Short Starter Makers?

[Smokey Plainsman]

Anyone on here make short starters? I know they are questionable in term of HC but since my new caplock is of the 1850s style it shouldn't be a problem.

Thing is seems all starters I've found are either the generic wood ball handle ones or oversized antler ones. I'm looking for something reasonably compact with the top more cylindrical.

I need it to be compact to fit in my small hunting bag yet still allow a good load. This will be for a .36 cal rifle. I can send more details and example pictures to anyone interested. Can anyone help? Thanks!

 

[rodwha]

Ohio ramrod here made me one. However I was more than cool with an antler handle.

I had him also bore a shallow 1/2" hole to work as a palm saver.

He makes several things in case you are interested in other things. He's made me two great punches and a ramrod.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

Antler is fine, just not wanting one with a big T handle shape.

 

[rodwha]

Send him a PM and see what he can do for you if you are interested. I'm more than pleased with what I was given and what it cost.

 

[Larry Akers]

Really easy to make--a piece of dowel and a wooden drawer pull.

 

[Idaho Ron]

This one is very small. The circle is a key ring.

 

[Crewdawg445]

Very easy to make, find yourself a good piece of hickory, some antler and you are set. I personally do not use one but if it's a tool that one "must have" materials are very easy to source and constructing the tool is just as easy.

 

[tenngun]

Wilson and Hanson mt man skeckch book has one from the murder of the fur trade that is simply a sapling, cut off at 5 inches or so. An inch or a bit more in diameter, the lower half wittled to a bore sized peg, One could make it from a dowel from local hardware store. You can even drill a powder measure on other side.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

Very cool. I emailed Ohio Ramrod to see if he'll make me one.

 

[hanshi]

These are just a few I made and use. This includes small. pocket size ones and standard size. I made them for calibers from .32 to .62.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

Very cool. I am wanting one with the handle part parallel to the shaft. Seems it would make it easier to carry in the hunting pouch.

 

[FishDFly]

Consider the T/C short starter, it has a button and the you can remove the jag from the end of the short starter and it has a male end thread.

This can be threaded into a ram rod should you not be able to pull the ramrod out by hand.

You can unscrew the jag and put on a plastic collar so the short start does not damage your barrel. You can also buy cupped jags to fit the size ball you are shooting.

May not pass the "cool" test but it is functional and it fits in my front shirt pocket.

 

[FishDFly]

Consider the T/C short starter, it has a button and the you can remove the jag from the end of the short starter and it has a male end thread.

This can be threaded into a ram rod should you not be able to pull the ramrod out by hand.

You can unscrew the jag and put on a plastic collar so the short start does not damage your barrel. You can also buy cupped jags to fit the size ball you are shooting.

May not pass the "cool" test but it is functional and it fits in my front shirt pocket.

 

[ohio ramrod]

I replied to your private topic :idunno:

 

[Artificer]

Thanks to SgtErv who found it, here is a link showing an original short starter that seems right up your alley. Though it is not as early as some believe, it would be correct for your use.

https://www.nps.gov/museum/exhibits/revwar/image_gal/vafoimg/vafo1311.html

It appears to have been made out of one piece of wood. By scoring around the diameter of the larger wood branch or piece, someone whittled the lower part down to fit their rifle's bore size. This could have been more easily made then and now by using a wood lathe, but that is not necessary.

A piece of broken tomahawk handle might work well as the basic stock for such a home made short starter.

Gus

 

[Stumpkiller]

Used to. One of my favorites was a 1-1/4" diameter piece of witchhazel "trunk" with a 4" long bit of the same wood split out and rounded to make the dowel.

Lost it somewhere when small game hunting.

I have one now I carved from a single piece of sugar maple that I use to start patched balls out of my ball block.

 

[rodwha]

That sounds like a most excellent accessory!

 

[Rifleman1776]

I have made many. Most from antler scraps and cut-off sections of hickory ramrod. Easy and fun to make.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

Thanks, gang. Member Ohio Ramrod has done made me one up. Can't wait to get it in the mail!

 

[Mickc01]

That's wonderful! There are some great folks on here.

But one other idea.....You can easily, and cheaply, make a pretty small one using a wooden "palm saver" and a short length of ramrod. Doesn't look half bad either.

Here's what I'm talking about: https://www.midwayusa.com/product/761028/cva-palm-saver-wood