Gentlemen, Thanks for your welcome and response. I've been watching this forum for a few years and admire the collective wisdom. My time periods of interest roughly coincide with flintlock firearms. European activities in North America up until the American Civil War. Of course, global influences on artillery during these years is also of interest. My introduction to quills included a carrier made of a brass cylinder of loose quills covered by a brass cap with short tubes on the sides sliding over the suspension rope for the whole affair. Nicely assembled and certainly safe in a firey environment but I seem to have problems using it. We use welding gloves in our crew and I'm having to slip them off and on during procedures. I have more than once slid off the carrier lid and had quills flying everywhere. The question came to mind: What did necessity, trial and error evolve to for a functional means to handle quills? My limited research hasn't been all that fruitful and I appeal to the bretheren for help. Again, my respect and humble thanks to all responders.
