Ramrod Pipe Length?

[jm190]

   I'm looking for advice/comments on the length for pipes on an early rifle build.  I'm not trying to copy any particular rifle.  I'm taking inspiration from the early rifles with stepped wrists in RCA Volume I from Berks County and Christian Springs.  As I look at the pictures I see variation in lengths with some appearing short and others much longer. It doesn't appear there were any hard, fast rules.  I understand that what I'm building constitutes a "what-if" or "fictional" rifle but I don't want to cross the line into complete fantasy.

   I do have a set of pipes with details(octagonal with rings and thumbnail on entry pipe) similar to what I'm seeing in RCA Volume I but the pipes are 2" long.  Would these be too long?

Thanks for your guidance and suggestions!
John

[Daryl]

I would think longer barrels had longer pipes in general, as well as differing 'schools' might have different lengths for different barrel lengths as well, outside the norm?

[Ed Wenger]

Hi John,

I’m thinking 2” pipes would be fine.  If you’re using a short barrel and things get a bit “crowded” with three pipes, just use two.  There’s plenty of examples of that with short barreled European rifles.  As you said, there were no hard,fast rules in regards to length of pipes on longrifles...


            Ed


           Ed

[Mark Elliott]

I started out doing like you, but I learned that it is much better to pick an original rifle, related group of rifles  or maker on which to base your work.    It makes your style decisions easier and you have a finished product that is at least close to historically correct.    Where a given builder varies their style considerably,  I pick what appeals to me.    You need to be careful, though, to take time period into consideration.   Styles changed with time, and so did some long lived builders. 

[jm190]

I would think longer barrels had longer pipes in general, as well as differing 'schools' might have different lengths for different barrel lengths as well, outside the norm?

Thanks for the reply, Daryl. It's a 44" barrel that I'm using.

[jm190]

Hi John,
I’m thinking 2” pipes would be fine.  If you’re using a short barrel and things get a bit “crowded” with three pipes, just use two.  There’s plenty of examples of that with short barreled European rifles.  As you said, there were no hard,fast rules in regards to length of pipes on longrifles...
           
           Ed

Thanks for the reply, Ed. It's a 44" barrel I'm using. I thought it was interesting to see the long pipes on the short barreled Germanic rifles in RCA.

[jm190]

I started out doing like you, but I learned that it is much better to pick an original rifle, related group of rifles  or maker on which to base your work.    It makes your style decisions easier and you have a finished product that is at least close to historically correct.    Where a given builder varies their style considerably,  I pick what appeals to me.    You need to be careful, though, to take time period into consideration.   Styles changed with time, and so did some long lived builders. 

Thanks for the reply and sage advice, Mark! I thought by focusing on stepped wrist rifles the pipe details wouldn't be much of an issue. I think the lack of early rifles to use for guidance limited my ability to determine what would fit my build.

[Mike Brooks]

I'm not sure it makes much difference. I have seen original rifles where the pipe lengths vary on the same rifle. Don't get too bent over stuff like this. The only way it makes a difference is if you're doing a bench copy. I know I certainly don't carry a micrometer to measure pipes on peoples guns they have made.

however, there were certain schools and certain makers who used exceptionally long pipes, it would really make a difference there.

[jm190]

I'm not sure it makes much difference. I have seen original rifles where the pipe lengths vary on the same rifle. Don't get too bent over stuff like this. The only way it makes a difference is if you're doing a bench copy. I know I certainly don't carry a micrometer to measure pipes on peoples guns they have made.

however, there were certain schools and certain makers who used exceptionally long pipes, it would really make a difference there.

Thanks for your input, Mike. Like I said I wanted to make sure I didn't cross into Fantasy Land.