An Omani abu Fitila Matchlock gun for comment

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

The tree from which the gunpowder was made and mixed with...Sodoms Apple...Roasted and mixed with sulphur etc... growing wild in my garden.

[ward]

Have you tried to make powder with this tree? Does it need large amounts of water to grow? I really am interested to know more about this. If it does not put up as much pressure as black powder it would explain how the stocks of a lot of these type of guns could be so fragile as compared to the European styles

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by ward

Have you tried to make powder with this tree? Does it need large amounts of water to grow? I really am interested to know more about this. If it does not put up as much pressure as black powder it would explain how the stocks of a lot of these type of guns could be so fragile as compared to the European styles

Salaams Ward, Yes it could prove interesting... The explosion at the breach end is a bit soft...but the problem is that this plant is very toxic... It is extremely poisonous... Typical for a poisonous plant it exudes a lot of milky sap...Even touching it is dodgey. It needs little water... being a desert plant...It has the annoying ability to send its roots way down deep....They are very difficult to get rid of. I believe the right terminology is that roasted the plant is ideal as a carrier for the rest of the concoction...The low tons per square inch at the breach may indeed be the reason for light Butts and Stocks.
Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[ward]

I live in high desert. That is why I am asking. We have a tree similar in the way that it grows called Mesquite. A hard wood that you break up with a sledge hammer and has roots that go 50-100 feet. I will have to see if I can get some seeds and get it to grow.