Traditional wood rod

[azmntman]

Then grandkids will never ferget :thumbsup:

 

[Billnpatti]

Speaking of stinky, and alas, I digress ff One of my favorite snacks is some limburger cheese on a cracker with a bit of onion and topped with a sardine. Yeah, I know, it sounds terrible but it actually is quite tasty. The price of Limburger being what it is, I don't enjoy this snack as often as I would like. Back before my wife passed away, she would make me enjoy this snack on the back porch because she said it made the house smell like something had died in it. For those adventurous enough to give it a try, I think you just might find it as tasty as I do. A nice ice cold "barley pop" goes quite well with this snack.

For those concerned with the HC of this little snack, the sardines, onions and crackers were readily available during the CW period. However, while the Limburger was invented in the 19th century, I don't know the exact date nor when it was first imported into the USA.

And now back to the subject at hand.......wood rods and their use. I've had my say on that subject and, wishing to avoid any controversy, I'm through. :surrender:

 

[Bo T]

Now, this is just an idea that I had. A very competent blacksmith could make a hybrid screw/corkscrew where the corkscrew would wrap the end of the hickory rod which would be threaded for it, a distance that would keep the screw from tearing off the rod. The screw and cork screw would twist opposite of each other. The corkscrew should have the same twist as the rifling. This would be period correct, and, I'm guessing, would work with the larger bores. I'm not so confident with smaller bores (i.e. .36).

I believe this would be period correct at least back to the mid 18th century?

 

[coloradoclyde]

One of my favorite snacks is some limburger cheese on a cracker with a bit of onion and topped with a sardine. Yeah, I know, it sounds terrible but it actually is quite tasty. The price of Limburger being what it is, I don't enjoy this snack as often as I would like.

Limburger is an excellent cheese....One bite and the obnoxious smell goes away...the flavor is excellent.

 

[Billnpatti]

Well, I don't think this would work. The problem comes when the screw pulls off the end of the rod. The screw that screws into the ball must be attached to a fitting that is cross pinned to keep it from pulling off the end of the rod. Your idea does not include the necessary cross pinning. I am afraid the helical, or possibly a double helical, part that screws onto the end of the wooden rod would just pull off under the stress of pulling the ball. Those balls can often be quite contrary and require the help of a second person or have a rod with a T handle that can be hung in a tree to pull the ball. But, that's just my opinion and probably worth what you paid for it. :haha:

 

[Billnpatti]

Limburger is an excellent cheese....One bite and the obnoxious smell goes away...the flavor is excellent.

You are spot on, Clyde. Give my snack recipe a try and let me know what you think. I think you will find it as tasty as I do. BTW, it is great on pieces of toasted pumpernickel or dark rye bread, too.

Oh...uh...wooden rod.....how do I work that into this post so we can pretend to say on topic? Well, you could use your wooden rod to fend off people who try to swipe your limburger snacks. Yeah, that is quite a reach. Oh well, just enjoy the limburger snacks. :haha:

 

[Bo T]

The puller would be one continuous piece or 2 forge welded together. It would be stronger than a pinned piece. It would probably be stronger than the current threaded or pinned pullers on the market. The weakness is in the wooden rod. But, the corkscrew could be made several inches long which would increase the tensile force it would take before tearing off of the rod. It might work with a 20 gauge (thicker rod, smoothbore) but fail with a .50 rifle.

 

[Billnpatti]

I suppose that if you are sure that your design will not pull off the end of the rod, you could make one and give it a try. If you do make one, first attach it to your rod and then attach a piece of very strong cord to it and tie the other end of the cord to a tree. Then pull with all of your might to see if it can be pulled off the rod. If it passes this test, I think you just might have something. Another thing to consider would be to cut a male thread in the end of your rod to match the coil of your ball puller. This would give it a bit more grip on the wood. But be sure to give it the "tree test" before using it to pull an actual stuck ball. You sure don't want to have it pull off down the bore of your rifle or shotgun. If that happened, you would have a real problem on your hands in getting it out of the bore because then you would have both the ball and the ball puller stuck in your bore. That's a bad deal! :redface: :nono:

 

[Black Hand]

Now, this is just an idea that I had. A very competent blacksmith could make a hybrid screw/corkscrew where the corkscrew would wrap the end of the hickory rod which would be threaded for it, a distance that would keep the screw from tearing off the rod. The screw and cork screw would twist opposite of each other. The corkscrew should have the same twist as the rifling. This would be period correct, and, I'm guessing, would work with the larger bores. I'm not so confident with smaller bores (i.e. .36).

I believe this would be period correct at least back to the mid 18th century?

I'm curious why you wish to reinvent the wheel when ball-screws were known as were metal ends that were permanently attached to the rammer?

 

[Bo T]

This was in response to the OP as a possible alternate to pinning the screw in place.

 

[Black Hand]

My question would still be the same, just directed to the OP. :hmm:

 

[jbwilliams3]

Though creative, this would be far more hassle than the period correct (and modern practical) method of making a separate rod with a pinned end. Like I said before, trade guns with wood only rammers would have balls removed by shooting them out or by removing the relatively loose breech plug. Even high end guns of the period were fitted with breech plugs that no modern smith would consider tight enough. So if you’re out in the field, the most period correct way to remove a stuck ball without a threaded end rammer is to shoot it out or push it out the breech (not really an option). Back at home in the settlements, you can have a separate rod to pull that ball and still be reliving a bit o’ history.

 

[George]

Back at home in the settlements, you can have a separate rod to pull that ball and still be reliving a bit o’ history.

That's exactly what I do. When I'm in the mood to go really HC and am carrying my smoothbore, I have only a plain wood rod with no fittings. If I can't keep it shooting with that, my outing is over, and I'll fix the problem back at the fort. There are records of guns being out of service for a variety of reasons in the day, from wet charge in the gun to a broken lock. Part of the experience, for me, is having to live with that possibility and learning to avoid it. Not for everyone, obviously.

Spence