Re: MtMan-List: Black Powder

[jack-scratch@juno.com (Richard D Heyen)]

The various grades of powder came with the invention of corned powder (as
opposed to serpentine powder) in the early 1400's. Serpentine powder is
made by mixing nitre,brimstone, and charecoal together in the desired
quantities. In the 15th century it was discovered that by mixing the same
ingredience wet them drying them in cakes which were crumbled and sifted
through various grades of screens, a powder was made that was 9 times as
powerful as serpentine, not as suseptable to moisture in the air, and
didn't seperate back in to its componants when transported. Generaly the
four grades (fine,medium, course, and extra course) are the same as the
powder you use today. The only major difference between modern Bp and
historical is the process where they roll moder powder on graphite to
prevent static electricity.

						Master Gunner of The
Texas Renaisance Festival
						Drew Heyen

Drew Heyen
jack-scratch@juno.com
Phone-(713) 807-8711

On Wed, 11 Nov 1998 20:27:55 -0800 Dennis Fisher
<dfisher@sbceo.k12.ca.us> writes:
>Henry B. Crawford wrote:
>
>> >I find it hard to believe that there were 4 grades of powder
>> >back then.
>> >Any ideas?
>
>Besides the four grades of rifle powder, there were various grades of 
>blasting
>powder and cannon powder.  I'll try and dig out some of my old 
>references and
>see what I can find.  Before the days of dynamite, black powder was 
>the only
>commercial blasting agent available.
>
>                      Dennis
>
>

___________________________________________________________________
You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail.
Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html
or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]