Portfires were used to light cannon aboard the wooden deck of a ship.  The portfire itself is similar to a flare. They were a composition of niter, sulphur, and mealed powder driven into a case of strong paper. A full-length portfire could burn for about ten minutes and could not be extinguished by water.

Portfires were used from the mid-1600s up through the Civil War. During the Civil War it was a backup option to igniting a cannon, usually during wet conditions.

Measures 18” long. [jet] [ph:L]

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