Superfine powder difference?

[OB One]

I have a 1 lb can of Dupont superfine rifle black powder. One person said it was possibly the same as 4f ?
Does anyone know if it can safely be used in place of 2f or 3f?

 

[Kansas Kid]

Didn’t it all say super fine. Should go off of how many F’s 1 to 4f should be marked somewhere on it.

 

[Britsmoothy]

When nearly everyone has scared you death about using it in case it is 4f which without any evidence produces widows and fatherless children send it to me because I'll use it because I don't get frightened quickly.

Just make sure it is actual black powder before using it.

 

[SDSmlf]

I have a 1 lb can of Dupont superfine rifle black powder. One person said it was possibly the same as 4f ?
Does anyone know if it can safely be used in place of 2f or 3f?

Did you not read the responses to your other thread on the same topic? Superfine BP ?

 

[Whughett]

From a Google search it’s DuPont Superfine. A brand. Should have some “Fs” on there some where. If possible throw the grain charges by weight instead of grains by volume .

 

[Acorn Mush]

From a Google search it’s DuPont Superfine. A brand. Should have some “Fs” on there some where. If possible throw the grain charges by weight instead of grains by volume .

Agreed. I used many cans of DuPont Superfine powder, long years ago.

 

[William Lincoln]

f' stands for "fine" and the sieve that screened it. "Fine pistol powder is a3-4 f pistol
powder. I prefer 4f for most pistols but do not push it on here since it is an old
practice that was overruled by the black powder gods many years ago.

 

[SDSmlf]

f' stands for "fine" and the sieve that screened it. "Fine pistol powder is a3-4 f pistol
powder. I prefer 4f for most pistols but do not push it on here since it is an old
practice that was overruled by the black powder gods many years ago.

Interesting. Wonder why DuPont, and GO didn’t know this? Both DuPont, then GO would print the powder granulation above SUPERFINE on their powder cans, be it 1F, 2F, 3F or 4F, at least on the cans that I have had. I do not have photographs right now of the 2F and 1F (the powder is at a relative’s house in upstate New York), but here is a photograph of some SUPERFINE Black Rifle Powder, 3F and 4F cans labeled as ‘suitable for muskets, pistols, and shotguns’.

 

[William Lincoln]

I do not have the can at this place but the word "Fine" is granulation and the 1f 3f stuff was
not used back then --your cans are modern era. In the day there was "Fine Pistol" powder
etc. and that was what I call 4f since I have seen it at auction. The Fine number is the
sieve--But there was a powder called "Fine" Gunpowder and possibly not Superfine but I
will research it further tomorrow. Thanks for the pics of cans. In the day,gunpowder was
not a bunch of grades--there were two main grades, Gunpowder and Fine Gunpowder.
That is my experience from seeing it firsthand at auctions and with other collectors.

 

[necchi]

f' stands for "fine" and the sieve that screened it.

?.
Wow friends,, after all these years,, after all the info supplied here on the forum in the archives and back pages, with all the links for the facts and explanation, and all that time trying,,

Ok, William Lincoln, So 4f is made using the sieve screen Fine,Fine,Fine,Fine, g, (?)
Just hammered and sifted out of the same batch as 1f ("fine g"). While the makers "hope" to get more 2fg out of the batch? And at least some 3fg out of it?
Have you considered "flash powder"?
Ya know? That stuff that goes through the Fine,Fine,Fine,Fine screen?

 

[William Lincoln]

there was a time when Gunpowder was not "Refined" into grades--it was simply
gunpowder. There developed powders recommended by pistol makers that was
"Fine Pistol powder".

 

[necchi]

there was a time when Gunpowder was not "Refined" into grades--it was simply
gunpowder. There developed powders recommended by pistol makers that was
"Fine Pistol powder".

ok. how does that apply to grades that are less than 200yrs old??

 

[SDSmlf]

I do not have the can at this place but the word "Fine" is granulation and the 1f 3f stuff was
not used back then --your cans are modern era. In the day there was "Fine Pistol" powder
etc. and that was what I call 4f since I have seen it at auction. The Fine number is the
sieve--But there was a powder called "Fine" Gunpowder and possibly not Superfine but I
will research it further tomorrow. Thanks for the pics of cans. In the day,gunpowder was
not a bunch of grades--there were two main grades, Gunpowder and Fine Gunpowder.
That is my experience from seeing it firsthand at auctions and with other collectors.

You got me with the modern era cans, mine only go back to the 1950s - 1960s. And for what it is worth, OP was about SUPERFINE powder, which is what I was responding to. I have older powder cans, but none by DuPont with their SUPERFINE artwork. Interested in seeing photographs of cans from your collection.

 

[William Lincoln]

I do not have a collection of cans I have two containers Both are from early 1900's
Neither refer to Black powder or fineness grades-- and I'm not going to travel to
get them. There are plenty of other photos available online.

 

[William Lincoln]

necchi referred to multiple seives--I did not say that. I simply gave my opinion.
Back in the day when these powders were used there were two Grades one
was Gunpowder 'Coarse" and Fine. I do not claim to be an expert here. But
I use my own name and was trained in medicine under that name--and I
am simply expressing a comment here. I am also courteous in public.
Not facetious ,sarcastic & accusatory.

 

[SDSmlf]

I do not have a collection of cans I have two containers Both are from early 1900's
Neither refer to Black powder or fineness grades-- and I'm not going to travel to
get them. There are plenty of other photos available online.

Battling against the photos online or the internet is nearly impossible. My mistake was relying on personal experience and having actual items in hand. Found this on the internet so it must be fact - ‘f' stands for "fine" and the sieve that screened it. "Fine pistol powder is a3-4 f pistol powder.’

 

[Mark Herman]

I have a number of Dupont cans from the 1920's that all have the granulation in F's on them.

 

[James C. Burnette]

I have a powder horn made in 1782 with a sealed end plug. The side of the horn is engraved "1782 SuperFyne Powder FF". As far as I can tell the seal on the horn has never been broken. I would post a picture of the horn, but it is at my mother-in-laws house 2 blocks away.

 

[Brokennock]

Ummm, when did the "f" designations first start being used?

 

[George]

Ummm, when did the "f" designations first start being used?

Early. Don't believe what some will tell you, it's armchair history.

THE SOUTH CAROLINA GAZETTE
June 11, 1741
Loaf Sugar, Gun Powder in half Barrels FF and FFF, Bullets, Strouds, Indian Trading Guns, Mens and Boys Felt Hats

Spence