powder keg

[bear tooth billy]

I am wanting to get a 25 lb. powder keg for my period buffalo camp. Does anyone have pictures of
one, and are there reproductions of one made. If I had a picture and the size I can maybe get
something close off ebay and paint it. Limited budget!!

                   Thanks

                    BTB

[St. George]

The original powder containers I've seen are made of metal and are for the most part - unadorned.

They resemble a 'big' fruit can - sometimes painted black - other times red - with the designation of the type on the side.

There's usually a paper label affixed - the type is also stencilled onto the can, and there's a screwtop.

You may want to dual-post your request on the 'BROW Forum', since those boys deal in the buffalo shoots.

Good Luck!

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Professor Marvel]

Greetings Bear Tooth -
Concerning Powder containers, keg, barrels, et al, I offer a bit of history.

- the legendary Lewis and Clark expedition had their powder put up in specially made led "boxes" soldered shut. These were made such that the powder contained therein  was sufficient to shoot the  balls that the lead in the boxes could make

- Wooden powderkegs were common through the Revelutionary War and at least as late as 1850:
http://tinyurl.com/powderkeg

- Powder TINS took over at a "later" time that I have not yet divined, perhaps around the time of the Unpleasantries Betwixt The States:
https://www.soldusa.com/detail.asp?id=14219&bigpic=0#img

and a few more items:
http://www.bacyksportingcollectibles.com/item03.html



hope this helps
yhs
Prof Marvel

[St. George]

Excellent links, Professor - thanks!

Incidentally - the lead containers used by Lewis And Clark are referenced in a novel by Peter Bowen - 'Cruzatte and Maria' - an added bit of historical trivia that enhances his work.

The tins would've come about in the 1850's as the process was being used for more and more 'consumables'.

They would've been the most prevalent variety of powder container during the heyday of the buffalo hunters.

Look at the paper labels on the tins and see if someone could scan them for your project - then start poking about for a suitably-sized container and some paint...

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[bear tooth billy]

You guys made my day. I have a 25 lb Dupont can , that an older man gave me that is dated 1921
blasting powder. When he was a kid they used to put powder in a splitting wedge to split fence
posts ( sounds a lot more exciting than a splitting mull) I didn't think the stencilled steel can would date
back that far, but your help is very helpful

[St. George]

Yours is basically the same can.

If you paint it - lacquer it, since the originals all seem to've been lacquered - probably as additional protection against corrosion.

Good Luck!

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[James Hunt]

except for the description on the bottom of the can I can see very little if any difference between a blasting powder can and the can above. I have a 25# can labeled blasting powder and another 12 # can I use for my camp. They can be occasionally found on ebay but usually go for a fair price.

[Steel Horse Bailey]

How big would one of those kegs be?  (Yes, I saw that the first one pictured was a 5 lb. keg)  hat would make it ... say ... 8" Diam. X 12" long or so?

Can kegs be found that would work, and if so, how big (diam.) would the label be?