Pistol Ram Rod

[crazell]

i should have said some thing about the grain of wood I guess it have become second nature for me that I forget about saying some ting about it to a new person and for that I apologize.

No need to apologize. You've probably forgotten more information,than i know. Some day i hope to be that way.
I'm just glad when you put it out there, i can learn from you all.

[confederatemule]

Mongrel, thanks for the detailed information.
This is for anyone still reading. The Tower gun has a steel ram rod with a flat faced mushroomed head. From end to end it is 7-15/16" long, the barrel [inside] is 8.5" deep. Is the rod long enough? I figgered it was something someone added to sell the gun. Is a steel rod safe?

[graybear]

Steel ramrods are fine. They were standard on pretty much all of the military arms up thru the War Between the States. I would guess because it would be harder to break a metal ramrod than a wooden one in the heat of battle. With the Japanese Tower pistol I bought at a flea market, after you put in the powder & a patched .67 cal ball, there was plenty of rod sticking out. I got the pistol for $5.00 because the hammer just flopped around. I took it home pulled the lock & found out it didn't have a mainspring. Bought a mainspring & a few .67 balls from Dixie (remember  when you could buy a few balls @ a time?) fit the mainspring & had a working pistol. Had to sell it when money got tight. Got $50.00

[confederatemule]

Grey Beard, that is good to know. That makes rods simpler for me to build. My only concern was a spark at the wrong time.