Mike, I though you might like some references to leather patches I've collected, against future need. :grin:
Espingarda Perfeyta, The Perfect Gun, Cesar Fiosconi & Jordam Guserio, 1718, Portugal
"Others made barrels with rifling inside, some with more, and others with less rifling, all of them deep and twisted in the form of a spiral. These were loaded by putting the bullet in a little piece of leather of a thin glove, folded only once, dipped in oil, and thus it was pushed down to the bottom in such a manner that the bullet may not lose its roundness."
An Essay on Shooting, 1789, by Cleator, Wm.
"In Germany they sometimes charge them in the following manner: a piece of thin leather or fustian is cut of a circular shape, and so large as to cover a little more than one half of the ball; this piece is then greased on one side, and being placed over the muzzle, the ball is laid upon it, and both thrust down together; by this means the leather or fustian enters into the rifles, and the bullet being firmly embraced by it, acquires the proper rotary motion in its passage through the barrel."
Scloppetaria:, by Capt. Henry Beaufroy, 1808
"Between powder and the ball, it is usual to put either a patch or a stopple. The former is that adopted for military service, on account of its greater facility in loading; yet, for purposes of amusement, it frequently occurs that the latter only, or sometimes both, are used. By the patch is understood the small piece of greased leather, &c. which is put round the ball before driving it down, to fill up the interstices of the grooves, which would, without this precaution, occasion too great a windage."
“Practical Instructions for Military Officers, for the District of Massachusetts”, Epaphras Hoyt, published 1811
"A patch of thin linen cloth or soft milled leather, saturated with grease, must be slightly stitched round the balls, with small thread which will separate when discharged from the piece. Care must be taken that the patch and ball are of a suitable size to fill the caliber and channels of the barrel : if too large it will be difficult to force them down ; if too small the direction of the shot will be much less certain : When duly prepared the ball must be placed in the cartridge with the proper quantity of powder for the charge and priming, and the end of it so folded that the powder may be secure. In loading, the powder must be carefully emptied into the barrel. the ball separated from the paper, by the teeth, and driven down close upon the powder, but not so as to bruise the grains."
A handbook for riflemen;, by Wm. Duane, 1812
"The rifleman must be made acquainted with the nature of sights, and the aim of the rifle; how to load with loose ball, to force it dexterously into the barrel, so that it shall lie close upon the powder without bruising the grains; he must be taught how to use the plaister, which is a piece of greased flannel, fustian, or soft leather, to facilitate the passage of the ball into the barrel, and clean it."
A British Rifle Man : The Journals and Correspondence of Major George Simmons, Rifle Brigade, During the Peninsular War and the Campaign of Waterloo, Edited, with Introduction, by Lieut-Colonel Willoughby Verner, late Rifle Brigade. 1899
"The following is a description of the Baker rifle : Weight 9 1/2 lbs., barrel seven-grooved and 30 inches in length, rifling one quarter turn in barrel [1:120], bullet spherical, 20 to the pound, charge of powder 84 grains, flint-lock. The ball was placed in the center of a greased leather patch and rammed home, considerable force being necessary to effect this. At first, wooden mallets were issued to the Riflemen to facilitate the process of ramming home, but these were very shortly discontinued (circa 1803). A supply of greased patches was carried in a small box with spring brass lid in the side of the butt of the rifle."
"Remarks on Rifle Guns" eleventh edition by Ezekiel Baker, gun maker to his Majesty, 1835
"After you have loaded the piece with powder then put the greased patch of leather, calico or soft rag provided for that purpose on the end of the barrel,"
There are also copies of a target that was shot at 300 yds using "..balls that weigh 14 1/2 to the pound, four drams of powder, the balls were placed in a greased leather patch". The target was shot In 1800.
Spence
