What did they use for patch and lube?

[buckknife]

What did they use for patch material and lube on this trip.I dont know if this is the most detailed record of provisions.You would think they would have a good supply of patch material and maybe the 30 yards of flannel or some of the linen used to wrap their stuff was used.What was used as a patch lube?We can say well maybe they had another list we dont know about :haha:
I always hear of what was used for lube every ware from whale oil to animal fat and maybe they did just use the renderd fat from the animals they took along the way.What do you guys think.[url] http://www.monticello.org/jefferson/lewisandclark/packinglist.html[/url]

 

[Swampman]

I would think their patchboxes were full of tallow and they would have just rendered more along the way. I can render a nice batch of deer tallow lube from a downed animal in 30 minutes. The fat around the kidneys and an iron skillet is all you need. Spit works for quick repeat shots.

Linen or tanned buckskin would have been the standard patching material of the period.

What they called flannel is wool, and so it wouldn't have served well for patching.

 

[buckknife]

Could the 20yards of oznaburgs have been the patch material?
[url] http://www.fabricdirect.com/acatalog/Muslin-Osnaburgh-Batiste-Collection.html[/url]

 

[Swampman]

Oznaburg (unlike the modern version shown in the link) was heavy linen and would have made a good patch. Heavy hemp cloth (russian sheeting)is the best patching material I've ever used.

 

[buckknife]

well i wish i had know that before i located some at the fabric department.I found some oznaburg,which is now cotton.It is loose weave that dont look like it would be too great for patch material.but what the hey.Ive got it dipped in 6 one foot strips of beef tallow.I only got a foot of it and if nuthin else i have a .75 cent rag :haha:
It accually seems to be holding the tallow quite well.It mikes at 10 compressed and 15 to 16 uncompressed.Its such a loose weave i dont know if the patch will hold up or not.I will give it a try one of these days when the weather is better.
Still waiting to try Stumpys dry patch sometime also.its just been so dang cold lately.

 

[Swampman]

It will probably work ok for patching.