white powder in stock

[ditchdigger]

I recently purchased a couple of turn of the century hammer guns for practicing my smithing techniques. the furniture is really beautiful walnut, and in pretty good shape. Upon removal of the butt plate I noticed a cork plugging a hole in the center of the butt, much like the hole in a military rifle for the cleaning kit. I removed the cork and about a quarter cup of white powder poured out of the cavity in the stock. I am pretty sure its not cocaine, and I really hope I didn't just pour the ashes of someones grandfather out all over my work bench. I have never seen something like this before and I wonder if anyone here may know if this is some type of stock preservation technique or whatever it may be. There is some inscription in the wood on the butt, mostly illegible except for the numbers "1931" obviously the date of inscription. Any info is appreciated, Thanks
Rich

 

[Eric F]

I hope the meth anfetimine ferry didnt just visit you.........or
its the oldest anthrax attack I have ever heard of............or
most likely talc as a stock filler? I have heard of this before but never seen it. What I would do and only because I work here is take a sample of it to the local fire department and ask if they have a "sniffer" its a chemical analysis machine that can identify 3500 diffrent chemical compounds it should give you the answer. other than that I would not know what to do.

 

[rcmodel]

Just "Snort" some of it.

If you sneeze, it's Grandpas Ashes.
If it smells like a baby and you sneeze, it's Talcum Powder.

If you Get High, it's not either one!


rcmodel

 

[RecoilRob]

Or, perhaps some lead 'dust shot' that has oxidized to powder? Regardless.....keep it out of your nasal cavities!!

 

[rcmodel]

lead 'dust shot' that has oxidized to powder?

Hey! There ya go! Great call!
That's the most likely answer so far, by far!

Lead shot to add weight, reduce recoil, oxidized after a hundred years, and turned to white lead oxide.

Wonder why I didn't think of that?


rcmodel

 

[john.paul.harris]

What,s the consistancy of the powder? Ex-fine or kind of clumpy? And is it really white or sliver-ish?

 

[Sunray]

Could be anything from a dissolved bit of paper to dissolved cleaning patches. Vacuum up grandpa and don't worry about it. When you're playing with 100 year old firearms you're likely to find all kinds of stuff hidden away.

 

[ditchdigger]

thanks

Thanks guys, upon cleaning out the rest of the powder, I hit lead, it looks as if they drilled the stock and poured molten lead into it and the first few inches closest to the end oxidized to powder over the years. It looks like I won't have to deal with the DEA or an unhappy spirit afterall.
thanks for the replys
Rich

 

[moosehunt]

All I have to say is that this is potentially the most interesting (comical?) thread I've ever seen!!!!

I know I'd s------t if I ever found white powder in a butt space cavity!!!!

 

[icebones]

most likley something to add balence to the shotgun, lead powder like you said, maybe flour for biscuts, or maybe dust from 100 year old paper, maybe someones will or deed to their farm, who knows, just one of thise things about old firearms...
i have an old (i mean 150+ year old) shotgun with the damascus wire twist barrels. way too old to shoot, but after taking the butt plate off i found a roll of ancient coins in a hole in the stock, when i say ancient i mean these coins said something like "confederate states of america" on them, im not a coin collector and i dont know anything about them, so i gave them to my grand pa.

 

[asknight]

I know I'd s------t if I ever found white powder in a butt space cavity!!!!

The prison guards conducting routine searches on work-release inmates find it kinda regularly...

 

[Bad Flynch]

I can tell you what that powder is: It is lead oxide. It was common practice back then to add shot to the hole in the stock to increase the weight of the gun---and theoretically decrease recoil.

I have an old Remington hammer double that has a cracked stock because the lead shot expanded when it oxidized and split the stock.

Clean it out well, without breathing or tasting the powder. Then wash your hands well.

 

[tkendrick]

Had an old 30-40 Krag that had the same thing. You know the butts on most military guns have a cavity in stock where you are supposed to keep your cleaning gear.

This one was full of lead as well. I've never seen any oxidization like you describe, but I would sure not be surpised to see it happen.