Re: COLONIAL WEAPONS

From: <bbrush@unlnotes.unl.edu>
> Gunpowder:
> 75% potassium nitrate
> 15% carbon
> 10% sulfur

carbon (in the form of charcoal) can reasonably easily be produced
(assming
you have wood and oxygen).
Potassium nitrate and sulfur exist as mineral deposits. Lucky if you
find
them nearby. Otherwise oyu would have to trade with other parts of the
planet.

> A smoothbore muzzle loader could be produced by a length of rod bored
out.
> You might have to "test" a few to make them safe though.  It would be
> innacurate as hell, but would work as a shotgun.

A worthwhile barrel length would need a fair degree of skill and special
tools. Not impossible though, it was done in the late middle ages. But a
far
cry from the automatic rifle some postulated as a colonial weapon.

>
>		      Roger Books
>		      <books@jumpspace.net>	      To:
gzg-l@CSUA.Berkeley.EDU
>
> On 29-Jan-02 at 16:21, Jakim Friant (jmodule@yahoo.com) wrote:
> > infrastructure of the homeworld.  But I think that if
> > that link was completely lost then the colonists would
> > find themselves armed with bows/spears before too
> > long, regardless of the technology they started with
>
> Too extreme.	_I_ could, if I had to, start with raw materials
> and end up with a muzzle loader.  Give me a few books and
> it would be a no-brainer.  Black powder is not a biggy, although
> I would need to look up proportions.	All you really need
> to know are what goes in and you mix it wet.

What do you call raw materials ? Iron ore ? Or lengths of steel bar ?
What kinds of tool do you postulate ? Reasonably modern power tools or a
medieval blacksmith's shop ?
I don't doubt you can do it. But how much work would it be? Even with
instructions, you have to develop the neccessary skills, probably with
several trial and error steps along the way.

Greetings