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Proofing of a Ramrod

Posted: Sun Nov 19, 2006 8:04 pm
by pud
Source: H.L. Blackmore. British Military Firearms, 1650 to 1850. London, 1961.

**The quotation to follow was originally made by John Marshall who was the Clerk and Paymaster of the Ordinance of Birmingham in 1824. His words were captured at a Court of Enquiry;

"The Ramrods were proved by putting the end on the ground and taking the head in the hand and pressing upon it, and bending it in various directions; if after this proof it continued straight, it was taken hold of in the middle by one hand and held vertically the head downwards, at a considerable distance above an anvil and allowed to fall upon its head, in order to make it ring, and to ascertain whether it was sound, if it resisted these proofs, it was marked under the head and received into store."