THE POWDER FLASK BOOK: TREATING OF THE HISTORY AND USE OF THE FLASK AS A PRINCIPAL ACCESSORY TO THE FIREARM. By Ray Riling.

(1953) ND c1970 Bonanza Books reprint. Large 4to (220 x 285mm). Ppxvi,495,ill. B/w photographs and illustrations of powder flasks, b/w photographs and illustrations, select biliography. Pale blue cloth, black titles to upper board and spine.

"...from its inception, through the ages, until the popular acceptance of the metallic cartridge, and giving emphasis to the powder flasks of the nineteenth century, noting their significance and values for shooters and collectors of antique arms and flasks." "This volume neither aspires to be profound history nor scholarly literature. It is a powder flask collector's attempt to answer within this book the almost numberless questions concerning the beginnings, the development, and the use of the flask from its inception to the present day. It is also offered as a guide for the purchase and sale of powder flasks, by giving the relative values of the various specimens show herein. Essentially this work is designed for the regular reference and use of present day collectors but also to record the existence of the powder flask for posterity." Chapters include: The flask through the ages; A search in literature; The flask in use; Metal to market; The flask and the arm; American makers; British makers; Other foreign makers; American patents; British patents; The craftsman and his flask; Flask photography; Pictures and prices of yesterday; Ancient or early flasks; Your collection and mine; Flask collecting; Values; Other arms accessories; The cartridge replaces the flask.