Anyone use that flintlock cleaning clamp/tube from TOW?

[MSK]

I bought one, haven't used it yet. Would like to hear from anyone who has, as to its effectiveness in terms of cleaning and avoiding a mess.

Thanks, Smollett

 

[BrownBear]

...in terms of cleaning and avoiding a mess.

I'm a klutz and proud of it! :rotf:

But I never could make it work right for me. Kept coming unclamped or the tube end would wander out of containment....

I have a nice benchtop rest for general rifle work that I've had for 30 years, and I just use that. I remove the lock, then flip the gun upside down and clamp it in with the muzzle slightly elevated above horizontal. Any water in the bore comes out the flash hole and drops down without ever getting into the lock inletting or anywhere else. Perty slick and quick.

Now the only klutz point is getting water into the bore with it positioned like that!

 

[rr11]

I have used the TOW cleaning clamp for several years, it depends on the rifle. On one of mine it will not seal, however if it fits the rifle it is a great time and mess saver.

 

[longcruise]

I have one of those with the percussion fitting and it works ok. Also had the containment problem and solved by squeezing several nuts over the end of the tube. Can see how that flintlock adaptor would be problematical.

 

[Muskeg Stomper]

I have one which I sometimes use and all I can say is "rotsa ruck" in avoiding a mess. They don't stay clamped in place very well and don't seal over the vent worth a damned either.

On guns withour a removable vet liner, I prefer to just gently tamp a teflon tape wrapped round toothpick into the vent and pour some water down the muzzle. The I pour some of the water out after a few minutes and run a bore brush down the barrel for a bit. Then I empty all the water, rinse with fresh water and then start running patched down the bore.

Some of my flinters have removable vent liners and I have nipples attached to cleaning flush tubes that will thread right in in place of the vent liners. That is my favorite FL cleaning setup.

 

[Stumpkiller]

I never found the flintlock clamp to be less drippy than just laying the gun/rifle on towels vent down with the muzzle below the breech.

We have a stationary tub beside our washing machine and I lay the gun on towels on the washer with the muzzle over the sink and use a soaking shotgun mop to scrub the bore. I squeeze out and dip in soapy water and repeat until it comes out clean.

I have a smaller mops for the rifles and use a patch in between mopping.

 

[Heelerau]

Smollet, I bought one a while ago, and have found it most useful.


cheers

Heelerau

 

[MSK]

Stumpkiller, not clear what you mean about the breech end. Do you plug the vent with something or do you let the water come out into towels?

 

[Bob J]

If you mean a flintlock flush kit like this: http://www.cainsoutdoor.com/shop/item.asp?item=03304
then, yes, I have one and it works GREAT!

I place the rifle upside down in the MTM Case Gard gun holder, muzzle angled somewhat upwards (a folded over towel helps put the muzzle up higher). Using a coffee can with a hole punched through the plastic lid, drop the weighted end of the tube into your favorite cleaning solution: some use dish detergent in water, but I have very good results with a little Ballistol mixed in water. Because I swab the bore with a few aerosol or straight Ballistol patches BEFORE hooking up the flush kit, I can reuse the solution quite a few times, storing it in a glass jar between uses. Pumping the solution through about 6 or 7 times, flip patch, and repeat a few times. Then move the can further away so that the end of the tube is out of the solution and pump a few times to clear the tube, then dry the bore thoroughly...THOROUGHLY :wink: Then lube with your favorite bore protector (again, aerosol or straight Ballistol gives me excellent results).

 

[chuck-ia]

I use mine every time I clean, works good, no problems. flinch

 

[wattlebuster]

Got one and use it with zero problems for the past 10 yrs or so. Before that just dealt with a small mess :thumbsup:

 

[gwalker]

I have used one that I purchased from Track of the Wolf 35 years ago with excellent results. Although mine did leak a little where the gasket seals at the barrel, I found that by smearing a little lard or other animal fat on the gasket corrected the leaking problem. It is important that the hole in the clamp/gasket match up with the vent hole. Otherwise, it will either leak if the clamp's hole is hanging over a the edge of a barrel flat or form a blockage by blocking the vent hole for water movement in and out of the barrel. I still use mine occasionally, but primarily now clean my flintlock with tow and a tow worm - much quicker and I get the bore much cleaner with tow than just flushing water in and out of the bore with a patch and the clamp.

 

[Stumpkiller]

Stumpkiller, not clear what you mean about the breech end. Do you plug the vent with something or do you let the water come out into towels?

No plug. I pull the lock and let whatever bit that comes out the vent go onto the towels. With the muzzle low the "loose" water runs out the muzzle.

THE ADMIRAL gave me a few old towels. Do not grab a few out of the bathroom and start wiping or there will be unrest on the homefront.

 

[MSK]

This is the one:
http://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/578/1/FLUSH-FLINT

 

[Vaino]

I tried one and it didn't work.....the sideplate side is the problem. The long curve of the stock coming down from the top behind the breech to the top of the forend doesn't allow any room for the clamp jaw. Not going to change the wood because I like how the sweeping curve looks......Fred

 

[roundball]

Tried the clamp style, didn't fit well enough to use, threw it in the trash;
Tried the kind that screws in where the vent liner goes, but after a couple uses decided it was more trouble than it was worth, threw it in the trash;

If I still had them I'd just give them to you.




Side Note as general information:
Just as a side piece of information, not wanting to hijack the thread...since I used Patent Breech design breechplugs in all my builds I experimented with a different approach and discovered I didn't need to use any pump-flush approach at all...much easier / faster / zero drip way to clean mine with Patent Breeches.

 

[MSK]

I am intrigued by Stumpkiller's method. Seems simple enough and effective and I can imagine his method being used 250 years ago. Of course I'm going to give the flush kit a go, but my hopes for success are sinking with each new post.

My compliments, Smollett

 

[Stumpkiller]

I had a Bess for 15 years and all I ever used to clean it was a little Ivory soap in hot water and tow on a worm, followed up by an oiled cloth "patch" pushed in ahead of the worm and scrubbed on the breech. I kept it fairly close to authentic methods.

Sold it for more than I had paid after 15 years of regular use and hunting.

Granted, smoothbores are easier to clean but ask yourself what the folks in the 1780's had for cleaning their rifles.

Actually tow is a good choice still and I keep a loaded tow worm in the patchbox of my flintlock rifle. It scrubs and captures crud.

 

[Billnpatti]

IF it fits your rifle, it is a really handy gadget and works well. Whether it fits or not will depend upon the design of your rifle. I had one of these gadgets and it fit nicely on one rifle and was a real help in cleaning it. However, my other two flintlocks had stocks that came up too high on the side opposite the touch hole and the gadget would not clamp onto the rifle. In order for it to fit a rifle, the side of the barrel opposite the touch hole must be exposed and not have the stock covering it. If the stock does cover that side of the barrel, the gadget will not clamp on and will not work.

 

[Bob J]

This is the one:
http://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/578/1/FLUSH-FLINT[/quote]

Looks just like the one I have. Just now finished cleaning my .54 with it after a morning of busting clays (hanging by twine :grin: ).