Black Powder Chargers

[Captain Pogue]

Does anybody know a good place to buy period wood or tin black powder chargers? I'm open to constructing my own but the lack of proper tools and workspace would result in something a bit simpler than what I would like. Read as hollowed out dowel rods.

Thanks,

Pogue, still not wearing pants...

[callenish gunner]

i usually recommend a cartridge box (a wooden block with holes drilled in it covered with at least a leather flap) with pre-made paper cartridges that are made with a piece of newsprint paper rolled around a dowel rod; to form the tube that powder is measured into the ends are folded over to keep the powder in and then you have 10-30 shots ready to load as you will a simple brass or even plastic measure can be used to load the paper cartridges the morning of an event

an example from Godwins

[Captain Pogue]

Thanks for the response, but I'm not into live firing. Yet, anyway... I've already created a holster with a modified cartridge box attached to it. But it has always bothered me. Pirate, water, cartridge just sitting in a box... I wanted to get something that was a little more water-resistant for my next holster. I do appreciate the response. I want to get into live firing sometime in the future and I'll be hitting up everybody for advice on that. Gotta get a real pistol first. I'm currently on a waiting list for one of the new flintlocks over at Middlesex Village. Here is a pic of my last holster.

[callenish gunner]

cartridge boxes were used on board ship as well lad ....mainly because you weren't always on board ship when you fought ....and why create a second piece of equipment to do the same job ......one if by land and two if by sea (i have heard that somewheres) .....no! one worked both places ...i load my blank cartridges in mine all the time i just designate which is a live fire round and which is a blank round and never load both in the same box at the same time

[Captain Pogue]

I'd still like to find some chargers though. I've checked the web and can't find and period chargers.

[Patrick Hand]

By "chargers", do you mean a powder measure, or the things worn on a musketeers baldrick used to load his matchlock?

[Captain Jim]

I think that Tattershall Arms makes "Apostles" , but those were out of use by the GAoP.

[Captain Pogue]

The things worn on a baldric by the mousekeeters

[Patrick Hand]

Didn't Capt. Midnight post some that he made?

I've seen them befor, do a search for English Civil War ......

They are going to be a bit out of period for the GAoP .... But they were still making matchlocks..... So.. who knows......

[Hawkyns]

If you take the GAoP as 1680-1720, bandoliers of bottles (apostles is a 19th century term) are definitely period for the first 20 years. Matchlocks were in service with the British Army until 1711. Smaller regiments and trained bands were still using bandoliers at that time, even if the prestige regiments had changed to battalion boxes and belly boxes.

Hawkyns

[Captain Pogue]

Thank ye mates, you pointed me in the right direction.

Little bit of history on the subject:

The correct term, as used in the Scots Ordinance Papers, was 'Collar of Bandoliers.' The leather strap was called the 'Collar,' and the individual charges were called 'bandoliers.' Modern usage of the term 'bandolier' has been transferred to the collar, or leather strap, itself, summoning images of swaggering Mexican revolutionaries. In New Model Army contracts the individual charges were referred to as 'boxes' -- a very good example of how terms can alter slightly, or perhaps subtly, to cause confusion to the unwary during the same period of history.

The term 'Apostles' was naturally given to a collar of bandoliers -- or simply 'bandoliers' for short -- due to the fact that they commonly numbered twelve during the 16th and 17th centuries.

There Were No Twelve Apostles , By Robert Giglio