Powder measures

[tg]

What materials were used for 18th century/early 19th century powder measures? please try to avoid any period references/writings/paintings or other 18th/19th century sources when posting replies, personal preference based opinions or speculation will be quite adequate.

 

[roundball]

Pure speculation...tips of various horns from cows, goats...whittled/hollowed out wood, antler, corn cob...

 

[rabjr]

:rotf: :surrender:

 

[LRB]

Geeeez TG. I see your game, but won't spoil it. This may be very interesting. I see that Swampy already gotcha.:thumbsup:

 

[Pete Gaimari]

Since I can't mention what Daniel Boone told me.

I don't know. :idunno:

 

[George]

Sorry, tg, can't help you with that one. All I know, think and believe about powder measures is the original documentation I've seen in primary sources, I have no opinion of my own.

Spence

 

[Trench]

Ugh, measures weren't invented yet. Standard weights and measures are a early 20th century invention, so there would be no need to "measure" anything.

Is this reply in the spirit of the original post? :wink:

 

[ohio ramrod]

The only definate material I can think of at the moment is "two fingers" and "three fingers". This is reference to pouring directly from the horn (DEFINATELY A SAFETY HAZARD ) a stream of powder as long as two or three fingers (horizontal ) wide. I firmly believe there were probably many horn or wood measures, butI myself have not seen any that can be documented to before the civil war.The only pre civil war reference to "measured" powder charges was for paper cartridges used by the military. But this is most likely simply due to my lack of knowledge. :idunno:

 

[lonehunter]

18th early 19th?
:hmm: let me ask Wick, Maybe he can remember! :rotf: :rotf:

 

[Celt5494]

I just pour from my powder horn directly into the barrel counting to about 3 or 4 Mississippi.

 

[Norinco]

I could've sworn I've seen a period muzzleloading tool shaped like a saxophone. The bell end was a powder measure. The long end was a ball starter I think.

 

[bgeipel]

But seriously, I would appreciate a PC/HC answer.

 

[Semisane]

All 18th. century powder measures were made from cut lengths of river cane. No other material was used. I learned this in my time travels in a modified DeLorean.

 

Celt,
CERTAINLY YOU JEST!!! :nono:
Mark

 

[rabjr]

Sure 3 Mississippi for 50 yards, 4 Mississippi for 75 and 5 Mississippi for 100. :wink:

 

[Bill Hall]

18th and 19th century powder measures were made from spent rifle cartridges. Bill

 

[Celt5494]

I've found that if I use 4f when counting to 5 Mississippi in a .32 squirrel rifle it greatly improves accuracy.

 

[Capt. Jas.]

I use either a film canister or an Elvis PEZ dispenser. They woulda too!

 

[necchi]

Don't rightly know, I guess it was made from what ever the gun maker made it from an handed to ya.

Here's a picture of an adjustable powder measure from the 1770's;

http://50.56.66.97/content/powder-measure

 

[jtmattison]

Since nobody else said it yet...

They put the ball in the palm of their hand and covered it with powder.

That was the first "measure".

HD