When thinking of ramrods, you want straight grain, and flexibility. Hickory grows straight for long sections of the trunk.
Next to consider is HOW much effort is needed to make such a rod. REMEMBER, they didn't have power saws like we do today. SPLITTING WOOD was the fastest way to get long straight wood for projects. Then the "split" could be worked down into the round with draw knives, and spokeshaves. If someone had a "cutting Plate", it took no time at all to shape the end of a "split" down to fit through the hole. Then the the rest of the stick was pulled through the plate's hole, forming a straight grained rod. Since groove and tenon construction also used hundreds of wooden pegs, and those pegs were made the same way- often of hickory-- and of white oak( straight grains and good strength for a short length , the skills needed were common, learned by the young, and used often.
If you can find Osage growing down in a hollow, out of the wind, you might find some straight grain for making rods. Better use would be to make bows. Its very hard wood to both cut with saws, or shape with knives and chisels. When it ages and dries, its a bit more brittle than Hickory, and may not give you the working life that a Hickory ramrod will give you. It will split along the grain, but its really hard work to get those splits out of a log.
Oh, split rail fencing was the primary Money maker for men who knew how to split logs quickly. Ramrods were made from the pieces that were less than desirable, for one reason or another, for fence rails. If you look at any split rail fence, the rails are long enough to provide 3 or more ramrods for most rifles. AND, if you live long enough, you might notice that the same hickory split rail fence you first saw as a child is still standing more than 40 years later.
How many times do you have to put new shingles on a roof in that same period of time? :hmm: :v :wink: :thumbsup:
