I just read the following on the Black Swan shops website.

“Samuel Gawith’s produce some of the finest English Snuffs on the market, which are highly sort after worldwide. Their snuffs are ground the traditional way using the original machinery, which was bought in 1792 from King George the third who had originally used the machinery for grinding gun powder.”

 I have to wonder if the odd smell (a burnt rubber smell) some people have described some S.G. snuffs as haveing is in anyway connected to this fact? Like a lingering gun powder component. Not trying to freak anyone out. I just have to wonder if there is a connection.

Oh yeah any opinions? (almost forgot I was asking a question.)

I have noticed a certain scent there too, with some of them, but not with the KB’s or Peppermint Dark, for example. I always chalked it up to the base tobacco and how it’s cured and processed. Also on occasion there’s something I percieve with some other brands’ toasts that’s a bit rubbery. I’m not sure what it is.

Well, the main flag from the HMS Victory still reeks of gunpowder from the battle of Trafalgar in 1805. Maybe it’s not as impossible as it seems on the face of it.

I remember reading gunpowder in a list of old world snuff adulterants. 

Possibly, although I would doubt very often due to the relative price. I think ground up bark was the main one.

gives it kick.

I think I read about saltpeter being used in snuff, which is in black powder.

The additives in the unregulated 18th century were added to give bulk first - to give a higher return at point of sale and secondly to make up for the loss of ‘burn’, for want of a better word. The bulking agent - any ground up plant matter to hand -  was the major adulteration with small amounts of the various irritants added to reproduce that burn. 

Maybe that’s why snuff isn’t as popular thee additives really might have added something to it. Now please don’t experiement with that people.

I doubt saltpetre was ever used though, that was a very difficult thing to produce in those days requiring a lot of hard work; the gunpowder or saltpetre would have been worth more than the snuff. Probably an urban myth of the time.

there are lots of them. Though some people felt that saltpetre was medcinal so it’s possible some snuffs had it for health reasons.

Anyone seen Lord of War where Nicholas Cage does a line of coke mixed with gunpowder haha, thats what this reminded me of

but wouldn’t the coke get the gunpowder wet?

I am not sure how to spell cocaine

oh I thought you meant the soda, that makes more sense.

I only said so because there was a reference in a book about someone adding too much saltpeter to the snuff they produced. It may have been in “Things Fall Apart”…

And Toque Coke is just wet enough

@bob ,
You have to take a tour of the factory ,and bring a spy camera. report back what your findings are!

I’ll replace my dads muzzle loader powder with their snuff if he doesn’t think his gun is broken I will have my answer.