chawbeef
40 Cal.
Just wondering what other straight grained woods were used besides Hickory for ramrods??
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Ramrod alternatives
- Thread starter chawbeef
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longcruise
70 Cal.
Your question is going to be split into answers based on what was done and what is done, so I'll just go ahead and get it over with. 
I have no idea what was used and it would probably be difficult to study a large enough sample of rods in existence to come to solid conclusions.
Here in my part of the west, there are no naturally occurring hickory trees. In fact, a trapper in the mountain man era in my neck of the woods, for example, would not have many choices in materials for a rod. A couple that come to mind are oak and serviceberry.
I have used quite a few straight grained oak dowels and have never broken one. Probably many straight grained hardwoods would serve well. The only rods I've ever had break were rods supplied with some of the Italian and Spanish kit guns.
I have no idea what was used and it would probably be difficult to study a large enough sample of rods in existence to come to solid conclusions. Here in my part of the west, there are no naturally occurring hickory trees. In fact, a trapper in the mountain man era in my neck of the woods, for example, would not have many choices in materials for a rod. A couple that come to mind are oak and serviceberry.
I have used quite a few straight grained oak dowels and have never broken one. Probably many straight grained hardwoods would serve well. The only rods I've ever had break were rods supplied with some of the Italian and Spanish kit guns.
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Some guns used Ash for ramrods, because its flexible some exotic woods were used too like Tiger wood and Ebony.
Oak is too brittle and too hard.
Traditionally most ramrods were made of Hickory. Brown Bess wooden ramrods were mostly made of Hickory with some being made of Ash.
https://www.muzzleblasts.com/archives/vol2no1/mboj1.shtml
Oak is too brittle and too hard.
Traditionally most ramrods were made of Hickory. Brown Bess wooden ramrods were mostly made of Hickory with some being made of Ash.
https://www.muzzleblasts.com/archives/vol2no1/mboj1.shtml
I do not know that it was ever used in the past, but it was a popular wood for areas that were shocked as it is so tough. Elm, ash and hickory tougher brother, I’m guessing would have found its way under some guns.
Wiping sticks were transported to the original rendezvous since hickory was few and far between.
Used right a wooden ramrod shouldn’t break, but ramrods seem to reproduce by them selves since each of my guns have several.
Wiping sticks were transported to the original rendezvous since hickory was few and far between.
Used right a wooden ramrod shouldn’t break, but ramrods seem to reproduce by them selves since each of my guns have several.
I've been having good luck with oak. Not sure which species it is, red I think. Big box store oak dowels, usually have to look through the entire bin to find 2 or 3 that are suitable with minimal run-out. Going on ten years, no failures yet.
longcruise
70 Cal.
Never found oak to be too brittle or hard. OTOH, I think that correctly used many choices will work. Most of us have probably observed some cringeworthy techniques!
rich pierce
70 Cal.
No need to use anything but hickory. It was used more than any other wood for ramrods because it’s the best.
N.Y. Yankee
32 Cal.
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Oak works just fine but you have to be careful carving the ends. Maple works real well and is easier to work and more readily available. YMMV
I bet some straight grained birch is good.
Cedars too.
Bear in mind I only load easy loading components, I don't believe in having to pound stuff down!.
Cedars too.
Bear in mind I only load easy loading components, I don't believe in having to pound stuff down!.
Should you grab the rod near the muzzle and drive home with short strokes even a hardware store dowel will work. Breakage happens when one grasp the end and tries to drive home in one long stroke. The rod can bow, bend and snap.
Short stokes near the muzzle give no room to bow... no snap.
Im thinking Dog wood was popular arrow wood, that too should stand to drive home a ball or two.
Short stokes near the muzzle give no room to bow... no snap.
Im thinking Dog wood was popular arrow wood, that too should stand to drive home a ball or two.
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At only $3-$4 each for hickory I see no need to look any further. I'm not stuck in a westward expansion emergency without a ramrod.
Plus, even Home Labyrinth up here sells dowels for a lot more than $3.
Plus, even Home Labyrinth up here sells dowels for a lot more than $3.
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Never found oak to be too brittle or hard. OTOH, I think that correctly used many choices will work. Most of us have probably observed some cringeworthy techniques!
Depends on the species of Oak, most Oak that is available for Dowels and Turning is used for things that are ‘immobile’ such as banisters, railings and furniture legs. Thinner Oak Dowels (usually red oak) is what you’d find at a craft store or Lowes or Home Depot which is a more flexible and sturdy Oak.
White Oak I would not use.
In any circumstance, Hickory is both harder and more flexible than Oak and has a better grain and is overall the better choice.
If you could ever find it, Ebony would be almost as strong as a fibreglass ramrod.
That seems to be my experience exactly.
Before I buy any dowel, I inspect it for grain run-out and then tiller it like you would a bow, checking it for even flexibility.
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I could find it if I had to. I used to buy it at Condon Hardwoods in NY. Made fingerboards for fretted instruments with it. You would have to rip it and round it yourself, not to mention it costs a fortune by the board foot.
If I were out somewhere, no source for a store-bought stick, I guess that I would look for white ash; strong and flexible enough for snow-shoe making.
I once contracted to buy a pallet of ebony from South Africa. The price was reasonable and I was sure I could resell at a good profit. But, the quoted cost of air freight was a killer. Cancelled order.
Brokennock
Cannon
Are we talking field expedient or pc/HD homemade? Or just something that could be made at home for something different. In the 1st 2 cases I'd look for wood that is used for whitewood bow making, oh, hickory tops that list, but also elm would be good but is so hard to split and probably impossible to split out straight. I've heard of ash being used for long bows. Haven't tried it.
In the second case, home made, not hc/pc, but something different,,, what about bamboo? I'm thinking split and pieced together like for a fly rod, but with less taper.
In the second case, home made, not hc/pc, but something different,,, what about bamboo? I'm thinking split and pieced together like for a fly rod, but with less taper.
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Ash is very good wood for ramrods. Most English Musket ramrods before 1755 were made of Ash, as was the English Long Bow.
