Belgian Percussion Eprouvette
This contraption is a Belgian Percussion Eprouvette. Back in the days when blackpowder was of dubious quality, devices like these were used to test the potency of the powder at hand. The barrel plug is attached to a V shaped spring. When fired the spring compresses moving a slider. The strength can then be read off a scale. I am not if the units on the scale correspond to the energy of the powder, or if it is just used for comparative purposes.
This particular Percussion Eprouvette is housed in the National Firearms Museum’s Robert E. Petersen gallery.
[ Many thanks to Nic Jenzen-Jones for emailing us the link. ]
I founded TFB in 2007 and over 10 years worked tirelessly, with the help of my team, to build it up into the largest gun blog online. I retired as Editor in Chief in 2017. During my decade at TFB I was fortunate to work with the most amazing talented writers and genuinely good people!
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Whatever you do, don't stick your finger between the forks during firing......
Nice piece, interesting. I would love to see one at the next gun auction I attend. I would definitely place a quick bid or to. Probably would not have the high bid but stranger things have happened at auctions.