Unusual Navy gunpowder measure dated 1850

by John L. Morris

This unusual US Navy cannon powder measure weighs over 10 lbs. It is about 10 inches tall and 12 inches in extreme width, and is dated 1850. The inside diameter is 7 inches. It was inspected by John A. Dahlgren, bio here:  https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/people/historical-figures/john-a-dahlgren.html  This is the only two- handled US Navy brass gunpowder measure known to the author.  Two handles were probably found inconvenient or unnecessary as the author has seen an 1857-dated Navy powder measure made to hold 12.5 pounds of black powder, but has a single handle.  In use, the powder measure was used to scoop black gunpowder from a copper “powder tank” so the measure was overflowing when brought level.  A special copper “powder knife” was then drawn across the top edge of the measure, making a flat surface on the loose gunpowder.  More here:  https://m.facebook.com/FortTiconderoga/photos/a.87782354032/10157303683109033/?type=3&eid=ARCi7iPdW7m_uphKPV9SMqpkaX7KVG1hWGBj-sca0N9MBrom3Ot_UCyY4_2xMvnNKo9kJnIQzqV_VtU5&ifg=1&locale=ps_AF  The measured charge was then dumped into a cloth cartridge bag with which the gun was loaded.

This charge measure was made for filling cloth cartridge bags for use in the Navy's 64-pounder "round shot" guns ("round shot gun" as opposed to "shell gun.") The Navy 64-pounder was a relatively heavy gun (about 12,000 lbs. for the barrel alone.) The initial order for 12 of these guns was placed with West Point  (NY) foundry in 1849. These guns were intended for pivot-mounting only. Their nominal length (not including cascabel) was 130 inches; bore diameter is 8 inches.

After a design change in the exterior of the breech and chamber profile, four more were ordered from West Point Foundry in 1856. Only one US Navy "64-pounder round-shot gun of 106 CWT" survives, in a park in Waukesha, WI. It is registry number 1, dated 1849, inspector Andrew A. Harwood, bio here:  https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_A._Harwood, weight 106-0-18 (in hundredweight system*) foundry no. 303. It served aboard USS SARANAC, info here: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Saranac_(1848) and was appropriated by the Confederates at Norfolk in 1861.  Photo here:  https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https://fastly.4sqi.net/img/general/600x600/154163_Z9eFrj5JMwSS5sv7YUg1c_-4-H2BpUU-_EWAzxCcKpk.jpg&imgrefurl=https://foursquare.com/v/cutler-park/4c2a9ef78abca593a703ff1f&tbnid=DlV9MCXZD1NY7M&vet=1&docid=cjTf507vif5rwM&w=600&h=600&hl=en&source=sh/x/im

*Weight of this gun barrel is (106 x 112) + (0 x 28) + (18) = 11,890 lbs.