Found a beautiful powder flask during yesterdays 2nd hunt

Bill D. (VA)

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Found a beautiful powder flask during yesterday's 2nd hunt

After Dan and I finished up at our colonial site in the early afternoon I decided to make a stop at the c1700 site where a couple of weeks ago I dug some silver coins and the 1786 German pfennig. This is the place where it's nearly impossible to use a detector. The ground is loaded with small iron and surface trash, and electrical lines and a transformer are right next to the yard where I was hunting. Throw in some thick, pesky weeds and a heavy layer of oyster shells at about 6" down across the entire yard and you have about as difficult a site as you can get. I was again forced to try and cherry pick the high tone targets with my F75, and even that was not easy. But I did manage to dig a couple of clad quarters and finally a silver rosie and a merc in about 90 min. Near the end of a totally frustrating hunt I got a very high tone that I thought was a relatively shallow piece of trash. But I ended up going down almost a foot and eventually pulled out a huge piece of brass that I again thought was going to be junk. But I was shocked to see this beautiful bird motif powder flask once I cleaned the dirt off. This is the first whole one I've dug although it's missing the top. I was afraid of ruining the great looking patina so I just dried cleaned it although I'm not sure how I'm going to get all the dirt out of it. I'm also not sure how old this might be. I figure it dates to somewhere in the mid-1800s, but that's nothing but a wild guess. Appreciate any info on ID'ing or cleaning this cool relic.
 

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If it's brass I would just do a gentle soap-&-water scrub with a toothbrush, and see if you can't use a toothpick or long nail to dig the dirt out from inside.
DO NOT TOUCH IT WITH WATER!!!!!!
let it dry out then lightly brush it off and leave as is.
Dates to at least the 1850's,and is a rarer picture
If I remember they are Partriges,I will PM Ironman who has Rilings Flask book,def. not eagles
 

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Agree with kuger 100%. Mid 1800s, slightly pre-CW or so. Many similar partridge images were used in the "dead game" motifs popular around the same time frame. No water, just dry brush and toothpick the details with a wooden skewer.

GREAT find!

-Buck
 

Wow! Bill, Thats a great find......I've got half of a powder flask that I dug and thought was trash too
Wish that I'd found all of it, But! thats the way finds go...Congraats.................HH
 

i like those objects
 

DO NOT TOUCH IT WITH WATER!!!!!!
let it dry out then lightly brush it off and leave as is.
Dates to at least the 1850's,and is a rarer picture
If I remember they are Partriges,I will PM Ironman who has Rilings Flask book,def. not eagles

Don't worry Kuger - I had absolutely no plans for putting a drop of water on the flask. I've gotten to where I don't want to use water to clean just about any relic except for the common stuff. Hopefully Ironman will chime in and help with the ID of this item. Thanks for your help.
 

Beautiful patina on that flask Bill. Way to pick through the trash. I bet a lot of folks have avoided that area in the past. Can't wait to see it in the curio in march.
 

Excellent find Bill! I Love Powder Flasks!! I did find yours in Rilings book, however he doesn't mention anything about it. He jumps from #719 to #729, passing over the flasks in between. As you can see from the picture yours is #722. It is under the motif or classification of "Bird" which means anything else other than eagle.

IMG_0174.jpg


I just got home from working my 12 hr. night shift outside in 6 degree weather. Kuger left me an email about your awesome find! Yes, I believe your powder flask is from the time period mentioned by Kuger & Buckleboy. Bosnmate also supplied some excellent info. as well! I am rummy right now and am looking forward to a hot shower and bed. When I get up I'll try and research it a little more. Again, excellent find my friend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ironman
 

Awesome find Bill. I can't wait to find out what Ironman finds out about it...that's really nice of him. I would love to know the age and where it was made.
 

All I can say is sweet!!
 

bill I found one like see my post in what is it mine was deep to
 

Great find Bill! I guess it pays to dig those loud signals sometimes
 

Wow,just wowwww.Just realized this was an old thread but still,wowww.
 

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Congrats on the great find!
 

Hey SUPER NICE FIND Bill ! I did not read all the interm posts, but will say not many found, and usually much more bent up than that one. Congrats, that will go well with your huge collection...eh ?

Hey as well 2 silvers in 90 min. is not to shabby either. Not that they even matter much with a find like this.

Good luck out there.

Rick
 

That is a sweet looking flask. Great find Bill!
 

That is a wonderful find. Wouldn't it be something to find the tip for it?!
 

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