What if ? Question ?

[FlinterNick]

Assuming you’re in the 18th century militia and have are using an older military musket. Your wooden ramrod snaps in half at the narrow end. Your options are to find another gun, steal another member’s ramrod out of their gun Or makes shift repair, of course you‘d have minimal tools at your disposal.

A fella I know in F&I War reenactment had broken his rammer of his 1730 Bess purposely to see how he could repair it. The solution was he took out his kit and found some brass in a knife that he used to connect both of the broken ends.

Interested In hearing how anyone would have done this in the 18th century.

 

[Cruzatte]

I'd like to see some photographs of how this fellow made his repair. Sounds interesting.

 

[FlinterNick]

I'd like to see some photographs of how this fellow made his repair. Sounds interesting.

I’ll see what I can do !

 

[Stophel]

Go cut a sapling.

 

[FlinterNick]

Go cut a sapling.

Yup I was thinking that too, I would go for oak if I could.

 

[Henry Miles]

Look for some small diameter bamboo near the creek or river...

 

[Eterry]

I don't think bamboo the size to fit thimbles would be strong enough to work.
I'd go with a small sapling, with nothing else to do but whittle i think it could be done in a short time. My .02

 

[Henry Miles]

Bamboo would need to fit in the bore, not trying to make it fit the thimbles in an emergency.

 

[LSU520]

The simple answer for all of you, is you wouldn’t have fixed it in the field. A large bore military musket such as a Brown Bess or French Musket can take shot or take a ball that‘s much smaller than the bore, the ball can be dropped in and the butt can be tapped to seat the ball. Most military muskets were fitted with bayonets, the broken musket is still useable with a bayonet until it can be repaired. 18th century militia were mostly common folk, uneducated and did what they were not experts of their arms.

 

[Many Klatch]

I had that happen once when on a woods walk. Green wood from a sapling won't work. By the time you whittle it down to fit in the thimbles it's too weak. If I ever have to do it again, I would concentrate on finding a sapling that will fit in the barrel and forget about fitting the thimbles. carry the temporary ramrod in the belt