is this a RAMROD

fernando · 26th May 2014, 07:50 PM

Lead is soft. And the cannon and musket balls, before the advent of rifled barrels, had a diameter narrower than the barrel bore (windage), so the friction is reduced when extracting them. Also the pulling action may be done in a rotating mode, which also helps a lot the ball to come out without much fight and without risking to break the rod which, in any case, must be made of the hardest woods ... ebony for one.
Eventually in the cannon case and even if iron balls are used, i realize that what you extract with the worm is the wad (plug); the ball rolls out by itself, once you incline the gun.
It looks as i know the slightest thing about this issue

thinreadline · 27th May 2014, 08:15 AM

Marcus and Fernando ... appreciate your input , however the dimensions of this item are perfectly feasible for a cannon . At no point was I thinking that it was a ramrod for a handgun ! That would of course be absurd !
The fact that this is just half of the rod is not impossible either. The rest of the pole would not have to be screwed on and off between shots .... I think it is more probable that it unscrewed to reduce its length for stowage when NOT in use.

fernando · 27th May 2014, 05:26 PM

No Richmond, this ougth to be something but not a cannon ramrod.
That thick part would have to be the front, whereas it has all ingredients to be in the back, namely a grip. You don't have a rammer with a rounded head and even with that little portrusion, all so much in the shape of a handle.
Also the brass connection is not adequate for a cannon rammer, unless you were talking about some contemporaneous miniature/replica.

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thinreadline · 28th May 2014, 08:19 AM

yes I see your point Fernando ...

27th May 2014, 05:26 PM	#3
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	No Richmond, this ougth to be something but not a cannon ramrod. That thick part would have to be the front, whereas it has all ingredients to be in the back, namely a grip. You don't have a rammer with a rounded head and even with that little portrusion, all so much in the shape of a handle. Also the brass connection is not adequate for a cannon rammer, unless you were talking about some contemporaneous miniature/replica. - Attached Images

26th May 2014, 07:50 PM	#1
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Lead is soft. And the cannon and musket balls, before the advent of rifled barrels, had a diameter narrower than the barrel bore (windage), so the friction is reduced when extracting them. Also the pulling action may be done in a rotating mode, which also helps a lot the ball to come out without much fight and without risking to break the rod which, in any case, must be made of the hardest woods ... ebony for one. Eventually in the cannon case and even if iron balls are used, i realize that what you extract with the worm is the wad (plug); the ball rolls out by itself, once you incline the gun. It looks as i know the slightest thing about this issue

27th May 2014, 08:15 AM	#2
thinreadline Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Wirral Posts: 1,204	Marcus and Fernando ... appreciate your input , however the dimensions of this item are perfectly feasible for a cannon . At no point was I thinking that it was a ramrod for a handgun ! That would of course be absurd ! The fact that this is just half of the rod is not impossible either. The rest of the pole would not have to be screwed on and off between shots .... I think it is more probable that it unscrewed to reduce its length for stowage when NOT in use.

28th May 2014, 08:19 AM	#4
thinreadline Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Wirral Posts: 1,204	yes I see your point Fernando ...