References for patched ball in a smoothbore?

[tg]

What type of docums are there for the use of PRB in smoothbores this would be aimed more at civy guns, I suspect they were used but wadding of some sort and bare ball was the norm. particulary with the wide range of ball sizes one might come across, you could grab a handfull of balls  out of a barrel for a .62 gun that might range from .562-600 in size.

[Capt. Jas.]

To date I have found no references for the 18th century. It seems to me at this point it could be something started by modern BP shooters to replicate the way they were accustomed to shooting a rifle when the smoothbore craze came about.

[mario]

After looking through primary sources for the 18th century (F&I and RevWar), I have yet to uncover ANY use of a patched ball, military or civilian.

Wadding was the norm.

Mario

[tg]

That is what I have found, rilfes usimg patched balls go back past the middle of the 18th century it would seem that there would be some duplication of useage in the smoothguns, not looking for a if they had it they would have used it mindset  just thinking out loud. A thin patch is a quick way to load and keep the ball in place, it seems odd that there would be no usage as many smoothbores as there were from say 1730 on, I suspect at some time some period evidence will arise to validate this practice thou it be the uncommon approach.

[mario]

My philosophy about it is this.

If you lived in, say, New England, where rifles were practically unknown until after the RevWar, would you have thought to patch the ball?

Maybe. But I don't think so.

Mario

[tg]

Good example though in places the rifle was well known it may have been an inspiration, and at some time as rifleing was being developed what was being used before the patch? and what caused someone to think to use the patch , was it used to hold the ball in place or remove the fouling trapped in the straight rifling and later spiraled rifling, I have never heard much concerning the original usage of the patch in relationship with rifleing.which came first the chicken or the egg.

[mario]

As far as being an inspriation in rifle-using areas...maybe. But there is no documentation to prove it that I know of.


From what I've been able to gather, rifled arms appeared before patched ball. The Swiss/Germans were loading a tight-fitting bare ball, sometimes hammered down the bore.

The PRB in a rifle is supposedly an American (Pennsylvania German) innovation, but I haven't nailed down anything specific.


Mario