CLEANING ROD. 489 



fit the bore of the gun at the breech end. Stamp 

 out of -|-in. thick soft leather a dozen or so wads. 

 Out of their centre work little holes with the point 

 of a penknife, just large enough to fit the neck of 

 the screw. Cut some of the wads smaller than 

 others after the holes are bored. Place a full-sized 

 one and a small one alternately on the neck of the 

 screw, and turn the screw in home ; bind this end 

 of the stick with waxed thread to strengthen against 

 a split. The leather wads should be kept soaked 

 in a wineglass or small bottle of thick oil, and may 

 be changed on the stick about once a year, if much 

 used. 



A gunmaker could, no doubt, turn out something 

 neater with brass ferule and washer, but it could 

 not answer better. 



At the other end of the stick, as shown in sketch, 

 saw down a 301. slit with a stout saw, bore a hole 

 through the stick previously at right angles to the 

 cut. Keep at hand, strung on a piece of wire, some 

 6in. square bits of flannel or baize. Dip one 

 lightly in turpentine, and, after cleaning out the 

 rough dirt with the other end of the rod, work this 

 end through. The flannel should be folded across 

 and put in the slit, and a scrap of cord firmly tied 

 through the hole to keep it fast. The bits of 

 flannel can be washed when required, and cleaner 

 bits kept for the final polishing.* 



* Do not push the rod right through at first^ but place the muzzle 

 ends of the barrels against a piece of soft wood or felt hung on the 

 wall. Push the leather head up and down till all the dirt is collected 

 at the end of each barrel, then push the rod through and finish off 

 with the rag. 



