black powder

[wild thing]

Today I was given a five pound container of Curtis and Harvey black powder, unopened. there is nothing on the box that tells what granulation it is. It does say number1255, then in another spot it says Austin Rifle. Does any one know any thing about this powder? What is it worth unopened or should I just use it and be happy? john

[nanuk]

up here that would be a $150 score for shooting.

as for collector value??? I dunno

[shaune509]

The 1# can I have of curtis/harvey [ie-imperial chemical industries or ici] is marked 'F'. The number you read may be a lot#, the use of rifle on the can imho would be a 2F powder. 5# is a good find even though the powder was most likly made before 1975 in unopened, clean can should be still good. ICI left the powder bussiness some time in the 70's when they ICI, CIL, DuPont and Nobel were changing ownership and the antitrust suit broke up the big boys.
Shaune509

Not totaly sure of the full history, just what I have gleaned from other info.

[Catshooter]

Black powder is an incredibly stabe chemical mixture. Like hundreds of years stable, and not tempature sensitive.

Nice score.


Cat