re: Charlie,
That is very interesting!
I know you were only 12, but are you able to describe this "can" the "Ducking Powder" was in?
With a little bit of help from you, I maybe able fix a better date to the container than the late 1600's.
My best,
Blair
Hi Blair- more of a long time lurker with very little to say, as a rule...
Actually the can looked a lot like the old Dupont can, an example of which is included in Major 2's photos, however it was light blue in color. The print on the can was in English, but the gunsmith at OSV told us later that it might have been repackaged French powder. Sorry, I don't remember any more than that as it was too long ago!
What I do remember is the trouble we got in by setting off a handful inside the music dept. practice room at the hands of the (then) Dept. Director Art Schrader. He was a veteran of Anzio and had a short fuse himself where the antics of 12 year old boys were concerned!
Take care!
Charlie