.38 WCF in Arkansas...a true family story

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Posted in CAS City Historical society by me:

My wife's family was from Arkansas and Oklahoma. Her grandfather "Pop," who died about 35 years ago, was a boy growing up in tiny Sims, Arkansas just south edge of the Ozarks, just after the turn of the Century.  The family rifle was an old "Winchester in .38 Winchester Caliber."  (1873 in .38 WCF/ .38-40).

They cast their own bullets over the wood stove, loaded their own ammunition with a "pack tool".  They measured the "gunpowder" (black powder) by dipping the case in a bowl of powder, filling it to the top, and compressing it with the bullet being seated.  They used it to hunt deer, opossum, bear, and big jack rabbits.  He once even told me they had shot cartridges for it, but they were too expensive and "wernt accurate enough."   Occasionally it was used to emphasize serious intent if wrongs were committed or perceived. .

"Pop" told me he grew up with that "repeater" in his hands, and was a pretty fair shot.  He loaded most of the ammo for it.  One day, they were running low on meat for the pot, so he went to load some ammo.  They were out of gunpowder, so he went to the general store to get some.  The clerk told him that they were out of gunpowder, but they had some of the "new white powder."  He didn't know much about it, but it was "supposed to be better!"  Pop got the powder, took it home.  He loaded it just like gunpowder, but it didn't compress like gunpowder, so he took out enough to load the bullet.

Next morning, early, he went hunting with the 1873 and the ammunition loaded with "white powder".  After a bit, he saw a big buck.  He stopped, steadied himself, slowly he took aim, pulled the trigger, and KABOOM!  The barrel ruptured at the chamber blowing apart the forearm, and the receiver split apart in flying shrapnel pieces.  Pop had assorted cuts and tears on his face and arms, but amazingly, no serious injuries that wouldn't mend.  He had no idea where the deer went!

I loved hearing Pop tell the stories of his youth in Arkansas, especially this one,  Recently, I have begun to wonder how many times this was repeated in the early 1900s when smokeless "white" powder began to spread.  Even if they had warning or instructions on the smokeless label, I doubt if it was heeded all the time, whether it was simple ignorance or illiteracy,  or simply bullheadedness  of rural and frontier folk.

[Blackpowder Burn]

Tuolumne,

I expect you are correct.....similar incidents happened a lot more than we can imagine.

I'm lucky in that I have my great grandfathers '92 Winchester chambered for 38-40 that came down through the family intact.  I shot it in my youth quite a lot.  Upon getting involved in CAS, I replaced the barrel, which was badly pitted, with one chambered for 44-40.  I still shoot it occasionally today in a CAS match for nostalgia.  And only using the One True Powder, of course!  

[w44wcf]

"Recently, I have begun to wonder how many times this was repeated in the early 1900s when smokeless "white" powder began to spread.  Even if they had warning or instructions on the smokeless label, I doubt if it was heeded all the time, whether it was simple ignorance or illiteracy,  or simply bullheadedness  of rural and frontier folk."

Sorry to hear of the destruction of a fine old family heirloom by the wrong use of smokeless powder. I would think the same thing had befallen other unfortunate folks who tried to use b.p. measures for smokeless.  With "Bulk" smokeless DuPont No 1 & 2 that was ok, but not with "dense" s. powders!

w44wcf
 

[StrawHat]

Of course at that point in time it was not a family heirloom, hust a potential one, but it is still a shame it happened.  I have often wondered about the early dense powders and such.  Perhaps that is where the weak _____ (fill in the black) ideas came from.