19th Century British Sykes Sheffield Pocket Pistol Size Plain Category Copper & Brass Black Powder Flask with Sprung Nozzle Charger. A 596 19th Century British Sykes Sheffield Pocket Pistol Size Plain Category Copper & Brass Black Powder Flask with Sprung Nozzle Charger. A 596 Antique & Militaria

Decoration of powder flasks varied dramatically with plain utilitarian examples and ornate examples with hunting, game animals, foliate, village, military and marine scenes & were made of a wide variety of materials. This tiny pocket pistol size flask falls into the ‘Plain category’ described in the ‘Plain Flasks’ chapter (page 271) of, ‘The Powder Flask’ book by Riling. Similar small copper and brass plain flasks are illustrated at plates 125 of Rilings book page 272 & 274 along with other forms from the period Sykes catalogue. Riling states that these plain flasks “should receive special attention from the new collector and form an important part of any collection”. This tiny flask measures 3 ½” overall length and is 1 ½” at its widest. The brass sprung charger works correctly and has a removable screw in nozzle. The copper body is faintly stamped by the manufacturer ‘Sykes’. The copper has a few minor dents but no cracks or splits. The price includes UK delivery. A 596