a tired lock not the gun.
Regards Rudyard

 

[Bassdog1]

I still have several pounds of 3F Goex from the 70s that was gifted to me and it shoots as well as any of the newer powders that I have.

 

[ord sgt]

Curtis & Harvey powder tins made in Scotland and an early one made in Hounslow
FeltwadView attachment 65812View attachment 65813

About 25 years ago, I saw a Dupont black powder can in an antique store. The owner wanted $75 for the can at that time. Can't imagine the cost today.
This was near Kings Mill, Ohio.

 

[Feltwad]

There were other brands of black powder on the market at the same time has CH and a little later in the UK . The ones that I remember were Black Silver, Elephant Powder, SNIPE powder , Col Fargison black powder that came in five grades, the most unusual was a Chinese powder that came in a paper bag in a round cardboard tub a very fine powder most UK members will remember these old brands.
Feltwad

 

[gvandersluis]

This is a new one for me, does anybody recognize this brand. surely it's very old, but the powder seems fine and I'll burn it.View attachment 65783

I’ve just finished my last (of two) tins of identical Goex powder, tins marked 1958. It worked perfectly in my Ruger OA and TC Seneca .36. I’ve never heard of Curtis brand though

 

[JCKelly]

About 25 years ago, I saw a Dupont black powder can in an antique store. The owner wanted $75 for the can at that time. Can't imagine the cost today.
This was near Kings Mill, Ohio.

I have a few Du Pont cans still w the powder in 'em. When I was a teenager it was 75 cents/lb, and a 15 year old could buy it with no questions asked.

 

[gustrolland]

This is a new one for me, does anybody recognize this brand. surely it's very old, but the powder seems fine and I'll burn it.View attachment 65783

I'm another shooter that has a can or two of that powder, it's not quite as good as goex. But it will get the job done. And it is better than elephant powder, and I use all of them for plinking.