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Description: | Cast lead cylindrical powder charger cap, with a flat oval lid with two integral loops either side. There is a moulded vertical line with a central ring on one side of the cap and a vertical line on the other side. The cap has been pressed from both sides so that the edges meet and the base is more ovate than it would have been originally. The comparatively thin sides would have flared outwards towards the oval or circular mouth of the powder flask. The powder cap would have been part of a powder-charger or powder-holder, a small flask holding enough powder for a complete charge for the weapon. A series of these holders were attached to the bandolier. The side loop enabled the cap to be attached separately to the bandolier (belt) of the wearer so that they could be removed without the possibility of being dropped and lost. They were often known as apostles presumably because they were often grouped in sets of 12 (Courtney, 1988, 2).Courtney (1988) illustrates a similar example on page 2, fig.3, which is dated from the Civil War during the 17th century.These caps were also used by British infantry musketeers from the period c.1660-1686 to fit over the powder charger's open end to prevent spilling their fine priming powder which would have been poured directly into the musket's priming pan. A cord was passed through the pair of integral loops at its closed end, thereby allowing the cap to slide up and down.Read (1988) illustrates a similar powder-charger cap on page 162, no.1091, which is dated from c.1660-86.
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/ | Go to resource |
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