Powder Flasks -- Historical

[jon math]

With my recent interest in Baker rifles for my edification I purchased British Military Flintlock Rifles, 1740-1840 by Dr. De Witt Bailey. Nice book, but among the chapter on accessories I came upon an interesting letter written about 11 years after the battle of Waterloo from the current company commander of the 95th Rifles requesting the reissue of loose powder, powder flasks, larger balls and greased patches so his men could get more accuracy from their rifles. It was interesting on two issues. First were the pre cut and pre lubes patches. At least in 1820 or so the British were not cutting or lubricating patches at the bore. The second more interesting tidbit was in the reply to the request for powder flasks. To paraphrase the flasks were removed from service early in the Peninsular War because of their repeated tendency to explode and injure men. This was the first time I have seen in writing a firsthand confirmation of the commonly held attitude that loading from a flask is dangerous.


The request was refused firstly because of the danger of flask detonation (soldiers of the time were known to dump the powder rather than risk losing a hand to the flask, but also because of fowling made follow up reloads difficult. Thus the Bakers and follow on rifles would be loaded with smaller balls (and later bore sized conical bullets) from paper cartridges.

 

[Artificer]

Very interesting, Jon, and thanks for posting it.

Did it happen to mention if there was an internal spring loaded "cut off" plates or valves in those flasks?

Gus

 

[jon math]

No unfortunately it did not. At the time the book was written no powder horns could be found that could be dated to the period, but the descriptions of them mentioned having scoops instead of plugs. No mention was made concerning the valves the flasks might have had, if any.

 

[Many Klatch]

So I imagine the field fix for this from the troops in the field was to find a powder horn, cut open a number of paper cartridges for the powder and cut up the shirt from some casualty for the patches.

For slow accurate fire, the carefully loaded bullet will be better than the cartridge. But if the cavalry are coming, you want lots of cartridges.

 

[Gene L]

I use a flask to measure pre-charges into containers. The flask will drop very accurate charges. I weighed a bunch of them and they were extremely consistent. They work on the same principal as a powder dropper. Well, almost. Gravity feed into a chamber.

Before I learned better, I'd load directly into the barrel. Not any more.

 

[ohio ramrod]

I use a flask to measure pre-charges into containers. The flask will drop very accurate charges. I weighed a bunch of them and they were extremely consistent. They work on the same principal as a powder dropper. Well, almost. Gravity feed into a chamber.

Before I learned better, I'd load directly into the barrel. Not any more.

Many of us loaded directly from the flasks before we learned better. Back in the sixties getting good information wasn't as easy as it is now.Most of us back then just got a rifle, some supplies and learned by doing.Then local clubs started and people got to talking to other more experienced shooters.Then along came the internet. :idunno:

 

[Okie Hog]

i've read numerous accounts of horror stories related to loading from flasks. Black Powder Journal cites an incident from 1839:

Serious Gunning Accident

-- Mr. Joseph Askew, of Burlington, N.J., in company with his brother, Mr. Peter Askew, and Mr. Joseph Haines, were out shooting partridges recently. A covey was raised and Mr. A. discharged both barrels at them. While re-loading, an explosion of the contents of his powder flask took place, lacerating in a dreadful manner his right hand, destroying, it is feared, his right eye, and fracturing the bones of the nose and upper jaw. It is said that experienced sportsmen always put the powder into the hand, and thence into the barrel, but never pour direct from the flask.

 

[Rifleman1776]

It is said that experienced sportsmen always put the powder into the hand, and thence into the barrel, but never pour direct from the flask.

Amen, Bro.