Zinc Powder flask, Powder horns, Leather Shot Flasks/Pouch? Timeframes?

Seeing the pics of af's powder flasks spurred me on to correctly ID the powder flasks, horns, pouches... that came down to me from my great grandfather (1846-1921). I've always wondered if they date from him like the mid 1800s or could they have been his father's (1806-1894)? Also not sure if I have correctly IDed them as to their names and purpose in life. TIA.

1. Zinc powder flask 7½" x 3¼". Body has an embossed leaping stag with flora and faunda on one side and doe with flora and faunda on other side. Adjustable, brass pouring-spout with its internal, spring-operated, powder cutoff. (Has original graduated brass spout with three steps and its original externally mounted spring-operated powder cut-off that still works.) Still has original 2 brass side loops with original cord which is badly frayed. Condition: fair; no spits or cracks, but does have dents. One that looks like it has the same motif on the following site:
Scroll down to the 16th pic.
http://www.ambroseantiques.com/hornsflasks.htm
Better pics:
http://www.ambroseantiques.com/hornsflasks/zin.htm



2. Leather Shot Flasks/Pouches or Priming Flasks? One is 5½"l x 2½", has fine machine stitching, twine binding around neck holding in a glass inserted collar - missing a stopper/spout. The leather is plain with no engraving or design. Was this used to hold powder or shot? The leather is in very good condition. The other measures about 4¾"l x 2 1/8"w. Hand-stitched leather with twine binding around neck holding in a brass collar insert - missing a stopper/pourer/spout. The leather is quite worn and plain with no engraving or design. Was this a shot pouch also because they were of a soft material so that the shot would not rattle against metal and scare the game? This pouch may also have been used to hold powder because it still contains a few flakes of black powder. Condition: good, worn but no holes or tears.



3. Powder horns. One measures 5½"l x 2"w. The neck has a hand carved 8-sided collar with the original wooden hand carved stopper. The other end is plugged with wood which is covered with a leather. Condition: good, no holes but does have scuffs. The other measures 5"l x 1½" has a hand carved round collar and the original carved stopper. The other end is plugged with wood. It still contains black powder! Condition: fair, has about a ½" worm/corroded hole in the middle which shows hardened black powder.



--- Susan

 

Maybe he hunted , maybe he collected....who knows.
The Zinc looks good for what the site says it is.
The leather shot pouches could be of similar era.....the smaller ones neck is unusual to me.
The horns don't look as old to me.
I'd like them better if the backs were rounded, sealed with old nails, and had a ring for a lanyard.

 

It's nice to see you posting something of your own once in a while, Susan. You've helped so many others with their items.

 

Thanks for your reply, Komo. I also thought the smaller pouch a bit odd, but then I'm not up on this type of gear/accoutrements.

> The horns don't look as old to me.
I'd like them better if the backs were rounded, sealed with old nails, and had a ring for a lanyard.<

No doubt you're right. The horns may have been made by my great grandfather as a teenager or young man while the flask and pouches may have been his Dad's? The smaller horn still has black powder as seen in a corroded hole. Several years ago DH scraped some of the powder out and lite a match to it. It still burned, sparked, or whatever. The ends have small nails keeping the wood circles/rounds/plugs in. I don't know how old the small nails might be. When you say "if the backs were rounded," do you mean the ends? The ends are round with plugs of wood. Have included a close-up of the hole showing the black powder and a close-up of one of the nails in the larger horn. BTW, the cord/string on the horns was probably a later addition used to hang the horns on a wall along with the pouches and flask as I have them displayed now. I have them all hanging from a musket on the den wall.

>...nice to see you posting something of your own...You've helped so many others<

Thank you, Fig; however, you have helped many more than me. I don't know what we all would do without your expertise on photography, fashions, etc...

--- Susan

Smaller horn:



Larger horn showing one of the nails:

 

While I recognize that early powder horns also had flat bottoms ...the closed end , I like to see some way to attach a lanyard present.I also look for many carefully placed nails to ensure a solid closure .
That said , your horns are nice and I have no way to positively date them, only to add that I doubt they were carried into battle , & along with your other items likely served for hunting.