Unique Smokeless Powder Transition Years
1898 Infallible Smokeless Powder
1900 Unique Smokeless Powder
Infallible/Unique Smokeless Powder
The Infallible/Unique powder in this jar was actually manufactured at Laflin & Rand’s Pomton Lakes (Haskell, New Jersey) plant about 25 miles northeast of Kenvil, New Jersey. The jar still exists in 2007 and was moved to Alliant’s New River plant in Radford, Virginia. Originally, there were two of these jars, but one of them has not been seen in many years.
The label on the front reads, “ Unique Smokeless Powder This powder was placed in water on June 26, 1899. Renewed: August 13, 1917 August 6, 1981 ~Klaus Neuschaefer
During 1898 Laflin & Rand introduced their Shotgun Smokeless Powder and it was also one of the first American smokeless powders to be made available to the public. Originally an orange color disk, during the same year the powder was improved (graphited) and called "Infallible" for shotguns. That name continued to be used by DuPont in 1907 and from DuPont to Hercules during 1912. Apparently Hercules changed the name from "Infallible" to Unique, I assume combining the two nearly identical powders as a shotgun/pistol powder.
I am going to dig a little deeper to figure it out, however, according to Sharpe's 1937 handloading manual, Infallible could also be used much along the same lines as Unique since they were nearly identical.
Unique - Introduced by Laflin & Rand in 1900 as a reduced rifle load powder. L&R Unique became DuPont Unique in 1907 and became Hercules Unique in 1912, and became Alliant Unique in 1995.
Infallible - Introduced by Lafhin & Rand from 1898, discontinued in 1936, eventually both becoming Unique or Infallible giving way to Uniquie.
Hercules reformulated Unique in 1960, reducing the NG content by half, and Alliant reformulated it again in 2001 for cleaner burning. It is still manufactured as a shotgun, pistol, and reduced load rifle powder.
Infallible Smokeless Shotgun Powder
1900
Under the Laflin & Rand name
The front label says it all!!!
1907
I do not see any Unique Powder cans under the Dupont name.
by 1912
Under the Hercules name
the back label says it all!!
by 1935
Unique - Introduced by Laflin & Rand in 1900 as a reduced rifle load powder, this Hercules, 1935 example was used for both rifle and revolver. Unique is said to be identical to Infallible...introduced in 1898 as a shotgun powder.
It became DuPont Unique in 1907 and became Hercules Unique in 1912, and became Alliant Unique in 1995.
Hercules reformulated Unique in 1960, reducing the NG content by half, and Alliant reformulated it again in 2001 for cleaner burning. It is still manufactured as a shotgun, pistol, and reduced load rifle powder.
Sharpe - Complete Guide to Handloading, 1937 Load Data
Revolver - 200gr JSP, 11.1gr, 1,100fps @ 15,000cup
Revolver - 205gr Lead, 10.9gr, 1,100fps @ 15,000cup
Revolver - 250gr Lead, 9.4gr, 965fps @ 15,000cup
Rifle - 200gr JSP, 11.3gr, 1,520fps @ 16,000 cup
Rifle - 200gr Lead, 11.3gr, 1,300fps @ 16,000cup
1900 - Still in use
Shiny gray-black discs .065” dia. X .008”, and had a 40% NG content.
December 1936
1995
Alliant Unique