Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very attractive mid 19th century French copper powder flask featuring a detailed wild boar hunting scene on one side. Within the decorative scene is the marking:

N.A. Paris J.N.

indicating a Paris, France maker or retailer.

The flask measures approximately 7 1/2 inches long and has a classic mid 19th century form with a copper body, adjustable measuring spout, and two suspension rings intended for attachment to a carrying strap.

The embossed decoration is the most visually appealing feature of the flask. The hunting scene depicts a wild boar and gives the piece strong sporting character, while the Paris marking adds an identifiable French origin.

Condition is fair and should be carefully noted. There is some separation along the lower seam of the copper body, so the flask is empty and should not be used to hold powder.

The screws that originally secured the wider spout base are no longer present. As a result, the spout assembly can be removed from the flask with some effort.

The spring mechanism in the spout is broken, so there is no spring pressure when the lever is depressed.

The adjustable measuring spout itself remains present and is an interesting feature of the flask, although there is also splitting visible along the rear portion, as shown.

Both suspension rings remain attached.

Powder flasks such as this were commonly used during the percussion firearm era, when loose black powder was measured and poured into the firearm before loading the projectile. Decorative sporting flasks were especially popular among civilian shooters and hunters, and French makers produced a wide variety of embossed copper examples during the mid 19th century.

This example dates to the general U.S. Civil War era and is a nice example of a French made sporting powder flask with an appealing wild boar motif and original Paris marking.