Dear Rod,
True, but dynamite, unless with a high nitro % is not necessarily a military
explosive - though there was certainly not too much choice in high explosives
before WW1: however, TNT was the standard HE during WW1, but it was in short
supply, and had to be mfd. with other things which made it verge on the
Amatol type of expls.. None of these compounds use K.gur. - inc. the PETN
'suite' of expls. (which incidentally were invented during the latter part of
the 1800's, but initiation delayed their use for a while).
The K.gur. expls. comprised the Dynamites, Guhr Dynamites, Straight
Dynamites, and one or two of the Blasting Gelatines - Gelatine Dynamite mixes
(though these in the main used 'wood pulp', flour, and/or chalk to varying
degrees). I again hazard a guess, and wonder if there was an increase in
civilian expls. due to the extra requirement for raw materials? - hence the
need for more K.gur. or something synthetically similar?
Cordite, the most common propellant for military small arms and light
field-gun ammunition has been in use since 1890, and does not to my knowledge
use K.gur. (neither Gun Cotton of course). With Cordite, I remember my
Grandfather telling me that a known way amongst the Ranks of getting a well
deserved break from the Front, was to take out one of the three 'sticks' of
cordite in a 303 round, chew it, and the resulting increase in heart rate
would get a few days leave (if lucky anyway). This obviously indicates the
nitro content (still used today for heart conditions of course).
I hope all this might be of use to someone! Regards, Bernard.
p.s. I bet GCHQ has some fun with this email!!!!!!!!!!!!
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