Fish made of brass

M ELEY · 10th November 2024, 07:08 PM

Very awesome item! I'd lay odds that it probably held a liquid, like a wine flask. Black powder and screw-off caps don't go well together (the grinding force of the uncapping could produce friction. Just my guess, but I can't think of any brass powder flasks that didn't just have a smooth cap.

M ELEY · 12th November 2024, 05:33 AM

I went to a large antique mall today and saw a flask (not shaped like a fish!) that had a twist/screw cap. It was listed as an old flask, but who knows.

corrado26 · 12th November 2024, 11:23 AM

Obviously nobody has an idea what this flask could be made for

M ELEY · 13th November 2024, 11:37 PM

Well, my last post got auto-corrected. I meant to say it very well might be an oil flask.

corrado26 · 14th November 2024, 06:41 AM

Oil bottle, that's entirely possible. But why does someone carry an oil bottle with them?

M ELEY · 15th November 2024, 04:58 AM

Good question! I know the truly ancient types of oil flasks were used for ritual/ceremonial functions, like this one here-

https://collections.mfa.org/objects/153529

Hate to say 'google search', but it might turn up something. The oil flask I saw at the shop was very plain and more typically bottle-shaped. Do you know the origin of yours? East Indian? Arabic? Were oil flasks ever used for gun parts? Munitions? (Hey, I'm a bladed weapon guy, so forgive my ignorance!)

10th November 2024, 07:08 PM	#1
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,156	Very awesome item! I'd lay odds that it probably held a liquid, like a wine flask. Black powder and screw-off caps don't go well together (the grinding force of the uncapping could produce friction. Just my guess, but I can't think of any brass powder flasks that didn't just have a smooth cap.

12th November 2024, 05:33 AM	#2
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,156	I went to a large antique mall today and saw a flask (not shaped like a fish!) that had a twist/screw cap. It was listed as an old flask, but who knows.

12th November 2024, 11:23 AM	#3
corrado26 Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Black Forest, Germany Posts: 1,231	Obviously nobody has an idea what this flask could be made for

13th November 2024, 11:37 PM	#4
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,156	Well, my last post got auto-corrected. I meant to say it very well might be an oil flask.

14th November 2024, 06:41 AM	#5
corrado26 Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Black Forest, Germany Posts: 1,231	Oil bottle, that's entirely possible. But why does someone carry an oil bottle with them?

15th November 2024, 04:58 AM	#6
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,156	Good question! I know the truly ancient types of oil flasks were used for ritual/ceremonial functions, like this one here- https://collections.mfa.org/objects/153529 Hate to say 'google search', but it might turn up something. The oil flask I saw at the shop was very plain and more typically bottle-shaped. Do you know the origin of yours? East Indian? Arabic? Were oil flasks ever used for gun parts? Munitions? (Hey, I'm a bladed weapon guy, so forgive my ignorance!)