Euroarms Kentuckian 44 cal Ramrod Length?

jaguar

jaguar

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south eastern ontario
I've recently picked up a near new 44 cal Kentuckian percussion rifle made by Euroarms in 1971. The ramrod unfortunately has about 4 - 5" broken/missing. What is puzzling is that the bore depth is 35" and the ramrod slot under the barrel is only 32 1/2 " from muzzle to bottom. There is nothing broken off and stuck in the bottom of the hole near the lock, certain of this. The ball and load fill about 2 1/2", thus if the original ramrod was not long enough to hang out past the muzzle it would have to be pushed down flush when reloading. Wondering if anyone has a similar rifle of this vintage, if they could let me know the length of the ramrod. Also, could it have been a 2-piece with a starter??? My understanding is that Euroarms went from 44 cal to 45 cal soon after (guessing about 1974) to standardize more with American tastes, but an early 45 cal would likely be similar.
Thoughts welcome
Thanks & Cheers
Jaguar/TheCounty
 
Is the ramrod slot measured from the end of the barrel ? I would think that if there is enough space to not hit the tang screw or any other part you could make the hole a little deeper.

Having a ramrod sticking past the muzzle looks bad in my opinion. My ramrod on my traditions penslyannia sits inside the muzzle about an inch or more when unloaded.

Cheers, McLean
 
Yes, measured from end of barrel. May gain 3/4" if drilled longer. Hole slants to one side and would hit lock if extended. Not sure if this was by design on the early batch of repros. Kinda thought it should come out under lock. Thanks for the reply. Kept the original for show & use newer rod for loading.
Cheers
Jaguar
 
Ramrod hole should be straight down the middle or deviated slightly away from the lock mortice and terminate directly below the breech plug so the ramrod can be at least as long as the overall barrel. Sounds like the ramrod butts up against the front of the mainspring. Could you access the rear end of the ramrod hole from the lock mortice and redirect the ramrod hole down the centre line of the stock and past the lock mortice using a Dremel or chisel then insert a thin sliver of wood to isolate the ramrod hole from the lock mortice? Some ramrods are visible from the lock mortice and it doesn't really matter as long as it clears the lock parts. Otherwise, could you taper the rear end of the ramrod to clear the lock parts and extend all the way to the breech? A short ramrod id a pain to load with and one that is too long makes it difficult to cut patches and use a short starter at the muzzle when loading.
 
Thanks Ol Flinter, I kinda thought as much. Also considered the redrill idea but it would be delicate & iffy surgery.
Will likely leave as is. Not sure if it was a "factory" second, or if they miscalculated on what was needed on the early batches of this type of
reproduction coming out of Italy. Enjoying shooting it very much however, & impressed with the effectiveness of a round ball.
Cheers
Jaguar
 
If indeed there is nothing blocking the bottom of the hole, the best fix might to be to open a channel under the barrel, connecting with the drilled hole, as long as needed to allow a full length rod to be seated. Once a proper length ramrod will fit, cut a slip of wood and epoxy it in place to close the groove under the barrel. You could even synthetic bed the bottom of the barrel at the same time if you wished. The repair will not be evident externally.
 
I have a Kentuckian in .50 cal. the ramrod is 35" (34 7/8 to be precise) and it has brass fittings both ends. The ram end is a ball cup about 1" long, and the end that goes in the gun is a brass eyelet for a swab, abt 1 1/4" long. The bore depth is the same as the rod. If your rod pocket is only 32", I'm betting the missing end of the ramrod is down the hole. About 2" from the bottom of the hole is a pair of brass leaf springs that clamp the rod when you push it in the last 2", to keep it from falling out. I'm guessing if you can't seat a 35" rod all the way, either the brass end of the rod got broken and is stuck down in there, or one of the little brass leaves is bent and keeping it from seating. You're going to have to unpin the barrel from the stock and lift it out probably, unless you can get look down there by taking off the last guide and seeing what you can see with a bore light.

Btw, the Kentuckian is a good 10foot scale replica of an English Pattern Trade gun, if they wuz made in a per-cap (which they weren't - flintlock), but its nothing like a Kentucky, really. They're a nice little gun in their own right tho. An awful lot of colonists and FN would have been happy to have had one of those...:)
 
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Thanks tiriaq, the method you suggest is what I would persue if I tackle it.
Thanks Skip for the dimensions. The .50 cals were of later manufacture & as you described, made correctly. There is no piece at the bottom of the hole (as I also originally suspected). I checked with a bore light first and that is when I realized it canted to the lock side & terminated about 1/4" forward of the lock inletting. I even went as far as drilling a 1/8" hole at the front of the lock inletting forward (inside & out of sight) and came right into the base of the ramrod hole. No question at all where it lays. Measured the depth with a .22 cleaning rod, so no chance of binding.
Do appreciate the advice and data very much.
If anyone does come across an early .44 I am still curious if they were made this way, or if mine is a factory oops.
Jaguar/TheCounty
 
Your original rod may had a threaded end for a long brass cleaning tip like one of my other BP guns has - that screw-in tip extension is about 2" long, and may had originally been intended to be removed before putting the rod away. Maybe the end of the rod got broken trying to screw out a stuck ball, something I've had the joy of experiencing... They may have gone to a longer rod with a cheaper brass fitting, as on mine....
 
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