Thank you ** Fear Itself**. mostly I was questioning ** squinks** assertion that the byproducts are completely different in the absence of Sulfur.
I think I’m going to stick with my assertion that the Sulfur acts as the initial source of electrons for the reduction of the nitrate. This would, as people have stated, have the effect of lowering the ignition temperature.
This also suggests that any reasonably stable reductant may also suffice. As Squink mentioned selenium may be effective, but perhaps a borohydride would be interesting. (Of course I wouldn’t want to be the poor sap with the job of grinding that mixture together.)
It’s also possible to make gun powder with things other than nitrates. For example potassium permanganate can be used.