english or irish shot snake

[Capt. Jas.]

Kermit
There is a piece of spring steel that runs up the side of the charger that holds both lids down until they are pushed up with a thumb.
The device has a divider in the middle to separate the powder from the shot.
If any of you guys can produce some of these to a satisfactory level of period correctness, I can help you get a bunch sold. I just have not had the time.  Here is another pic. I have more showing the spring on the side, etc. if anyone wants to send me their email, I can send them. Takes too long for me to load all of them to photobucket.

James

[Birdwatcher]

I briefly owned an "English" shot flask with spout.

Pressing with your thumb opened a sliding door and shot ran into the measured spout to another sliding door at the end.  Let up your thumb and the original door at the base of the spout closed while the one at the end opened, allowing the measured shot in the spout to pour out.

I did not like it because the design called for pouring the shot directly into the barrel while reloading.  Gave me a case of the willies, it felt too much like pouring powder from a flask directly down the barrel.  And surer than heck ol' going-senile me would have done that very thing while not paying attention.

YMMV

Birdwatcher

[Capt. Jas.]

Jon Laubach of Williamsburg Forge is now importing some of the pocket shot chargers from India. They are made very well but are twice the thickness of originals and of course are buffed to heck and need to be "de-polished". I believe he gets 38.00 each for them and they are tapered as those in the first photo I posted which seems to be an early styling.

Williamsburg Forge
Jon Laubach
Barnhamsville, VA
757-566-0338

[Riley/MN]

Salivating.... but wow, $38!

[Capt. Jas.]

Mike Lea used to hand make them for about 95.00 each!!
More work than one might think to make them.
A cheaper way out if just after function without any historicity would be to take a section of copper pipe, with a divider in the middle and cork each end.
OR... duct tape two film canisters bottom to bottom.

[Riley/MN]

I have some clear plastic vials - they work for the function, but the cool factor (& historical factor) is not there!

[Feltwad]

Everybody to his own but for me it is the English shot flask ,it is quick  and for a driven day the double  spout shot belt which can load two barrels at the same time.
Feltwad
A Flint Lock will not secure a chicken house door

[Feltwad]

Enclosed are a couple of images of different types of both original English and Irish shot flask and shot belts.
Feltwad
A Flint Lock will not secure a chicken house door
Sorry but it will not allow more attachments to this topic

[Riley/MN]

Ah, finally - Here are feltwad's pictures:
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[attachment=1:2z4kxb09][/attachment]P1010001.JPG[/attachment:2z4kxb09]

[Feltwad]

Riley.
Thank you for posting the images I think they should be of interest to this topic
Feltwad

[Capt. Jas.]

Feltwad,

What period in history have you found that the "Irish" and "English" designations took hold?

[Feltwad]

Feltwad,

What period in history have you found that the "Irish" and "English" designations took hold?

The powder and shot flask has we know  today took hold from 1780 onwards  the period of John and Joseph Manton .One of the early makers of flasks was Frith ,later firms such has Dixon ,Bartram and others followed in the early 1800,s.
Sheffield was the main town for the production of powder and shot flasks most powder flasks were made of copper in different designs and sizes,also tin and pewter,some of those made of tin were covered with Morrocan leather .
Feltwad
A Flint Lock will not secure a chicken house door

[Capt. Jas.]

That is what I have found to be true as well.
The double gate type of "English" style goes way back to French design and I believe a Frenchman obtained an English patent on a design as that after coming to England.
I believe the "Irish" and "English" designations to be modern.

[No Rod]

great pics Feltwad, thanks