Powder measure, bullet muzzle starter, short starter. Always wanted to try this, had to ransack all the old antlers to find the only possible right one.
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Antler tool
- Thread starter pamtnman
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Put a small hole for a lanyard. Thinking it’ll be long, hang around my neck, be tucked in a pocket. The idea of pouring in the charge, pushing in the patched ball, and short starting the ball all with the same tool appeals to me. I’ll have to see if it really works the way I hope it will.
It fits my hand perfectly for seating the ball and then short starting it. My nails are still grimy from the project.
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Makes a lot of sense.
Glad you agree! Sometimes I get ahead of myself. It’s a primitive multitool. I’m sure other people have tried this design. Curious if it worked for them. Hope to try it today.
user 49399
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I think it’s a great idea. I gotta try to make one for myself now.
I have made several measures/starters similar to the one shown by the op. I use pieces of broken ram rods that I have acquired over the years that I epoxy at right angles to the antler. One end of the antler is hollowed out as a measure to the # of grains for the rifle being used, and the other end has a shallow depression, about ram rod diameter, for putting over the ram rod to assist with seating the ball down the barrel. I like a snug patch/ball fit so the shallow depression saves on my palm when seating the ball.
This thing has two ball -seating surfaces. What’s neat is the natural curve fits probably anyone’s hand. Grim, I’ve seen those ball starters with the old ramrod glued in. That will work better than the little nubbin on this thing. It’ll get the ball farther down bore. Obviously. What I was looking for was compactness, something I can easily hang around my neck while hunting. I still have no idea if this thing will work beyond measuring powder.
Grim, the powder measure volume on this is 110-115 grains, which leaves no room for drilling out more holes to fit the ramrod. But I’m in an antler-drilling mood and it’s soaking wet outside, so I may try a second version of this along the line of your design.
Banjo, tell us how you make out. Thanks again for the feedback
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Deerslayer
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I always wondered why I haven't seen more of something along these lines. I've considered drilling out one end of my antler/rod short starter for measuring powder.
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Pretty neat, but I'm going with the two starters (one for each bag) I just picked up from Two Feathers; Elk Handle with about 3 - 4 inches of hickory rod underneath. Solid as a rock and beautiful to boot. Check'em out, brothers, you'll thank me some time!
I like your idea, you'll have to let us know how well it works.
I'm a fan of multi-use tools that help eliminate extra items in my hunting bag as much as possible. A couple years ago I made an antler handled short starter that also serves as a palm saver. I drilled the handle with a shallow indent on one side for a starter nub to be glued in (which I made from a spent 7mm/08 case), and also shallow drilled a spot in the bottom center where I glued in a 4" piece of 3/8 hickory rod with a RB starter on the end. I tossed around the idea of drilling one end for a powder measure but I didn't think the shape and diameter would allow enough room for my hunting charge, so instead I just drilled a hole into one end about 2-1/2" deep. I put the end of the ram rod into it for a palm saver. I can also use it to grip the ram rod for pulling out a tight fitting jag/cleaning swab by applying sideways pressure on it so the ram rod is pinched.
My PRB load is very tight fitting so a palm saver is nice to have when doing the last bit of seating onto the powder so you feel that "crunch".
One of these days I'll get around to making another one with a bit bigger piece of antler for the handle so I can drill the other end for a powder measure too.
I'm a fan of multi-use tools that help eliminate extra items in my hunting bag as much as possible. A couple years ago I made an antler handled short starter that also serves as a palm saver. I drilled the handle with a shallow indent on one side for a starter nub to be glued in (which I made from a spent 7mm/08 case), and also shallow drilled a spot in the bottom center where I glued in a 4" piece of 3/8 hickory rod with a RB starter on the end. I tossed around the idea of drilling one end for a powder measure but I didn't think the shape and diameter would allow enough room for my hunting charge, so instead I just drilled a hole into one end about 2-1/2" deep. I put the end of the ram rod into it for a palm saver. I can also use it to grip the ram rod for pulling out a tight fitting jag/cleaning swab by applying sideways pressure on it so the ram rod is pinched.
My PRB load is very tight fitting so a palm saver is nice to have when doing the last bit of seating onto the powder so you feel that "crunch".
One of these days I'll get around to making another one with a bit bigger piece of antler for the handle so I can drill the other end for a powder measure too.
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Here’s my take on it.
Minimization was indeed the driving force on this. Please don't tell anyone I said this, but my old possibles bag is a bigger mixed up mess than my wife's purse. It contains every possible thingy bob and gewgaw and then some more. When I got a new rifle, I decided it was time to get a new bag to go with that gun only, and that it would contain only those things absolutely necessary to hunting. This antler multitool was Step One in my Possibles Bag Junk Recovery Process. But several commenters here, including you, have mentioned the palm saver, and I am wondering if there is enough room somewhere on this large piece of antler to drill a 3/8" hole for the ramrod. Anyhow, today was supposed to be a shooting day, but it was a Make A Living Now day, instead, and tomorrow has turned into that same thing. Maybe Wednesday I will report back on how this tool worked, or did not work. Thank you for your nice comment
Looks effective! Reminds me of my grandfather's meerschaum (sp?) pipes. Does the NMLRA allow those brass casings on black powder items? Will that be DQ'd? ;-)
Great idea! I’m sure it will serve you well.
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. I don’t worry about being DQ’D. Squirrels and groundhogs won’t tell.
I doubt if I’ll ever use it much though since I use loose fitting loads that don’t require a short starter. I really just wanted to make one after seeing yours.What are we making next?
Banjo, as I am one of the least talented men on this forum, I take great pride in being able to do anything creative with my hands, like making this basic antler tool. For me, making this is like discovering fire. Yeah, there are a lot of guys who see every tool and implement and car engine in 3-D and they can fix anything with a bobby pin. Those guys have my admiration and severe envy, and they are in no danger of being one-upped by me. So what are we making next? I like the ramrod palm saver. I might give that a try. Instead of doing my work or playing with antler today, I helped a friend figure out what happened to a buck he arrowed but that got away. He did go home with a big fat trophy doe, so it was not all a bust for him. But I did nothing of any real consequence. Certainly nothing to impress Banjo or anyone else on the forum here. Thanks for your encouragement
Great idea, looks like you found just the right piece to do it with too,
If anything, I'd take down a bit more of the button for the "short start" usage.
Keeping the button on is appealing to the eye for beholders in some applications, but sometimes not so much useful for the user.
Most of them olde hand tools are "smooth" so they don't hurt the hand,,
If anything, I'd take down a bit more of the button for the "short start" usage.
Keeping the button on is appealing to the eye for beholders in some applications, but sometimes not so much useful for the user.
Most of them olde hand tools are "smooth" so they don't hurt the hand,,
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