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Black Powder Tamper Tip [132281]

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Mining Start Price:150.00 USD Estimated At:300.00 - 500.00 USD
Black Powder Tamper Tip  [132281]
SOLD
100.00USD+ (25.00) buyer's premium + applicable fees & taxes.
This item SOLD at 2021 May 14 @ 11:06UTC-7 : PDT/MST
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Ask a blaster, you'll get very careful instructions about how to pack blasting powder into a hand-drilled hole in the rock face of mine drift you are extending. To summarize, the powder charge goes into the hole with a long fuse and a wad of packing material to make sure the charge stays at the end of the drilled hole. To burn quickly and explosively, the powder must be packed in there tightly, so you grab your tamping rod with this 3.5-inch, brass tamper mounted at the end. The fuse is guided through the groove while you gently but firmly tamp the charge at the base of the hole. Then, carefully remove the tamper so you don't pull out the fuse. Clear the area, shout FIRE IN THE HOLE, light the fuse, and cover your ears. This brass tamper tip is stamped with PAT'D APR 12 1863 (not so sure about the last number), and a paper label is glued on that says BRASS POWDER TAMPER / PIOCHE NEVADA / [???] 1863. This was made of brass (or bronze) so that the metal would not create any sparks went struck on hard rock the way that a steel tool could. It is about 3.75 inches long and tapers from 1 inch diameter to about 0.8 inch. The narrow end (where it was mounted on the tamping rod) has a 3/8-inch piece broken out . It weighs about 295 grams. See photo for details.

Date: 1860s
Country (if not USA):
State: Nevada
City: Pioche
Provenance: William Mayrsohn Collection