Ram Rod Length and End Pieces - Vintage Ohio Style Rifle

[RMSLS1]

I have a vintage Ohio Style rifle that has a ramrod with no end caps. The ramrod is probably not original, but looks very old due to the patina. It appears about 4 inches is missing. Yes I can make a new wooden rod, but the aging would not be there.

Are there any ideas if this rifle would have had brass tips? Should I make end caps to lengthen it the rod?

 

[deerstalkert]

track of the wolf has rod ends in brass or iron(steel) you could epoxy to that rod. that would lengthen it some but it appears like the rod is pretty sloppy in the thimbles. i would reserve that rod for display and get another to use.
you need more length it appears to me just to reach charging depth.

that butt plate gives me the shivers! i have no meat on my shoulders and just know i would sometime mount and fire it wrong!

 

[desi23]

I would just make a new rod of the correct length and save that one as a bit of history. Would not surprise me if it hasn't been broken at some time in the past and that's why it is too short. I've run into a couple similar cases with old guns before.

 

[Mark Herman]

Finding original rifles with original ram rods is a real longshot. To me a ram rod is the most expendable part of any rifle, old or new. Just make a new one and stain it to blend in with the stock.

 

[RMSLS1]

track of the wolf has rod ends in brass or iron(steel) you could epoxy to that rod. that would lengthen it some but it appears like the rod is pretty sloppy in the thimbles. i would reserve that rod for display and get another to use.
you need more length it appears to me just to reach charging depth.

that butt plate gives me the shivers! i have no meat on my shoulders and just know i would sometime mount and fire it wrong!

I agree about the butt plate! It really does not fit at all. However; it does seem to be like others of the time period. I believe the ram rod will just be a decoration piece. Thanks for your input.

 

[tenngun]

It’s arm fired not shoulder fired. When you learn it it’s very comfortable steady and easy , so that I even mount my flat butt guns that way.

 

[Steve Martin]

tenngun is absolutely right, guns with those style butt plates were never meant to be shoulder fired. You hold the butt into your bicep. I have a rifle with a similar butt plate and it works very well that way. No more uncomfortable than shoulder fired rifle.

 

[cynthialee]

It’s arm fired not shoulder fired. When you learn it it’s very comfortable steady and easy , so that I even mount my flat butt guns that way.

y'all beat me to it

 

[tenngun]

 

[Grenadier1758]

Note how @tenngun's left arm is resting on his torso. That provides an extra point of support to hold the rifle in the off-hand position. Much more steady than off the chest and the left arm providing only muscle support.

 

[Bad Karma]

Note how @tenngun's left arm is resting on his torso. That provides an extra point of support to hold the rifle in the off-hand position. Much more steady than off the chest and the left arm providing only muscle support.

Exactly right. Use your bones, your skeletal structure to support your rifle.