Author Topic: antique powder measures  (Read 3033 times)

Offline Shopdog

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 147
antique powder measures
« on: January 07, 2021, 05:47:41 AM »


I've always loved powder measures - especially the decorated ones.  Of all my old "muzzleloader" associated possessions this one is my favorite - my father's kin hailed from southern Ohio but the only surviving family heirloom from those days is the top powder measure in the picture.  It has all manner of interesting carving and scrimshawing.  I liked it so much I made a copy (bottom one in picture) that graces my .32 SMR squirrel rifle kit.  I changed the spout a bit for easier pouring with my shaky hands but otherwise copied the original as best I could.  The back side of the original is dated "1854".  It would seem that powder horns survived the ages better - perhaps being larger and more recognizable but the lowly powder measure was a necessity that carried just as much personality and whimsy of the maker. 
Joe Davis
“We live in a bloody swamp! We need all the land we can get!

Offline mr. no gold

  • member 2
  • Hero Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 2654
Re: antique powder measures
« Reply #1 on: January 07, 2021, 05:57:31 AM »
What a nice heirloom! And, your rendition of it for use today is quite well done. There aren't too many that fine that turn up on the market. I have found a few, but nothing that comes close to this one. Thank you for showing it here.
Dick

Offline Kevin

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 475
Re: antique powder measures
« Reply #2 on: January 07, 2021, 02:47:29 PM »
Shopdog,

Thanks for sharing the photo of your ancestor's measure.  It's a great piece and you did a wonderful job in recreating it as well.

Thanks Again,
Kevin

Offline G. Elsenbeck

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1220
Re: antique powder measures
« Reply #3 on: January 07, 2021, 04:18:51 PM »
A great find and very well done on the copy.  Thank you for sharing.

Gary
Journeyman in the Honourable Company of Horners (HCH) and a member in the Contemporary Longrifle Association (CLA)

There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."

Offline jdm

  • member 2
  • Hero Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1386
Re: antique powder measures
« Reply #4 on: January 08, 2021, 04:06:30 AM »
Great measure! How cool is that to have  it passed down through the family . Antique ones of this quality  are hard to come by. Thanks for letting us see it.
JIM

Offline davec2

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2801
    • The Lucky Bag
Re: antique powder measures
« Reply #5 on: January 09, 2021, 08:34:56 PM »
Shopdog,

What are the powder measures made out of ?  Bone?  Antler?
"No man will be a sailor who has contrivance enough to get himself into a jail; for being in a ship is being in a jail, with the chance of being drowned... a man in a jail has more room, better food, and commonly better company."
Dr. Samuel Johnson, 1780

Offline Shopdog

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 147
Re: antique powder measures
« Reply #6 on: January 10, 2021, 12:07:06 AM »
The copy I made is white tail deer antler.  I think the original is bone based on grain structure and color but that’s only a guess. It throws 30 grains of powder which would fit for a small bore.
Joe Davis
“We live in a bloody swamp! We need all the land we can get!

Offline Keith Zimmerman

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 671
Re: antique powder measures
« Reply #7 on: January 10, 2021, 10:24:51 AM »
Nice copy job.  Very well done.  U could use it twice or 3 times for larger bore shooting, too.

Offline Tim Crosby

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 17985
  • AKA TimBuckII
Re: antique powder measures
« Reply #8 on: January 10, 2021, 05:38:20 PM »
 I would think that because of the hole that the marrow is in it would be hard to find a piece big enough to carve a measure like that out of. More likely to be Antler, of course there is always the exception.

  Tim C.
« Last Edit: January 10, 2021, 10:53:43 PM by Tim Crosby »

Offline Rifleman1776

  • Starting Member
  • *
  • Posts: 26
Re: antique powder measures
« Reply #9 on: January 10, 2021, 06:56:43 PM »
Shopdog,

What are the powder measures made out of ?  Bone?  Antler?

Yes, and yes and whatever else suits yer fancy. Wood is good. I made several (non-hc) from copper tubing. Have one of goat horn.

Offline Panzerschwein

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 528
Re: antique powder measures
« Reply #10 on: January 11, 2021, 12:17:14 AM »
A measurably fine measure by any measure!

Offline Keith Zimmerman

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 671
Re: antique powder measures
« Reply #11 on: February 23, 2021, 03:35:19 AM »
Very cool.  Great job.