Hope this goes through because I just set my subscription to nomail.  Am
leaving for a dig tomorrow morning and won't be back until the end of the
month.  Several of my muzzleloading rifle have brass ramrod "thimbles" with
holes on opposites sides.  The thimbles hold the ramrod underneath the
barrell of the firearm.  The thimbles are screwed onto the a rib on the
uderside of the barrell.  a samll screw is placed through the hole both
holes and screwed into the rib so that one side of tube is held tight.  The
other hole is just to allow access to the screw which holds the other side
to the barrell rib.  However, I have never seen a brass ramrod thimble with
a threaded end.

I do have a couple of solid brass ramrod adapters which screw into the end
of the ramrod and aloow the use of accessories different diameters or sizes
of sizes of threads.  Whould love to see photos of the ENDS of the object
when I get back.

Meanwhile, I am off like a dirty shirt!

Smoke.


Smoke (Michael A.) Pfeiffer, RPA
Ozark-St. Francis National Forests
605 West Main Street
Russellville, Arkansas 72801
(479) 968-2354  Ext. 233
e-mail:  [log in to unmask]

It is easier to get forgiveness than permission.



                                                                                                                
                      Tom Langhorne                                                                             
                      <tlanghor@BINGHA         To:      [log in to unmask]                                        
                      MTON.EDU>                cc:                                                              
                      Sent by:                 Subject: Re: Help ID a brass military thingy?                    
                      HISTORICAL                                                                                
                      ARCHAEOLOGY                                                                               
                      <[log in to unmask]                                                                          
                      u>                                                                                        
                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                
                      06/05/2003 02:21                                                                          
                      PM                                                                                        
                      Please respond                                                                            
                      to HISTORICAL                                                                             
                      ARCHAEOLOGY                                                                               
                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                




         I agree with Chuck and Smoke.  Sometimes there is a crimp, which
leaves dimples, other times there might be a pin which passes through holes

to secure the rod (usually wood) to the fitting.

         Tom



At 09:50 AM 6/5/03 -0800, you wrote:
>I believe that Smoke is correct with his identification even though I can
>not give you a specific cleaning impliment for reference.  I have seen
>parts that look like this, however.    They are assembled from brass
tubing
>and have an insert which is threaded to provide connection to other rod
>sections or specific tools such as what Smoke has refered to.  The insert
>is held in place by a crimp which leaves two depressions, just as you have
>discribed and pictired.
>
>Chuck
>
>
>
>
>                       Michael Pfeiffer
>                       <[log in to unmask]        To:       [log in to unmask]
>                       .US>                     cc:
>                       Sent by:                 Subject:  Re: Help ID a
> brass military thingy?
>                       HISTORICAL
>                       ARCHAEOLOGY
>                       <[log in to unmask]
>                       >
>
>
>                       06/05/03 04:50 AM
>                       Please respond to
>                       HISTORICAL
>                       ARCHAEOLOGY
>
>
>
>
>
>
>It looks a lot like a brass ramrod tip with a threaded end to accept a
>cleaning jag, patch worm or ball worm.
>
>Smoke.
>
>
>Smoke (Michael A.) Pfeiffer, RPA
>Ozark-St. Francis National Forests
>605 West Main Street
>Russellville, Arkansas 72801
>(479) 968-2354  Ext. 233
>e-mail:  [log in to unmask]
>
>It is easier to get forgiveness than permission.
>
>
>
>
>                       Cathy Spude
>
>                       <Cathy_Spude@NPS         To:      [log in to unmask]
>
>                       .GOV>                    cc:
>
>                       Sent by:                 Subject: Help ID a brass
>military thingy?
>                       HISTORICAL
>
>                       ARCHAEOLOGY
>
>                       <[log in to unmask]
>
>                       u>
>
>
>
>                       06/04/2003 05:03
>
>                       PM
>
>                       Please respond
>
>                       to HISTORICAL
>
>                       ARCHAEOLOGY
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>HISTARCHers:
>
>I had to do a little test excavation for Fort Union National Monument the
>other day and ran across something I hadn't seen before. Now that is not
>too surprising as mining and urban sites are my ballywick, not military
>sites. I DO have some help in the office, but this little guy stumped him,
>too. We both have a feeling this has something to do with guns or
>sophisticated machines or scientific tools of somekind. Its brass and very
>heavy for its size. A description with measurements is posted above the
>pictures.
>
>http://groups.msn.com/20thCenturyArtifacts/shoebox.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=1

>
>
>
>http://groups.msn.com/20thCenturyArtifacts/shoebox.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=2

>
>
>
>
>And thanks to the folks who replied to my query on selenium-clarified
>glass!
>
>
>
>
>
>   Catherine Holder Spude ¨ Archeologist ¨ Cultural Resources Management ¨
>     National Park Service ? Intermountain Region ¨ 505.988.6831Voice ¨
>                              505.988.6876 Fax
>
>
>  The National Park Service cares for special places saved by the American
>               people so that all may experience our heritage.