Large Snuff Kit, 5 Parts

Snuff tools are small, and small things get lost: a spoon at the bottom of a bag, a tube in another jacket. This large snuff kit keeps five parts together as one set, so everything stays in one place.

What goes into a five-part snuff kit

Kits of this type are assembled from a short list of tools, and the combination differs from one kit to the next. Some hold two tubes and no spoon, and others replace the mirror with a stone plate. This kit counts five parts and is a set of accessories only. The tools used in such sets are:

• A tube for sniffing.
• A mirror or plate: a smooth, hard surface that wipes clean quickly.
• A small spoon: lifts a little snuff out of a narrow container.
• A blade or card: breaks up snuff that has formed lumps.
• A closed container such as a vial or bullet: carries the snuff and keeps air out.

Why the container matters

You keep snuff in good condition by keeping air away from it; left open, it loses moisture and quality. That explains the traditional pocket snuff box: an airtight lid, and room for about one day's supply. Close the container after every use.

Where snuff tools come from

In England, the habit of carrying snuff tools goes back to the late 17th century, when powdered snuff arrived and its accessories spread with it. Before the snuff box existed, people kept snuff in a small vial closed by a spoon that also served as the stopper.

Cleaning and care

• Wipe each part with a dry cloth or tissue after use.
• Wash metal and glass parts occasionally in warm soapy water, or wipe them with isopropyl alcohol.
• Let everything dry completely before it goes back into the kit, because powder sticks to anything damp.
• Treat a tube as a personal item and do not share it.
• Handle any blade with care and keep the kit away from children.

Who the large kit suits

Shops usually list these kits in a small and a large version, and this is the large one. If you want the smallest possible set, choose a mini kit. The kit carries no brand name; for a particular maker or material, single tools from a named brand are the better route.

Express Highs ships in plain, discreet packaging.