I probably started the idea of tapered ferrules being an older style, in one of my posts above. For clarification, I did not state this as a fact, but simply an opinion I have formed. I could be wrong, as that happens with alarming regularity.
Anyway...
Most of Smokey's questions pertain to the "late percussion era." In his book,
The Muzzle-Loading Cap Lock Rifle, Major Ned Roberts stated "
Back in pioneer times they used "tow" - a short, coarse hemp or flax fiber - for cleaning and oiling the rifle..." He then went on to give meticulous instructions for cleaning percussion rifles, using
cloth patches. Note that Roberts was born in 1866. He was not a nostalgic modern shooter writing from conjecture. He was there, and his book is primary source material.
Roberts also wrote about rods. A cleaning rod was used
in addition to the loading rod. He described a jag cut into one end of the cleaning rod, exactly as described by Mr. Pierce (above), and a slot of 1/8" by 1" cut in the opposite end "
to hold the dampened patches for cleaning the bore after each shot." I have made a couple of these, years ago, and they worked fine. Roberts stated that "
The loading rod is usually made with the wormer attached to one end." I don't know that this is referring specifically to the ramrod which was carried under the barrel of the rifle... He may have been describing a separate "range rod" used specifically for loading. Some worms back in the day were permanently attached to ferrules which were fastened to the rod with a crosspin. Major Roberts described these in his book, and they are also illustrated in James Goodings's book about Hudson's Bay Company trade guns.
The worm attached to the end of the loading rod may have been a two-pronged worm, permanently attached, or it may have been one of these:
Covered Ball Puller Screw. Good old Track still has these available. I believe I have seen a couple of originals, back in my dim past, but if you need further verification of their authenticity, take a gander at this article about
The Jim Beckwourth Rifle. Image #16 shows the small end of the Beckwourth rifle's ramrod, with a covered ball puller screw exactly like the one from Track. If I were to actually use one of these for pulling a ball, I would be extremely careful to keep it centered in the bore, as well as I could. I imagine a hardened steel screw could put a nasty scratch in a rifle bore if it wandered off to the side. However, I used to have an old English double in 13 gauge that had a screw of this type on the ramrod. It worked for pulling wads, and for retrieving lost patches.
Sorry, but I can't figure out how to post those pictures directly to this forum. Maybe one of the gentlemen who is not a computer ignoramus would be kind enough to do that.
From all of this, I have deduced the following: Patches are probably more period correct than tow for cleaning a rifle from the late percussion period, although older materials and techniques may have persisted in remote areas. A separate cleaning rod with a jag cut into one end and a slot cut into the other is authentic and functional for the late percussion era, and you don't have to fret about ferrules and worms. The covered "ball screw" is authentic and can be used for retrieving lost patches. If you must have a worm that screws onto or into your rod after all, I would recommend contacting Mr. Fruth, Mr. Callahan, or Mr. Emig, as suggested in a previous post.
I would strongly recommend that you get a copy of
The Muzzle-Loading Cap Lock Rifle, by Ned Roberts. You may be able to get one through interlibrary loan if you can't find or afford a copy of your own. Jim Webb also authored and illustrated a book specifically about gunworms. I think these were recently reprinted... I need to try and find one. You and I should both search this forum for more information about Mr. Webb's book. I hear its a good'un.
Good luck with all of this.
Notchy Bob
