How to Assemble a Reenacting Musket Cleaning Kit

How to Assemble a Reenacting Musket Cleaning Kit - wikiHow/**/

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A complete cleaning kit is absolutely essential for an American Civil War reenactor. In it you should have everything to clean and maintain your reenacting musket. From the outset, it's important to be sure that everything is the correct caliber for your musket, and it's also a good idea to buy many of the tools in multiples. This article sets out how to assemble your own reenacting musket cleaning kit.

edit Steps1 Caliber marking on an 1861 Springfield.Determine the caliber of your musket. Usually, the caliber can be found imprinted on the barrel, somewhere near the rear sight:.58 caliber for 1861, 1863 and 1855 Springfield's, 1853 and 1858 Enfield's, CS Richmond, and most other muskets..69 caliber for 1855 Springfield's..54 caliber for Sharps.

Cleaning Tools1 A four-piece cleaning rod.Cleaning rod: Check to see that the rod reaches all the way down the barrel, as well as having threads compatible with the attachments. A female-to-female adapter.Thread adapter: Add any necessary adapters. A female to female adapter with the same threads as the rod is usually needed. A brass bore cleaning brush.Brass bore cleaning brush: Be sure to purchase at least three brushes, because they wear out quickly. Fouling scraper.Fouling scraper: For reenactors notorious for burning large amounts of powder, a fouling scraper is a must-have. It also prolongs the life of your bore brush. Worm.Worm: Designed to retrieve lost patches from the bore, a worm is also a lifesaver if anything else happens to drop into or get stuck in the barrel of your musket. Eyelet cleaning jag.Eyelet style cleaning jag: This style of cleaning jag is less likely to get stuck down the barrel than the button style cleaning jag, although it may take longer to clean the bore of the musket. It doubles as a swab when used with a clean, dry patch. Musket Cleaning Patches.Cotton cleaning patches: These are used to clean the bore. Dip them in cleaning solvent or oil, then fold and slip them halfway through the eyelet-style cleaning jag. Steel, brass, and plastic brushes.Steel, brass, and plastic cleaning brushes: Use these for general cleaning of the exterior of your musket. Use only the plastic bristled brush for the stock, as the others will remove the wood stain. The steel or brass brush can be used to help remove rust from the lock and barrel. Small open end wrench (left), and T-handle nipple wrench (right).Nipple wrench: Use this to remove the nipple on the musket. Be certain to purchase one designated for a musket size nipple, or use a small open end wrench. Pipe cleaners designed for cleaning guns.Pipe cleaners: These are used to clean the inside of the musket nipple. Pipe cleaners designed for crafts have the tendency of leaving their lint inside the nipple, so be sure to use some made specifically for cleaning musket nipples or pipes. Cotton rag.Cotton rag: Needed for wiping off dirt and dust, as well as drying your musket.

Solvents and Oils1 Black powder bore cleaning solvent.Bore cleaning solvent: A bore cleaning solvent will help break-down black-powder residue left in your musket barrel. Many reenactors prefer to use regular dish-soap, as it usually works just as well as commercial solvent and is far cheaper. A bottle of gun oil.Oil: A bottle of gun oil is necessary for a gun cleaning kit. Applying a thin layer after cleaning will keep everything working smoothly and help prevent rust.

Organization1 Place the small attachments in a plastic bag.Place all of the small cleaning attachments into a re-closing sandwich bag so they won't get lost.2 It won't look like this for long!Deposit the tools into a toolbox or tackle-box, preferably one with a tray organizer.

edit TipsToss an extra nipple and clean-out screw (Springfield rifles only) into the kit, as losing either of these could be a big inconvenience.

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Last edited:
October 24, 2010 by Chris H

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Featured Articles | Guns and Shooting | Civil War Reenacting

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