Read the markings on it. If it says Italy or Spain somewhere it is probably a reproduction. If it says BLACK POWDER ONLY, it is definitely a repro because they didn't know that smokeless powder was going to be invented.
1. It wasn't black powder in the original cherry bomb, it was 1 gram of flashpowder and a flashpowder star in the center
The original gunpowder (black powder) is a mix of charcoal, sulfur, and saltpeter.
rM ROD FOR BLACK POWDER WEAPON
By comparing markings and workmanship to a known original (and to known reproductions). A certain sign of a modern reproduction is the marking "Black Powder Only"- since at the time the originals were made, there was ONLY black powder.
I have one.
First, find a copy of the owner's manual for YOUR pistol. Second, use ONLY black powder, or a modern black powder substitute, such as Pyrodex. The ROUGH rule of thumb is one half the bore diameter in grains of powder. A .32 cal would use ABOUT 12-16 grains of powder.
The mineral pyrite has a brassy yellow color in its original form but a black or greenish-black color in its powdered form due to oxidation.
Black powder, the original form of gunpowder, was made from a combination of potassium nitrate (also known as saltpeter), charcoal, and sulfur in a 15:3:2 ratio.
Gunpowder- both the original black powder, and today's smokeless powder, is a combination of a fuel and an oxidizer to make that fuel burn. It must have both to work. One without the other is useless.
You can get it over the web from powder inc (check the related links) black powder is hard to find in retail stores due to shipping and insurance costs as well as federal storage and record keeping regulations.
from your house