Silk For Patching Material???

[Ohio Joe]

Remember the movie, 'The Last Of The Mohicans', with D.D. Lewis? When they're at the fort wall loading their rifles (or smoothbore's), to cover the "message runner", Hawkeye uses a "silk" patch... When asked about it, he replies it's good for forty more yards... This line from the movie has always bugged me...
Now, is there any truth to this or not? Can silk be used as a patch? If his piece is a smoothbore, then I can see where he would gain some distance by patching, but why silk??? Also, why not just elevate the piece for more distance??? Any thoughts? Has anyone ever used silk to patch with???

 

[Rebel]

Have never tried silk as a patch material, but did notice that line in the movie. Then did you notice he fired that load first instead of saving it for a longer(Extra 40yds) shot? I wondered if silk would stand up to the heat or melt.

 

Only good way to find out if it will stand as a patch material is to try some. I know silk is extremely strong. Doubt it would make the ball any faster though.

 

[shmrck1]

Rebel
i'm thinking the same as you, i think it would melt.
i guess one of us will have to try it and report back.
i personally don't own any silk that my wife will let me use for this project she owns it all and wears most of it!!!
snake-eyes
:redface:

 

[Ohio Joe]

I did notice that, Rebel, after you mention it. Kind of a wasted effort him using up his prime load right off the bat...
I too agree with you and, Snake-eyes. I think it would melt, but, as Maxi said, "try it"... I doubt I will...
Snake-eyes, about your silk,,, well never mind... :haha:

 

Never tried it. I doubt it will melt - unnatural, made-made synthetic substances like nylon melt. While silk is impervious to boiling temps and won't 'cook' down in a pot on the stove - It might burn through in the bore unless you used a larger ball for bore size.
; With the proper ball size, it might just make a good patch material due to it's strength, but I don't think it would hold lube well.

 

[musketman]

I too agree with you and, Snake-eyes. I think it would melt, but, as Maxi said, "try it"...

A silk patch should be lubed as well, just like a pillow tick patch (I would suggest a paste lube though), this will reduse any melting effects (if any) for a little while on it's trip out the tube...

Cotton Fibers: The cotton fiber has a core that can be seen clearly in the center of each shaft, this adds to it's strength and durability...

Silk Fibers: Silk fibers are coreless, or microscopic in size at best, silk also has extreme flexibility and considerable tensile strength, a plus when compressed in between a musket ball and the bore...

Large muskets have lower pressure as well, this may also prevent the silk from melting, a load of FFg or Fg will save the silk patch whereas a load of FFFg will light it's fire...

 

[bob1961]

Rebel
i'm thinking the same as you, i think it would melt.
i guess one of us will have to try it and report back.

"""i personally don't own any silk that my wife will let me use for this project she owns it all and wears most of it!!!"""

snake-eyes
:redface:

it takes a brave man to admit things like that :applause: .... :haha: .................................bob

 

[Ohio Joe]

Well, armed with information from, Daryl and Musketman, I may have to try the silk just to satisfy my own curiosity... I think I would have to double or triple silk material as I have never seen any silk that would be considered heavy material... Getting the patch to hold lube or spit would be a challenge, but I bet it could be done... I'll give it a try!

 

There are lots of different weights in silk just like there are in cotton and wool. Some of the heavy stuff is really rugged and I doubt that you could blow it patching a 6 lb cannon ball!

 

[Huntinfool]

I always thought and said to my friends that it was just Hollywood. I just went to MLML archives to check it out because I remembered a thread about silk for patch material.

No doubt brought about because of TLOTM movie.
here's what they had to say about it.

Two Knives wrote:
A friend tried silk but was displeased with it as it fell apart more readily.

Dave W. wrote:
As in, disintegrated? Or did the weave just come apart? Doesn't sound
too good to me either way, but this is why I ask questions.. More
details, please.

As a result of watching "The Last of The Mohicans" to many times.!
I have tried silk patch. I also mentioned in an earlier message that my silk patch did come apart completely, or it evolved in to a "twigg of nothing".
Point of impact went down by at least one foot.!
My personal conclusion is then that "Silk...Another 40 yards" is a result of some Hollywierd science tecno-film-director, who just needed that line to make his day.!?
But it still is a great movie and I will probably see it many more times...!

My sentiments exactly! I don't think I'd waste my time or money trying silk as patch material! Now I might try it as under garments! LOL! :blah: :blah: :blah:

YMH&OS
Chuck Goodall
"The Original Huntin' Fool"
&
Kanawha Ranger Scribe

 

[2172]

Gosh, I didn't think anyone took that statement seriously! Around here, when it's mentioned, there's a period of quiet snickering....we all loved the movie, and will allow one Hollywood thing like that....Hank

 

[Stumpkiller]

Hold a match up to one of YOUR hairs. If it ain't meltin, it's the next thing closest to it. All synthetic fibers melt, but some natural fibers do, too. Some natural fibers burn so fast (like hair, spiderwebs, tent caterpiller nests) that you can't tell if it's melting or just disappearing.

That's the old test for wool yarn. It don't melt.

 

[Rebel]

Snake Eyes. " she owns it all, and wears most of it!!!" Ok, who wears the rest of it? :: :: But it was still a good movie even if a bit unbelievable at times. Still haven't figured out their way of Elk hunting, opening scenes. Sure not the way it is done around here. ::

 

[Ohio Joe]

Guess I don't need to try the silk patch after what, Huntinfool posted. I really didn't want to go in a fabric store and order silk anyway... Thanks for the info, Huntinfool...
Rebel, I know what you mean about Elk huntin'... I never seen it done that way either... Guess that's the way they do things in the movies. :haha: :shake:

(I haven't got to use the little blue smurf head shaking guy until now)

 

[flaming canvas]

Well, spider webs and caterpiller nests are silk, so if'n they melt in their natural state then they will probably melt if they are all twisted and woven together.


Roger

 

[shmrck1]

Rebel
she even liked that comeback!!!!!

 

[Rebel]

Snake Eyes, glad to hear that she liked it too. A wife with a sense of humor, now there's a find. :: Take care, and don't get too attached to them silk drawers of hers. ::

 

Rebel- ELK? - I always thought it was a deer they ran down in those Eastern woods.

 

Daryl: There used to be an eastern "woods" elk. Still is a small protected heard in Pa..
Once there were eastern bison, "woods bison" but they are gone now.