James Butler Hickok

[J-Bar]

From Kansapedia, just the left side of a Photo taken at Ft. Harker in 1867 with WI\ild Bill on the far left:


Ron

I have never seen that photo before, thanks for posting it.

It appears there was a strong wind that day...

 

[rcmodel]

It's Kansas.

There is always a strong wind!!

Either that or that building behind them is the saloon??

rc

 

[Malamute]

Anyone know the powder charge Hicock loaded?

As a wild guess, I'd say, whatever the standard Colt flask for the Navy threw.

 

[rcmodel]

I'd wild guess whatever the chamber held with a ball compressed on top of it.

That would be about 25 grains FFFG for about 1,005 FPS.

rc

 

[Malamute]

25? Are you sure? I thought I was using 30 and still had a little breathing room.

 

[rcmodel]

No, not sure.
That was from an old 1970 Lyman reloading book said applied to a Colt .36 Navy.

But in fact, I doubt anyone knows what Wild Bill loaded in grains.

They didn't load in grains back then, they loaded by bulk measure.

And who's to say his BP was the same bulk density as what we have now??

rc

 

[Malamute]

I have read that the volume measurement of grains is based on 3-F size powder. I've weighed charges and they come out real close with 3-F to the stated amount/weight/volume. Perhaps someone knows more about this?

I'm guessing that Colt had a standard charge for the Navy with their flask, it should have an ascribed grain value. I dont know what they figured was a standard charge, but I'm thinking it was most likely pretty full charge rated. The bulk measure was graduated in grain amounts.


I think I have that same Lyman manual. Its pretty interesting to look at.

 

[rodwha]

I'm not sure how each screened their pistol powder, but Hazard's Pistol Powder was about 4F and about as powerful as Swiss/Olde Eynsford assuming that the same powder they used for their Civil War cartridges was the same used loosely with a ball.

 

[RonC]

"I have never seen that photo before, thanks for posting it.

It appears there was a strong wind that day..."

That sent me scurrying to look at the original, full photo! There really must have been a strong wind or Wild Bill just passed gas.


And another photo, 1863, where you can just make out the forward pointing grip of his revolver.

Ron

 

[Berkley]

The handle in the 1863 photo appears to be wood, not ivory. Looks like another missing Hickok gun - or maybe just a replaced set of grips when he got flush.

 

[susieqz]

you always hear about the two pair, aces n eights. what was the other card?

 

[Crawdad1]

With the addition of graphite in the late 1890's which changed the mix making it less potent.

In the late 1800's graphite (black lead) was added to the glazing barrels. The graphite both improved the polish and helped repel moisture. The disadvantages were that graphite made the powder more difficult to ignite, slowed its burn rate and made for a dirtier burn. The British Government specified that no "black lead" was to be used in the manufacture of powders to be used for military purposes.

The Making of Black Powder, by Dan Phariss printed in the Black Powder Report, March 1985.

 

[44 Dave]

9 of diamonds

 

[NineMilePete]

My picky, over-analytical mind cringes when a form of carbon is called "black lead".

 

[J-Bar]

The "lean"...

I suspect the photographer was not able to back up any farther for some reason and said, OK lean in a bit!"

Or you could be right about the flatulence.

 

[hmoos]

Lens distortion

Since both sides are leaning toward the center, I suspect lens distortion on a camera, in some manner like a modern fisheye lens.

 

[Malamute]

Even though we end up with a lot of unanswered, and unanswerable questions, this is one of the more fun topics.