French Flintlock Powder Tester, Late 18th Century

Late 18th-century flintlock powder tester from the reign of Louis XV or Louis XVI. Fitted with a rounded lock plate featuring a swan-neck cock and a round iron priming pan. The frizzen spring is secured by an internal screw. All fittings are of iron.

Fine dark varnished walnut stock with an attractive patina. The butt cap is carved with stylized bird heads. Delicate relief carving highlights the inletting of the iron mounts.

The graduated toothed wheel is marked from 1 to 15 and is regulated by a spring blade engaging the wheel’s notches. During testing, the wheel stops at one of the graduations, indicating the relative strength of the gunpowder. Mechanism in working order.

Overall length: 225 mm

Condition: Good overall condition

The powder-testing mechanism was designed to compare different batches of gunpowder, allowing the user to assess their relative strength and thus determine the effective range of the firearm.