primative cleaning.

[kybackwoodsman]

ok im curious. when at home i clean my rifle smoothbore ect with a cleanin jag and patches. but how did early frontiersmen do it with such a limited supply of cloth patching and how would i recreate this.

[david32cal]

tow,and a tow worm

[kybackwoodsman]

   ok tow tow tow what is tow that would be good for this?

[Dogshirt]

Unspun, or more correctly, NONspun flax or hemp fibers.

[kybackwoodsman]

flax or hemp... hmm. ok. not much of that growin wild in ky.

[david32cal]

you can get tow from this lady,large bags very cheap.

yarns@bellsouth.net
901-324-2878
Silver Shuttle
2547 Madison
Memphis, TN. 38112-4311

there are several places to get tow worms and several types of them,i like the wire ones that twist on to the end of your ramrod.
http://www.redaviscompany.com/accessories.html
http://www.trackofthewolf.com/Search.aspx?search=tow%20worm
http://www.smilingfoxforgellc.com/tow_worm.asp

[pathfinder]

In Bakers book's "A Pilgrims Journey",he demonstrates very well the use of tow on a "spring' type worm. Once you do this a few times,you'll wonder what your doing with all the concoctions we all have been using all these years! The fouling really IS water soluble!