Do you try to match the ramrod color with the stock?

[Sidney Smith]

Im finally nearing completion of my Verner style .32 caliber rifle. Stock is done. I made the ramrod last night. Pinned the tip and started to stain it this morning. It being hickory, Im not seeing the ramrod darkening like the maple on the stock did. Im going to try another couple coats of stain later.

I know the rod will darken when I seal coat it with linseed oil, but how concerned should I be if I cant match the stock color exactly?

 

[Old Hawkeye]

Don't worry about it. It's gonna get dinged, scratched up, & dirty as you use it anyway. Just keep it sealed & let it "age" naturally. It's a different wood than your stock & will take whatever stain you use differently, so it will never match exactly anyway.

 

[Greg Blackburn]

I generally try to match things up or go for a "2-tone" look.

 

[Phil Coffins]

Lucky for us the Internet has pictures of many original and new high quality muzzle loading rifles. Look them over and you’ll see most ram rods don’t exactly match the stock. You decide how close you need it to match.

 

[gabedard]

Have gone both ways and without

 

[mooman76]

Personal preference. Some like a contrasting color and some tend to like a spiral stripe or same color.

 

[Ames]

I've had good results, after experiencing the same problem, by using LMF walnut stain on the hickory. Then you can wipe or steel wool it back close to the color on the maple gunstock. Try it. It works. 3 of mine were done that way.

 

[Cowboy]

I’ve gone both ways. Also been down the candy cane stripping when I first started getting into muzzleloading.

Contrast if done right can really look nice!

Same color if you have that little bit of OCD like me! lol.

If you decide that you would rather match up and am having problems getting a darker shade to match the stock?

This is what I’ve done in the past to achieve the desired look. Took black leather shoe dye and applied a light coat to RR. Then took a shop rag with rubbing alcohol wiped the color back. The grain will really pop! Lastly, applied the stain to match stock. Apply sealant wether linseed, Tru-Oil, or wax.

Remember, no matter what anyone else says ? It’s yours to behold and admire my friend.

Respectfully, Cowboy

 

[hanshi]

I've tried almost all the ways mentioned and have never managed to get a hickory rod anywhere near the color of the stock. They'll darken very slightly but no more than that. I striped a few but it never bothers me if it's so-so. They do dirty up.

 

[billraby]

I don't want the ramrod to match the stock.

 

[oldwood]

Just about whatever you stain or don't stain a ramrod , that's like trying to get two identical women to wear the same color lipstick. Just for amusement , I asked several customers what color their r/r should be stained??? Most were totally different answers. I give up and just make 'em all dark. If there's a gripe , r/r's are easy to make.....oldwood

 

[Eric Krewson]

I get them close with leather dye.

 

[Art Caputo]

The lighter, unstained hickory tone can show up too light, catching the attention of game. I will generally hit my ramrods with a darker/matching stain.

 

[Intosomthin]

Had to replace one and didnt stain it at all. Rubbed the swab patches on it, got home added lil 3 n 1 oil... perfectly aged

 

[Vaino]

Multiple coats of the stain used on the stock usually works....maybe not the exact same color but definitely dark. Don't waste my time trying to duplicate the stock color on a RR.. By the way....the double RR pipe is one piece. ....Fred