Old Gunpowder Tins
 

Well I went over to pick up my newest addition of a minty 19-2 combat magnum from my dealer (I'll post pics in the correct catagorie later) and found these. My dealer couldn't tell me the era of these, so any info will be interesting. These are full cans that are all metal and have a metal seal on the lids. I plan on keeping them for cool decorations. Anyone know if there is any collector's value to them??

http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/3543/powder001.jpg

These Hercules powders are shown in these containers in my copy of the 1971 Shooter's Bible. The 8 oz. can of Red Dot was priced @ $2.25, the 2400 was $3.90 per Lb., and the Unique was $3.20 per 13 oz. can.

You are exactly correct. Each container lists a different weight of powder. So these are 1970's cans??? I figured they were older.

Those are known as U Press It cans. If you look on the lids that is what they say. Once the seal is removed you push in the top center of the lid and it opens with a pop.When you want to close it, you squeeze the sides and it closes. Probably 60's vintage, and unless they have really been stored wrong the powder is still good. I have several pounds of powder in those an am still using it. Unbeknownst to most single and double based powders have a shelf life of 50+ years.

I have Unique,Green Dot and Herco cans just like yours. My father,brother and I started buying these in the late 60's to load shotgun.

When did Zip Codes start? I have one of 2400 powder that does not have the zip code in the address.

I used to collect old hunting and gun stuff to decorate my man cave. I found cans like yours and old gun cleaning product tins in antique shops for fairly reasonable prices compared to other antique items that were more popular.
It's been ten years since I've seriously looked as I bought more than I can use. Prices have gone crazy on wood decoys since but doubt if old cans have followed. It's still a fun hobby to collect stuff like that and my buddies love my man cave decorated with that sort of thing.

I'd look for a shop or site into he-man collectibles if I was trying to sell those at a profit. I've found some booths like that in antique shops and their prices are always much higher than the regular booths on such items.

They look mid 60's, into the 70's. The Red Dot container looks a little earlier than the other two, but maybe I just don't recall buying RD in one.

We used to buy alot of shotgun powder in bulk then. A local hardware store was the place to buy. You brought in what container you wanted,,most generally a coffee can w/the tight fitting steel lid (Maxwell House!).


Zip codes started in the early 60's (62/63) but I don't think they were manditory on all mail till later on.

I agree they are 60's into 70's vintage.

Have a few "Improved Military Rifle Powder" cans with the tiny screw on top from the 40's. Thats as far back as my collection goes.

Knew a WW2 vet who held an Engineering degree, was a very good Machinist, Welder and sheet metal man as well. He started reloading in the late 50's. Had a hell of a collection of old cans...got a few of mine from him as they were doubles.

He had some 100+ yr old black powder and shot cans too. After he died they all made a trip to the local dump...along with most of his reloading components. His Daughters idiot California husband was absolutely convinced that the reloading components were all illegal!!

I often think about ALL those neat items at the landfill.

By the time I started reloading in '75, Hercules Unique came in 1lb cardboard cylindrical 'cans'.

Heck, about 60% of the powder I am currently using, resides in these cans.

You mean, they don't make them anymore ?

Econite Black Powder Tin
 

I recently purchased a box lot at a auction and in it was a old black powder tin.It has "Econite For Shot Guns Only" It also has
" The Economy Powder Co. Reading Pa USA" on the back. The can has a small screw in cap/plug on top & is still full of powder (I would never use it) I tried to find info. on this but come up with nothing. If any of you black powder tin collectors have any info. on this tin I would appreciate it.
Thank You

Back in the 19th century, there were many small manufacturers of black powder scattered throughout the USA, mainly selling their products in their local market areas. Much the same as breweries operated back then. Many of those were bought up or otherwise run out of business by duPont which by the early 20th century had developed a monopoly over powder and explosives manufacture. You might get onto the International Ammunition Association website and ask there. There are some powder historians in residence.