Curtis & Harvey's U.S. powder

[ResearchPress]

I have rebuilt my Research Press web site. There is still content to be re-added and I have new content available.

In reviewing articles I was reminded of a reference I found to "Curtis & Harvey's U.S. powder" from the 1880s. See the following article:
http://www.researchpress.co.uk/index.php/longrange/loading/128-loadingfraser

Can anyone offer any insight as to what this powder was?

Thanks.

David

[GOPHER SLAYER]

I know nothing about Curtiss & Harvey powder except what I have read. I never saw a can of it. I have read the book by Frank Mayer who was a buffalo hunter in the 1870s in which he describes his shooting equipment. He tells of using only Curtiss & Harvey powder which he ordered rather than use American powder. He claimed it was a much superior powder. He said that his shooting equipment cost him $225 at the time. He said that his Sharps rifle cost him $125 but after the buffalo were gone you could buy one in any gun shop in Denver for $25. No one wanted to lug around a big heavy rifle while hunting deer or elk. I also read about a superior brown powder that was developed in the early 1890s and it was equal in power to the early smokeless powder but it still put out lots of smoke and for lack of interest it was abandoned. The charcoal it used was made from the roots of a willow tree. It just came along too late.

[swheeler]

Don't know much about it, but still shoot it some, ffg that is though.

[John Boy]

David, here is some information about Curtis's & Harvey's black powder:

* http://www.assra.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1312504876/2#1

* http://www.assra.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1309551107 includes sieve & density comparisons between Austin (imported C&H) & Meteor Powders

Range Testing Comparison: Austin (C&H) and Meteor
* http://www.assra.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1312504876/0#0

* C&H Powder Cans ... https://images.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search;_ylt=A0LEVitBHn5UjDcASeoPxQt.;_ylu=X3oDMTBs a3ZzMnBvBHNlYwNzYwRjb2xvA2JmMQR2dGlkAw--?_adv_prop=image&fr=yhs-avast-001&va=curtis+%26+harvey+gunpowder&hspart=avast&hsimp=yhs-001

* Thread with pictures of C&H powder facility from 1830 to past turn of century at Cliffe, Kent Great Britain ... http://www.derelictplaces.co.uk/main/showthread.php?t=12242#.VH4erGcXLUQ

* Sulfur and its role in Gunpowder ... http://www.royalgunpowdermills.com/GEHG/GEHGNewsletter12_webp.pdf

David, the C&H powder that I analyzed from Austin was 1950's vintage - prior to the plant blow up and they being acquired by Noble Industries in Ardeer, Scotland. Accordingly, it was their 100% production which would leave one to believe it was the same that was used for the 1800's matches. The Meteor powder produced at Ardeer, 1973, I have and compared to the Austin powder, 1950's, was almost a 100% match. Accordingly, I am 99.9999% convinced that my 1973 Meteor powder is the same as C&H as it would be produced in the 1800's. The only difference would be the difference of the water between Kent (1800's powder) and Ardeer. But in my readings, C&H relocated to Ardeer because of good water quality and an ample supply of Alder Buckthron for the charcoal

As for the grade 6 and 5, that would equate to our Fg (6) & FFg (5). The Austin powder that I analyzed for mesh size was listed as rifle powder, FFg (grade 5) and you can see the powder density - sieve ratio - % of bicarbonate in the foul and size of unburned charcoal in the foul. Hope this help you

[.22-10-45]

Back in the early 1970's..after the Du Pont powder plant explosion..black powder was nearly impossible to find..then Hodgdon started importing Curtis & Harvey black made in Scotland. I was using FFFG in a Thompson Center .36 Seneca with patched r.b. I could shoot 6 to 8 rounds without having to patch bore..and with one hole accuracy at 30 yds. The stuff seemed to burn very moist & never caked hard like Goex.

[Lead pot]

.22-10-45
I been looking at your handle and I just have to ask; are you shooting this caliber and if you do is it a Stevens or Winchester rifle?

Lp

[.22-10-45]

Hello, Lead pot..No I do not have a rifle chambered in the old .22 Maynard X-tra long C.F. Though the original rounds do look "cute". I have one with the remains of a paper-patch visible..which got me interested in patching .22's for a single shot Hornet and a Ruger No.1 .222 Rem.

[Lead pot]

Hello, Lead pot..No I do not have a rifle chambered in the old .22 Maynard X-tra long C.F. Though the original rounds do look "cute". I have one with the remains of a paper-patch visible..which got me interested in patching .22's for a single shot Hornet and a Ruger No.1 .222 Rem.

Yes they are a little elusive :) Stevens did chamber it as well as the .22-15-60. Still looking :)