A LIVING HISTORY BLOG.

18TH CENTURY LIVING HISTORY IN AUSTRALIA.

Friday 12 February 2016

Can you identify this. Powder Measure & Pricker.

A reader sent these images to me in the hope that I could identify this powder measure. What is unknown is the reason for the channel on the measure, was it meant to hold something? A gun tool for instance? It has a file cut which has gone right through the measure making a hole. Your thoughts please, could this be a marker for a lower measure of gunpowder? Or is the hole a mistake, filed too far? The silver band is apparently fixed in place & will not move.
Can anyone date this measure?
Keith.



The file cut and hole is just to the right of the silver band at top.

Here you can see the channel that extends under the silver band.



 
An enlarged image showing the file cut and hole.
Silver band is level with the cut-away end of the measure.

Showing part of the pricker that is tied to the measure with cordage.

4 comments:

MuddyValley said...

My guess is that the silver band originally moved up & down for different loads and the file mark was to set it at a specific amount. The hole could have just been a mistake and not important because the band would pretty much seal it.

Keith said...

Those were my thoughts too Muddy, but another option is that it is in fact a shot flask measure & cap. Still looking, bets are still on.
Regards, Keith.

BlackPowderBill said...

Looks like a measure from a shot or powder pouch.

Keith said...

I think you could be right Bill. I had not seen one before, so it did not occur to me at first.
Thank you for your input, appreciated.
Regards, Keith.