inappropriate ram rod use

[Rifleman1776]

I am currently reading a mountain man themed fiction novel. Note: I said fiction. While a good story that borrows on a lot of historical facts, the author is using some worn out not so real ideas. e.g. He promotes the notion that mountain men only used real Hawken rifles.
However, he also includes some scenes that have me scratching my head where he got these ideas. :youcrazy: The one that bothers me the most is during their camps they cook meat over the fire holding it with their ramrods. :shocked2: A nutso thing to do in my opinion. Sure way to burn up and ruin that life saving wiping stick. Oh, well. Still a fun read.

 

[mooman76]

Maybe sticks were scarce? On the plus side, the burned gunpowder would flavor the meat. :rotf:

 

[SDSmlf]

Grease/fat from meat could toughen ramrod up? Maybe kerosene wasn’t available?

 

[coloradoclyde]

I heard a similar story but it was soldiers using steel ramrods.

I'd attribute it to "artistic license" and "dramatic affect". :haha:

 

[necchi]

Maybe sticks were scarce?

:rotf:
Especially around the fire they built to cook the meat.

 

[coloradoclyde]

Buffaler chips.... :haha:

 

[Rifleman1776]

I heard a similar story but it was soldiers using steel ramrods.

I'd attribute it to "artistic license" and "dramatic affect". :haha:

Definitely is creative license. But, what bothers me is, in this ml/ronny game some beginners will believe anything they read. There are quite a few mountain man books out there that are great reads but the 'facts' presented are often based on imagination.

 

[coloradoclyde]

I'm sure that somewhere sometime someone actually used their ramrod to cook over the fire.....

Just like someone probably killed a native by shooting them with their ramrod....Doesn't mean ramrod target shoots will be on the Friendship roster.

When it comes to stupid things there are no limits or bounds to what people will do....It's how humans have learned for aeons.

 

[azmntman]

I once used my ramrod to hit the unlock button as my son pried open the top of the door on his S-10 Blazer :redface:

 

[coloradoclyde]

:haha: :thumbsup:

 

[dodger]

I use a ramrod to turn off the fire alarm when I'm cooking .

 

[coloradoclyde]

I use a ramrod to turn off the fire alarm when I'm cooking .

Well, that's one way to make smoke with it.... :rotf:

 

[Colonial Boy]

I can see soldiers cooking with their ramrods; as an infantryman, many years ago, we cooked meat on our bayonets!!

Just to illustrate the point that people do funny things, as an armourer I once removed a barrel obstruction that was a broken pull through complete with a small button on the piece of shirt that had been used as a cleaning patch.

 

[Gene L]

Not with a wooden ramrods can you cook, unless you like really rare meat.

 

[Vaino]

It all depends on which end of the RR is used to cook the meat....as far as flavour. But, as far as weakening the RR due to the fire, I imagine a "big" fire wasn't used for obvious reasons and meat can be cooked w/o holding the meat directly over the flames and thereby charring the RR.

If the RR was stuck into the ground at an angle away from the flames. the grease of the meat might run down and temper the RR...better than kerosene.

Of course bushes and trees could supply "sticks" for roasting meat, fish and marshmallows over a fire......Fred

 

[RAEDWALD]

It was common for soldiers to use iron/steel ramrods as skewers for cooking over fires and bayonets as candle sticks. The candle going in the socket and the point in the ground.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

I came across a film on the youtube where a man was using a ramrod by seating the ball, then SMASHING THE ROD AGAINST A TREE to get the ball down. :rotf: :surrender: :barf:

 

[Pete44ru]

I came across a film on the youtube where a man was using a ramrod by seating the ball, then SMASHING THE ROD AGAINST A TREE to get the ball down.

Was that on the Comedy Channel ? . :rotf:

 

[coloradoclyde]

I came across a film on the youtube where a man was using a ramrod by seating the ball, then SMASHING THE ROD AGAINST A TREE to get the ball down. :rotf: :surrender: :barf:

Well, I did have to do that once to get a maxi ball to seat that was stuck half way down a dirty barrel.

You should have posted the video for all to enjoy.

 

[azmntman]

I came across a film on the youtube where a man was using a ramrod by seating the ball, then SMASHING THE ROD AGAINST A TREE to get the ball down. :rotf: :surrender: :barf:

Well, I did have to do that once to get a maxi ball to seat that was stuck half way down a dirty barrel.

You should have posted the video for all to enjoy.

:metoo: Gotta be carefull not to snap the rod though. The time I did it I was trying to get a PRB down after sticking maybe 1/2. Had just started trying the Dutch System and wasnt swiping with a damp enough patch I believe. Thats the time I ended up having a mechanic down the street assist in fabricating a ball puller/slide hammer. 4.5 hours later it came out :cursing: NO IDEA why it wouldnt go down. At home even tried a steel rod and hammer, NOPE.