Long Land 1730-1742 Brown Bess Questions

[FlinterNick]

Hi Nick,
I answered your question about the narrow end of the ramrod in my first post. I do not know what they did on the original wooden rods. Feltwad's photo of tow worms and ferrules is what I did on some fowlers and pistols I've built but I've never seen an original Bess wooden rod. All I've examined were replacements (understandably) and had no ferrules or tips on the narrow ends. I've also never read any description of the original rods that discussed the narrow end.

dave

Thanks Dave ! As always very appreciated

 

[FlinterNick]

Got three Brown Bess ramrods done for the 1730/40 Long Land.

From right to left.

First has a sheet brass tip, soldered closed, white ash unfinished with a light stain, soaked in mineral oil .... unfinished.

Middle is hickory tipped with a traditional reproduction brass 9/16 tapered tip. Finished in a medium walnut stain, sealed with varnish turned down and then hand rubbed with linseed. Finished.

Third is an English Yew tapered rod from 5/8ths down to 3/8ths down to 5/16ths at the narrow end, untapped. Rounded off the end like a baseball bat. Sanded down to 600 grit wet sanded with linseed, turned polished with bees wax.