How can I (or, can I? ) repair my broken Bess ramrod?

[RandyBishop]

Hello everyone. I recently broke my ramrod on my repro 1768 short land bess after an especially rough day of fouling. It was my fault. I shouldn't have forced it. I should have cleaned it earlier. Anyway it's done now I ordered 2 more from Loyalist Arms but until then is there anything I can do aside from oxy-ace welding that could make it sound again? My dad figures maybe silver solder? JB weld? I doubt it but any suggestions I will take. Thank you for your time.

 

[RandyBishop]

She was quite shiny when we got her but figured she'd look better with some patina. Make her look old, no? She's an Indian made musket. Bought through Loyalist Arms out of Nova Scotia. I proofed it with 350 grains of powder and 2 .715 balls. No problems. Except for the ramrod. Damn.....

 

[coloradoclyde]

You broke a metal rod ?
That takes skill.

 

[painter]

I'd vee it out, weld it, and sand it smooth. I'd use a mig...because I have one, or tig...if I had one.

 

[appalichian hunter]

Perhaps a small metal sleeve JB weld, Do not know the diameter but you may also be able to use a fired cartridge case the dia. you need and JB weld. might not fit the thimbles but at least it would be serviceable until the others arrive.

 

[appalichian hunter]

Clyde, During my stint as a company armorer for the civil war unit I reenacted with it was not uncommon too see this same break, most of the repro rods are two piece and that is the weak point.

 

[Grenadier1758]

The tapered tip is usually a separate piece that was likely silver soldered with a little bit of solder to hold it together. @painter has the right approach to make a Vee at the break, weld and smooth it out. Keep the bore cleaner and don't force the rod.

When the new ram rods arrive, apply some more silver solder to beef up that joint.

 

[appalichian hunter]

Randy, you sure it is a break look closely it could be just bent and the gap you see is where the two pieces were put together, if so one thing that could be done is heat the area of separation with a torch (think propane type ) and place in a vice and slowly tighten the vice to take the bend out , let cool and using two sets of pliers and thin leather in the plier jaws one above and one below the area and slowly tighten the joint. The ones I have seen and repaired on the repro civil war rifles were screwed toether.

 

[coloradoclyde]

Clyde, During my stint as a company armorer for the civil war unit I reenacted with it was not uncommon too see this same break, most of the repro rods are two piece and that is the weak point.

Thanks, but now you've given me Hoppes flashbacks again.

 

[RandyBishop]

Randy, you sure it is a break look closely it could be just bent and the gap you see is where the two pieces were put together, if so one thing that could be done is heat the area of separation with a torch (think propane type ) and place in a vice and slowly tighten the vice to take the bend out , let cool and using two sets of pliers and thin leather in the plier jaws one above and one below the area and slowly tighten the joint. The ones I have seen and repaired on the repro civil war rifles were screwed toether.

It's got a crack in it yes it's not just bent

 

[RandyBishop]

It's got a crack in it yes it's not just bent

 

[RandyBishop]

I'd vee it out, weld it, and sand it smooth. I'd use a mig...because I have one, or tig...if I had one.

I do have a small 125 v little mig welder I could maybe use. I'm just, a terrible welder. Very bad.

 

[RandyBishop]

Perhaps a small metal sleeve JB weld, Do not know the diameter but you may also be able to use a fired cartridge case the dia. you need and JB weld. might not fit the thimbles but at least it would be serviceable until the others arrive.

Luckily it broke before it had to try to fit.

 

[Captndan]

Hello everyone. I recently broke my ramrod on my repro 1768 short land bess after an especially rough day of fouling. It was my fault. I shouldn't have forced it. I should have cleaned it earlier. Anyway it's done now I ordered 2 more from Loyalist Arms but until then is there anything I can do aside from oxy-ace welding that could make it sound again? My dad figures maybe silver solder? JB weld? I doubt it but any suggestions I will take. Thank you for your time.

Call Track of the Wolf for a new one.

 

[Flinty Scot]

It's a metal rod but, were it mine, I'd get and carry a stout metal range rod as well.

 

[44-henry]

Should be able to be fixed by any competent welder and some filing.

 

[2 shots]

there is only one way to repair metal properly--- weld it- the only place glue or epoxy belongs on a gun is on the stock.