This is an Artillery rammer from the Civil War. It has been heavily modified from it's original configuration. The overall length of the rammer is 50", where the standard length of these artillery implements is over 7' in length. The standard rammer had a cup shaped wooden piece on one end, used to ram projectiles and charges down the cannon tube. Many times the staff would be marked to indicate when particular projectiles were fully seated in the tube. The opposite end of the rammer would have a cylindrical wooden piece, covered with a wool sponge. This was used with a water bucket to extinguish any burning embers before the next round was rammed. These vitally important pieces were made entirely of wood. This particular rammer is only 50" in length, and has only a rammer, no provisions for a sponge. The staff is made up of an iron tube that is 31" in length, with a 14 1/2" wooden spindle protruding from it. The metal tube is threaded and has a large hex nut butted up against the rammer. The tapered rammer itself is 4.30" in diameter, and is 4 1/2" in length. There have been two 5/8" iron bands added to the rammer. This piece came out of north Georgia. The patina of the metal and wood show that this one has been together in this configuration for a long time. I suspect that this rammer was cobbled together out of necessity towards the end of the war. If you have an Artillery collection this one will make a great conversation piece!

Item # AA1228

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