Powder tattoos

[Crow-Feather]

A more honorable tattoo than some I have seen people's bodies. Ans welcome from Idaho.

 

[hanshi]

I've been spit on by percussions lots more than with flintlocks. With percussions you also have to deal with with metal fragments on occasion. Many years ago I did get a hand blasted by the vent on a flinter. It really did hurt for a while. For the next few months I laboriously picked out the tiny black specks using needles and a tweezer and removed them one at a time. It was obviously a good job since my speckled hand is now completely clear. But I'll never forget that incident.

 

[msauce1]

I bought a traditions 50 plains flint rifle used years ago at a pawn shop. I went out to shoot it without disassembly to check it out and make sure all was right. Something I always do now!
I had a miss fire no sparks so without changing position with my right hand I cocked the hammer with one finger and with another I snaped the frizzen down(finger still on frizzen) and the hammer drops, no finger touching the trigger. Nice jet between two fingers black pepper fingers for months and at the time I couldn't find a puddle fast enough.

 

[BillinOregon]

A couple of speck tats over the years, but nothing significant.
To the OP: the trading post of Kindu, on the Lualaba River, Eastern Belgian Kongo ...

 

[Einsiedler]

I was thinking about those.

About 40 years ago Wifey shot an old H&A underhammer for a while. She had tats on her wrist. I made her a leather cuff to wear that worked pretty good!

 

[rich pierce]

I got a direct blast in my thumb somehow once from a flintlock. It drew blood and burned me. After a few days I dug out some of the powder. Not much color left.

 

[Josephg]

My X had one for a long time. Looked like someone used a straight edge and pencil right down the left side of her face.
She was mad for a while. Didn't hurt her looks any. She was standing beside me on my right when I fired an Indian made 12 guage double at a goose. Breech plug leaked. That was in the early seventies. This thread made me remember the incident. War paint did a nice job of hiding it.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

I was wondering any one else got some nice powder tattoos??

I have some nice thumb scars from flints from the flintlock, and..., I was removing the musket lock after a battle demonstration and it slipped from my hand and fell. The edge of the flint nicked the side of my bare ankle. A small cut, no worries, but when it healed it had deposited some black powder residue. That was a decade ago..., still carry the mark today.

LD

 

[Eterry]

As a teen i had a '51 Navy, was shooting it at the farm and my Aunt (huge Tomboy) showed up. She asked to shoot it. We were standing at a fenceline, She missed twice, said she wanted to use a fence post as a rest. I said lemme get a cloth and was digging in my bag. She unknowingly placed her left hand on top of the post, laid the barrel across her hand. I looked up as she pulled the trigger. She refused medical treatment and carried the powder burns 28 years until she passed.
I always felt responsible, but i told her to wait.

 

[ord sgt]

During a woods walk, one station was set up with a trick shot. I had to shoot my flintlock from the inverted position. Butt stock resting on top of my head to be able to see the sights. Right handed rifle now had the lock on the left side. My lock time was fast enough to light off the main charge. My left bicep was in direct line of the touch hole. My sleeve was rolled up to mid bicep. The sleeve took some of the side blast while my bare arm took the rest. Powder was imbedded into my arm.

 

[Flinty Scot]

Tried firing my flint pistol once, Hollywood fashion,rested across my left forearm.
Forgot a glove & must have cocked my wrist a bit. Missed enjoying the full touchhole blast but got a good spray of pan powder sparks, most still burning.

Lesson well learned; took a good while w/ needle & magnifier to dig them out..

 

[sussexmuzllodr]

I get problems with the underside of my left wrist. When I shoot the shotgun the percussion cap sprays everything on the underside of my support arm. If I wear a jacket the arm is protected except for the wrist and part of the bottom of my hand. The wrist breaks out in a really bad rash later.

I need to find some leather gloves that cover my wrist and doesn't expose any skin between the sleeve and the glove. I'd like to get something traditional looking but not like the old style cavalry gloves. The leather needs to take the punishment of the percussion cap but thin enough to use in warmer weather.

Any ideas?

Welding glove.....cut to suit.....

 

[Winchester97]

To whom it may concern....when firing at a squirrel nearly straight up in a tall oak, do not expect a pan of 4f powder to completely extinguish before landing on your face. To anyone who has ever wondered, yes, burning eylashes and burning eyebrows smell exactly the same.

 

[Mulebrain]

Yes have some spots on my forehead, from a cannon going off prematurely when I was setting it off. Touch hole sent sparks and powder up into my face. I just looked and 15 years later still there. Be careful out there

 

[Enfield58]

I got these work gloves from Lowe’s and cut 3/4” off of the finger tips.

The leather is tough enough to hold up under the abuse of black powder and percussion cap spray but thin enough for being able to feel the gun and move my fingers for delicate work.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-Water-Resistant-Leather-Glove-Large/1003047204

 

[Hatman/2nd line]

Veterans from the Revolutionary War could be noted because of the ingrained powder marks on their cheeks from being in line with their compatriots.