This is a lovely example of the Massachusetts Arms Company Pocket Pistol Powder Flask for use with the Maynard Tape Primed pocket pistols produced by the company. In his voluminous book The Powder Flask Book, Ray Riling shows Massachusetts Arms Company flasks for these revolvers as figures #761 and #762. Figure #761 has an Eagle on the obverse and the Massachusetts Arms Company panel scene with panoply of arms on the reverse. This example is Figure #762, which has the Massachusetts Arms Company panel on both sides without the Eagle motif. The small bag shaped flask measures 4” in overall length, including the spout. The body itself is 3.35” long without the spout, which is nominally .87” in length. The body of the flask is 1” wide at the throat and 1.95” wide at the widest point. The flask’s cap is also nominally 1” in diameter and the flask body is nominally 1” thick. The varnished copper flask is decorated with an embossed panel scene with a boarder of foliate scrolls over the four-line legend:

MASSACHUSETTS

ARMS

COMPANY

CHICOPEE FALLS

The words “Massachusetts” and “Chicopee Falls” are in the form of an arced two-line cartouche surrounding the words “Arms” over “Company” in its center. The wreathed legend is surmounted by a panoply or trophy of arms and flags, providing a martial theme.

The flask remains in VERY FINE overall condition with most of the original lacquer remaining intact, certainly in excess of 80% with the loss essentially only on the high edges and contact points. The flask’s body shows no significant dings, dents, or pushes and remains in very crisp condition. The seams are tight and show no splits or repairs. The spout can still be easily unscrewed from the top and the charger still works correctly as well. The blued steel charger spring shows some moderate surface oxidation as well as some of its original fire blued finish, and still retains plenty of tension. Overall, this lovey Mass Arms pocket pistol flask is extremely nice and would be a fine addition to one of the cased Mass Arms Maynard Primed Pocket Pistols, which often have the incorrect flask in the casing. It would also be a fine addition to the display of one of those high condition Mass Arms pistol, even if it is not a cased example.