16th and 17th Century Ramrods and Their Tools

Matchlock · 26th May 2014, 06:03 PM

More attachments.

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Matchlock · 26th May 2014, 06:46 PM

More photos of my scourers and worms, as well as of 'military' matchlock muskets, ca. 1590-1660, all retaining their original wooden ramrods with iron finials, nearly all of which are threaded.

Author's collection and photos.

Best,
Michael

Matchlock · 26th May 2014, 06:56 PM

A frontal view of a scourer and worm, 16th/17 century, in my collection.

In some cases, though, those iron finials on wooden ramrods were not threaded; attached find samples of such 'military' matchlock guns of ca. 1525 in the Graz Armory, and of a snap matchlock arquebus of ca. 1525-30:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ter+hofkircher,

a fine snap tinderlock Landsknecht arquebus of ca. 1525-30:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...=arquebus+1525,

and two Suhl/Zella matchlock muskets of ca. 1630 and 1650:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ets+suhl+zella,

the latter three in my collection.

Author's collection, and photos copyrighted by the author.

Best,
Michael

Matchlock · 28th May 2014, 04:35 PM

Here are contemporary depictions of woden ramrods with iron finials, by the artist Jörg Kölderer. From 1495 to ca. 1515, he illustrated the inventories of the Tyrolean arsenals by order of King Maximilian, who became Holy Roman Emperor in 1508.

Attachments from cod.icon. 222, fol. 114, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek München.

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Marcus den toom · 28th May 2014, 08:23 PM

Hi Michl,

Thank you again for this extensive thread.
Do you know about an assay/research report on the stretchability of (different types of ) wood. Or are there written documents from the 1500s/1600s about the issue of ramrods that break?

I also like your profile picture, is that one of your guns that is beeing fired?

fernando · 28th May 2014, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcus den toom

... is that one of your guns that is beeing fired?

Yes, of course; the man is a shooter

When he fires one of his magnificent matchlocks, the whole of Bavaria stops to listen

Raf · 29th May 2014, 09:18 AM

This picture turned up recently in a U.K. auction. Described as a scene in a forge it appears to show the undercroft of a substantial building where persons are engaged in cleaning and maintaining , rather than manufacturing
arms and armour. The small glass bottles look interesting. With something that looks like a wick or quill used for oiling your recently cleaned wheelock ?

26th May 2014, 06:03 PM	#1
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	More attachments. m Attached Images Last edited by Matchlock; 26th May 2014 at 06:24 PM.

26th May 2014, 06:46 PM	#2
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	More photos of my scourers and worms, as well as of 'military' matchlock muskets, ca. 1590-1660, all retaining their original wooden ramrods with iron finials, nearly all of which are threaded. Author's collection and photos. Best, Michael Attached Images

26th May 2014, 06:56 PM	#3
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	A frontal view of a scourer and worm, 16th/17 century, in my collection. In some cases, though, those iron finials on wooden ramrods were not threaded; attached find samples of such 'military' matchlock guns of ca. 1525 in the Graz Armory, and of a snap matchlock arquebus of ca. 1525-30: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ter+hofkircher, a fine snap tinderlock Landsknecht arquebus of ca. 1525-30: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...=arquebus+1525, and two Suhl/Zella matchlock muskets of ca. 1630 and 1650: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ets+suhl+zella, the latter three in my collection. Author's collection, and photos copyrighted by the author. Best, Michael Attached Images Last edited by Matchlock; 26th May 2014 at 09:44 PM.

28th May 2014, 04:35 PM	#4
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Here are contemporary depictions of woden ramrods with iron finials, by the artist Jörg Kölderer. From 1495 to ca. 1515, he illustrated the inventories of the Tyrolean arsenals by order of King Maximilian, who became Holy Roman Emperor in 1508. Attachments from cod.icon. 222, fol. 114, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek München. m Attached Images

29th May 2014, 09:18 AM	#7
Raf Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 252	This picture turned up recently in a U.K. auction. Described as a scene in a forge it appears to show the undercroft of a substantial building where persons are engaged in cleaning and maintaining , rather than manufacturing arms and armour. The small glass bottles look interesting. With something that looks like a wick or quill used for oiling your recently cleaned wheelock ? Attached Images

28th May 2014, 08:23 PM	#5
Marcus den toom Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Netherlands Posts: 535	Hi Michl, Thank you again for this extensive thread. Do you know about an assay/research report on the stretchability of (different types of ) wood. Or are there written documents from the 1500s/1600s about the issue of ramrods that break? I also like your profile picture, is that one of your guns that is beeing fired?