Another Ramrod Question

[50th VA Corporal]

I originally thought the slot in the end of the Enfield ramrods was for a piece of cloth to clean the barrel; until I used it.

I later surmised that is was to put an impliment into, such as the screw driver end on a nipple wrench, to gain a little more leverage when using a worm or screw tipped type bullet puller; until I tried to put one in and finding it was too wide to fit into it.

Certainly the slot is not mearly ornamental. What am I missing here?

[brown30741]

But it will help you to grip the rammer when using it with implements on the other end. However, it has been a common belief it was a cleaning jag, and those of us who have tried it now understand it ain't.

[wmkane]

It WAS meant to be a cleaning jag . . . it's just that the reproductions are 2 pieces. The originals are 1 piece. Therefore the repros aren't meant for cleaning your rifle with as they were originally designed.

Yet another reason I wish that someone would make a repro of this essential piece of equipment that is proper.

[Blair]

It is important to note at this point that the "field" cleaning Regs. found in the respective Manuals are intended for keeping the "field" serviceable of the specific weapon in question, in usable condition... in the field!
Not intended to actually clean the weapon over long periods of time.
If you want to read more about this "long" term cleaning of such weapons, you will have to read deeper into those very same Manuals. And the ram rod does not cut it by itself... expert as a field expedient measure.

[flattop32355]

It WAS meant to be a cleaning jag . . .

Is there documentation that supports this?

[Curt-Heinrich Schmidt]

Hallo!

My computer died, a freak internal serge fried the motherboard, hard drive, and a bunch of other things (the surge protector is intact).

I have to consult with a tech lab to see if they can download my picture reference folder and document folder- so I cannot post the citation of the British instructions to use the slot as a "jag."

Perhaps someone else can post them as it may be a while, or never, before I might can get my reference docs back.

BUT, as Herr Blair shared, using the tool slot for a slot for a rag/patch, or the knurled tip, was a field cleaning expedient in the absence of the Privates or Sergeants tools.

Using it today for a modern 2 X 2 gun cleaning or GI patch is the step just prior to using a worm to remove the lost patch.

CHS

[Rob Weaver]

I've used it as a cleaning jag, before I knew that the modern two-piece rammers may come apart. It's a dandy Sharps cleaning rod, regardless. :D
Although I'm inclined to believe Curt's testimony that it is noted as a cleaning jag in the period manual, I think this is a case of "if it quacks like a duck." A slotted apparatus fitted on the end of the stick that you're going to use to clean your musket anyway. And it's obvious use is... ?