A blackpowder explosion...

redbone · February 16, 2002, 07:32 PM

Don't know what happen to the first post. What it was supposed to say was:

A blackpowder explosion...

...is what I'm trying to avoid. I have some old fg and fffg that is 15 years old and has been stored in the garage (hot and cold thru the seasons). Is it safe for my flintlock, or should I destroy it??

Thanks.

RBH

faraway · February 16, 2002, 10:19 PM

Metal cans -condensation might have caused a problem. Plastic likely not. Old days...they used to put wet powder on a wood plank and dry it. But we've got sporting goods stores. If it's not discolored or clumped might be Ok, I've fired cartridges from the 1880s..that were BP and a bit virdegrised...and these worked.

**4V50 Gary** · February 18, 2002, 12:42 PM

Pour a bit in your palm. If it looks grainy, I don't think there's anything wrong with it. Unlike modern nitrocelluose propellants, black powder doesn't really deterioate over age and it's not unheard of firing a gun (that is in good condition) that has been loaded for over 100 years. This was something Remington recommended to a fellow who brought in an original Remington flintlock. It was loaded ages ago and when he inherited it, he found it loaded. In a loaded condition, he brought it to the factory and the customer services folks examined it. They found the gun to be in good condition and so they told him, shoot it! (this story was related to me at Illion when I attended the Factory Armorer's School).

**Mike Irwin** · February 19, 2002, 05:43 PM

"Remington flintlock..."

Remington made flintlocks?

I thought he only made caplocks and later rifles for metallic cartridges.

Salt · February 19, 2002, 08:25 PM

Blackpowder makes really good fertilizer for the plants. If you do not want to shoot it, just pour it on your flower garden.

Personally I would just shoot it. I have used up an old can of Dupont blackpowder in my .54 caliber CVA Hawkins rifle with patched roundball and it worked fine.

**4V50 Gary** · February 20, 2002, 10:37 AM

Mike: admittingly there is some debate as to whether Eliphalet Remington actually produced flintlocks for others or whether he was just a barrel maker who took up gunmaking. Even if a flintlock was found, it would be a composite of the efforts of many. The lock may be from England, the thimbles recycled from an older gun, the patchbox from scratch, the sideplate from a cast off musket. Barrel makers sometimes signed their barrels, but may have left only a stamping.

There are those who claim that Remington fabricated its history of gunmaking to stretch its lineage farther back. Who really knows?

**Mike Irwin** · February 21, 2002, 01:23 PM

Gary,

Good point.

February 18, 2002, 12:42 PM	#3
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,848	Pour a bit in your palm. If it looks grainy, I don't think there's anything wrong with it. Unlike modern nitrocelluose propellants, black powder doesn't really deterioate over age and it's not unheard of firing a gun (that is in good condition) that has been loaded for over 100 years. This was something Remington recommended to a fellow who brought in an original Remington flintlock. It was loaded ages ago and when he inherited it, he found it loaded. In a loaded condition, he brought it to the factory and the customer services folks examined it. They found the gun to be in good condition and so they told him, shoot it! (this story was related to me at Illion when I attended the Factory Armorer's School). __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

February 19, 2002, 05:43 PM	#4
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	"Remington flintlock..." Remington made flintlocks? I thought he only made caplocks and later rifles for metallic cartridges. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

February 20, 2002, 10:37 AM	#6
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,848	Mike: admittingly there is some debate as to whether Eliphalet Remington actually produced flintlocks for others or whether he was just a barrel maker who took up gunmaking. Even if a flintlock was found, it would be a composite of the efforts of many. The lock may be from England, the thimbles recycled from an older gun, the patchbox from scratch, the sideplate from a cast off musket. Barrel makers sometimes signed their barrels, but may have left only a stamping. There are those who claim that Remington fabricated its history of gunmaking to stretch its lineage farther back. Who really knows? __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

February 21, 2002, 01:23 PM	#7
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	Gary, Good point. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

February 16, 2002, 07:32 PM	#1
redbone Member Join Date: July 3, 2001 Location: midwest Posts: 19	Don't know what happen to the first post. What it was supposed to say was: A blackpowder explosion... ...is what I'm trying to avoid. I have some old fg and fffg that is 15 years old and has been stored in the garage (hot and cold thru the seasons). Is it safe for my flintlock, or should I destroy it?? Thanks. RBH

February 16, 2002, 10:19 PM	#2
faraway Senior Member Join Date: September 21, 2001 Location: ne montana Posts: 437	Metal cans -condensation might have caused a problem. Plastic likely not. Old days...they used to put wet powder on a wood plank and dry it. But we've got sporting goods stores. If it's not discolored or clumped might be Ok, I've fired cartridges from the 1880s..that were BP and a bit virdegrised...and these worked.

February 19, 2002, 08:25 PM	#5
Salt Junior member Join Date: December 26, 2001 Posts: 673	Blackpowder makes really good fertilizer for the plants. If you do not want to shoot it, just pour it on your flower garden. Personally I would just shoot it. I have used up an old can of Dupont blackpowder in my .54 caliber CVA Hawkins rifle with patched roundball and it worked fine.