DoctorWhy
Full Member
Found this brass object in a farm field that has yielded several late-1700s buttons and other era artifacts.
To my eye, it appears to be a firearm bore cleaner -- the type that you would tie to a cord, insert a rag or patch in the slot, and thread through a firearm barrel from breech to muzzle. It is brass and has a very old looking patina. At its widest 'diameter' it measures 0.518" (13.1mm).
The "key hole" (seen in the top view) would permit easy threading of a piece of rag or patch and the narrower section of the slot would securely hold it as the artifact were pulled through a firearm barrel.
The recessed hole (seen in the side view) would accept a length of 'pull' cord.
I suspect this artifact is post-Civil War era, when breech loading firearms came into common use. As I understand, earlier barrel swabbing devices were usually attached to a ramrod and inserted through the muzzle because there was no breech access... Anyways, those are my thoughts...
I am looking for any help confirming the identity and purpose of this artifact -- and any estimate of its age...
Thanks and Happy Hunting!
--Bert
To my eye, it appears to be a firearm bore cleaner -- the type that you would tie to a cord, insert a rag or patch in the slot, and thread through a firearm barrel from breech to muzzle. It is brass and has a very old looking patina. At its widest 'diameter' it measures 0.518" (13.1mm).
The "key hole" (seen in the top view) would permit easy threading of a piece of rag or patch and the narrower section of the slot would securely hold it as the artifact were pulled through a firearm barrel.
The recessed hole (seen in the side view) would accept a length of 'pull' cord.
I suspect this artifact is post-Civil War era, when breech loading firearms came into common use. As I understand, earlier barrel swabbing devices were usually attached to a ramrod and inserted through the muzzle because there was no breech access... Anyways, those are my thoughts...
I am looking for any help confirming the identity and purpose of this artifact -- and any estimate of its age...
Thanks and Happy Hunting!
--Bert
