Some old rifles have ramrods that do not have a metal tip or way to attach cleaning worms or ball pullers. The coil tow worm was often used in the old days, I know, and I have read where some think a string was tied to tow and pushed down, to be retrieved by the string. I have seen a few all wood rods with a groove carved around one end. Over the weekend up in Arkansas I saw an old original southern rifle with such a rod--it had a patch tied to the end with thread, held in place by the groove. The owner said it was not the original rod, but said he still shot the rifle and wiped it with this arrangement. Do any of you know if this was an old time method?
