powder flask use

[John Hender]

I've recently purchased a Uberti Santa Fe Hawken fitted with a Rice barrel. I have a original James Dixon powder flask that has been in the family for years. Its missing the original screw in brass top so I've fitted a new one. I think I lost the original when I was playing with it as a kid fifty years ago. My question is, When did flasks come into common use and is it ok or correct to use it with the Hawken.

 

[MikeChapin]

I have seen drawings of Arquebuskers from the 16th century with flasks for powder so they have been around for a long time. Going by old paintings, bird hunters have been using flasks for both powder and shot at least in the middle of the 18th century. Horns were cheaper and more plentiful but a flask with a Hawken at rendezvous should be no problem.

Congrats on the rifle. I have a Santa Fe I got back in the mid 80s. The original barrels on these were fantastic. Mine still is tack driver after all these years. I am assuming the original barrel was neglected or the owner didn't like the weird .53 caliber and swapped it out for a Rice .54. That rifle should be a tack driver.

 

There was one on flea bay.Look under "muzzleloader"

 

[bwhoffman]

dixie, track and the gun works should easily be able to fix you up.
most vendors at our rondy's always seem to have them as well.

 

[ohio ramrod]

Dixie carries several sizes of flask springs

 

[Many Klatch]

Mass produced metal powder flasks were in use by the 1830's and were standard equipment by the 1850's. Metal flasks were sold for use with the early Colt pistols. This will overlap the Hawken period quite handily.

Many Klatch

 

[Zonie]

James Dixon started his business in 1804 in Sheffield, England making metal products although there is a question as to when they started producing metal powder flasks.

In Ray Riling's book "THE POWDER FLASK BOOK" (1953) the author says,
"The reader will note in the listings to follow that James Dixon & Sons was not listed in the 1828 Sheffield Directory as making powder flasks but first appears as a maker of flasks in 1845. However, we understand from the present firm "that it may be assumed that flasks were first produced between 1829 and 1833 as up to 1828 only Britannia metal articles were produced." The volume of trade done with this country was so large that James Willis Dixon, son of James Dixon, having arrived in New York in July 1835 remained in America until April 1839. He wrote to his father from Washington, D.C. on September 4, 1835 the following: "Have this day offered U. S. Government hard solder powder flasks as well as left a specimen of workmanship..." (p107)

Based on this it would appear that Dixon flasks may have been available to the general public in the later part of the Fur Trade.

 

[tiger955]

I can hold about 20 shots worth of powder in my flask and it fits nicely in my shooting bag. Plenty for hunting or a day walking the hills. More comfortable for me than carrying a bulky horn also with my bag. Any idea if any of the old timers did this, or do you think the flask was only for loading pistols?
I suppose if I was hunting in country where I might run into hostile Indians, I would probably want plenty and powder and ball with me.

 

[John Hender]

I'm not sure why the previous owner put the Rice barrel o, but boy, can it shoot. He put a really thin front sight on it,so thin that with my aging eyes, I couldn't actually see the front sight properly. but first session off the bench at 50 metres put 10 shots into a very tight group four in the ten ring and 6 in the nine. we've put a new front sight on it so I'm keen to see how good it will do when I can actually line up the sights properly. A great rifle to shoot. So different from my .45 Green River flintlock long rifle. Thanks to all regarding the flask comments. I like the idea of using original equipment. It has a nice feel to it.

 

[MikeChapin]

I'm not sure why the previous owner put the Rice barrel o, but boy, can it shoot. He put a really thin front sight on it,so thin that with my aging eyes, I couldn't actually see the front sight properly. but first session off the bench at 50 metres put 10 shots into a very tight group four in the ten ring and 6 in the nine. we've put a new front sight on it so I'm keen to see how good it will do when I can actually line up the sights properly. A great rifle to shoot. So different from my .45 Green River flintlock long rifle. Thanks to all regarding the flask comments. I like the idea of using original equipment. It has a nice feel to it.

He may have used the original Santa Fe front sight. They had very thin blades. I am in the same boat as you are as far as aging eyes and went to a thicker front blade about five years ago.

 

[Grenadier1758]

I can't say that I would recommend that the screw in spout could be used as a measure. The spout should be used to fill a volume measure. Not much of a fan of loading from the flask. Would you want a quantity of black powder in your hand while loading a gun that has just been shot?

Use the flask with your gun. Sounds like a good match for your gun.