My Starter :)

[Smokey Plainsman]

Guys I decided to make a period ball starter based on an original found in a shooting pouch from the plains rifle era. This starter can be seen in Charles E. Hanson Jr.’s book, The Plains Rifle. It’s of a simple design:

The handle is from a 1” hardwood dowel from Home Depot. The tips are of good 3/8” hickory dowels and have been cupped for a roundball and fire hardened for strength. I finished with some Fiebing’s leather dye and TruOil. I made this for my .40 caliber halfstock percussion rifle and it should make a great addition to my pouch.

Just thought I’d share, gang!

-Smokey

 

[rodwha]

Man, that is awesome!!!

 

[ppg1949]

It is much better looking than I've made. Nice work. Thanks for listing the materials used.

 

[BullRunBear]

Smokey, Thanks for sharing that. I like the homemade aspect. It would look great on a pouch strap or be small enough to fit in a bag.

Jeff

 

[jrmflintlock]

Nice!! Glad you made something work!

 

[nhmoose]

Why do you need a starter?

I have a thumb and a knife butt works good. In a loading block the starter is the ram rod.

Only time I used a starter was in my bench/buff rifle to start the oversized ball for the bore into the false muzzle. All others I have never had a starter.

 

[Carbon 6]

Nice job Smokey.

 

[tenngun]

Great minds, powder measure also

 

[Carbon 6]

Tenn, did you whittle that out of one solid piece ?
Very nice by the way.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

Okay so I was having quite a lot of the Fiebings bleeding off. No doubt I applied too much. I just wiped it down with some denatured alcohol, bronze wool, and paper towels (properly disposed of!) and it lightened the wood some. I decided then to use my trusty bic lighter and lightly darken the wood on different spots, giving it an aged look. Boy I like it even more now! Then I put a layer of Johnson’s paste wax on it and boy guys, she’s shinin’ now!

As some of you may know I’m not much of a builder but I found this a fun little project. My next project is to attach a worm to a ramrod tip, but you guys already gave me plenty of directions on how.

Thanks all!

 

[tenngun]

Tenn, did you whittle that out of one solid piece ?
Very nice by the way.

Yup, piece of hickory fire wood, sanded smooth about 3/4 inch, the whittled the bottom, stained with birch wood Casey and old English. I use it with my TFC and usually don’t need it. I use it as a measure and PRB on the forth or fifth shot in a string. It gets tight even with a swab between shots

 

[Carbon 6]

Yup

Nice!

 

[Kansas Jake]

Nice work Smokey.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

Thanks, all! Here is the starter along with my rifle and other possibles:

 

[Treestalker]

Hi, Smokey, I really like that rabbit call at the bottom of your gear, I've used one for years.

 

[Dr5x]

Guys I decided to make a period ball starter based on an original found in a shooting pouch from the plains rifle era. This starter can be seen in Charles E. Hanson Jr.’s book, The Plains Rifle. It’s of a simple design:

The handle is from a 1” hardwood dowel from Home Depot. The tips are of good 3/8” hickory dowels and have been cupped for a roundball and fire hardened for strength. I finished with some Fiebing’s leather dye and TruOil. I made this for my .40 caliber halfstock percussion rifle and it should make a great addition to my pouch.

Just thought I’d share, gang!

-Smokey

It looks good to me except I think I would like the top end to be a lot wider to make it easier on my rather soft right hand. For my own short starter I used a doorknob from a sunken river boat as I did on the ram rod.One unplanned forad vantage of the door knob was that when aim and I had left the rod in the bore I couldn't miss seeing it was in the way.
I would need some instruction on "fire hardening" Ant thing I inflicted on a piece of wood would probably turn it into kindling.

Dutch

 

[Dr5x]

Thanks, all! Here is the starter along with my rifle and other possibles:

Nice equipment. I see you have the same wonderful capper I used. Did you make the , I assume, leather ball bag?
I didn't do anything as neat as yours. My powder flask was in the shape and color of a fish and my lead ball container was in the shape a turtle with a raise head and neck. When you pushed down on his head the body would tilt up and a ball would roll out into my hand.
It wasn't period correct but it pleased me.
Dutch

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

Nice equipment. I see you have the same wonderful capper I used. Did you make the , I assume, leather ball bag?
I didn't do anything as neat as yours. My powder flask was in the shape and color of a fish and my lead ball container was in the shape a turtle with a raise head and neck. When you pushed down on his head the body would tilt up and a ball would roll out into my hand.
It wasn't period correct but it pleased me.
Dutch

Our fellow member Cutfingers made the the ball bag, I really like it!