Striped sponge/rammer

[SLOTHEAD]

I have seen sponges colored in stripes and they all seem to have rammer heads (opposite) that are countersunk or relieved in the center as if to protect a Bormann fuse. Is this striped sponge an indicator that the rammer end is designed for fuzed shells?

 

[SLOTHEAD]

It turns out that the rammer’s construction technique (per the 1862 Ordnance Manual for Officers) indicates that the rammer head is bored to press fit the sponge shaft and the two parts are press fit leaving 3/8 “ open space that just happens to be the same diameter as the Bormann fuse, so it’s coincidental.