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ANTIQUE GUN POWDER CANS – VERY SOLID EARLY
EXAMPLES TO DISPLAY WITH CARTRIDGE RELOADING COMPONENTS
AND TOOLS – AUSTIN, LAFLIN & RAND, DUPONT: A
nice selection of early gun powder cans, all in very
nice condition from well known makers who were in
production during the 19TH and early 20TH
Centuries. Each can is described below with
accompanying photographs.
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SCARCE EARLY AUSTIN POWDER
COMPANY CAN WITH TOLE PAINTED LABEL – RIFLE POWDER:
The Austin Powder Company was founded by five brothers
who built their first powder mill in 1833 on the banks
of the Cuyahoga River, near Akron, Ohio in an area known
as Old Forge. In addition to gun powder, the Austin
mill produced blasting powder for various mining,
excavation and construction applications. The company
continued to succeed, ever increasing its share of the
market, and today it operates in over 25 countries
around the world.
This is a scarce
early-production rifle powder Austin Powder Company can
measuring 4” tall, 3 ¼” wide, and 1 ¼” thick. The can
retains a majority of original black tole painted
finish, and the front of the can still retains the
original painted Austin Powder Company name and logo –
crossed rifles with a hanging powder horn. The empty
can is full form with solid seams, no dents or damage,
and no corrosion.
I believe this can dates
early enough to be appropriate to display with a
Pennsylvania or Kentucky style long rifle. (0224) $350
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LAFLIN AND RAND POWDER COMPANY CAN:
Matthew Laflin manufactured potassium nitrate for the
Massachusetts Militia during the American Revolutionary
War and built a powder mill after the war. The Laflin
Powder Company was expanded by his grandchildren with
mills in New York and Wisconsin, both of which produced
powder for the Union Army during the Civil War. Facing
the reduced demand for gun powder after the war, in 1869
the company merged with the Smith and Rand Powder
Company to form the Laflin and Rand Powder Company of
New York City. The Laflin and Rand Powder Company
continued to dominate the gun powder market until it was
purchased by Dupont in 1902.
This Laflin & Rand Company can measures 7 ¼” tall and 6”
in diameter, and it is legibly embossed with the company
name on the top of the can. The empty can is full form
with solid seams, no dents or damage, and no corrosion.
The sides still retain the original red tole style
paint, the bottom still retains some of the paint and
the top retains only traces of the paint. The original
cap is still present and threads tightly in place.
Overall a very nice example of a powder can from one of
the major producers of the 19TH Century, and
one that would display very well with a display of a
commercial hunter’s loading tools and cartridges.
(0225) $150
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DUPONT POWDER COMPANY CAN – “SCHUETZEN” SMOKELESS
POWDER -VERY ATTRACTIVE LABEL: The Dupont
Company has been a leader in the world of gun powder
manufacturing and needs little introduction. This very
attractive can features bold graphics with the
illustration of an early European musketeer and the use
of the word “Schuetzen” which associates with the
shooting competitions of the 19TH and 20TH
centuries. Helping to date this can, the calibers
listed on the rear label were introduced in the
following years - .25-21 and .25-25 in the mid-1890’s;
28-30 in 1900; 32-40 in 1884; .32 Ideal in 1903; and
.38-55 in 1884. Based on these dates, this can was
marketed some time after 1903 and probably into the
1920’s.
Measuring 6” tall, 4” wide, and 1 ½” thick, this empty
can is full form with solid seams, no dents or damage,
and only minor surface corrosion on the bottom. The
body of the can retains its green base paint and the
front labeling is bright, legible and complete. The
rear label is complete and legible and the top and
bottom of the can still retain the original paper
production and warning labels. The original cap is
still present and threads tightly in place. Overall,
this is a very attractive powder can. (0603) $125
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