Why can't I find a good straight-handle cleaning kit?

Sounds like a business opportunity for someone with metal craft abilities. I’d buy one of these for sure.

Guy48065 said:

My favorite cleaning rod is a straight handle with ball bearings allowing the rod to turn, + 4 8" SS rods. The handle has a sliding brass cone that helps with guiding the rod into the barrel, like a bore guide.
I bought this years ago at a gun show and it has no name on it.

I want something similar with coated or carbon rods that can't scratch but none I've found have the short rod sections that make it convenient to use on pistols & all length rifles. I love the quality of Tipton, Dewey, etc but they don't offer segmented rods. Hoppes makes a nice straight handle but it's only 8" and they don't offer additional matching rods.

Why is this specific set impossible to find?

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My preference as well. Yours sounds like an older Kleen-Bore. I have a couple of those.

I buy every vintage rod or segment that catches my eye and keep them in a tool box drawer until I have complete sets and then commit then to uses. Once screwed together, I sand the joints smooth and then number them with rings. I've tried a couple of coatings but never warmed up to it once they were smooth and seldom inserted into a bore dry.

Even my two favorite Deweys have but a hint of their original coatings.

I figure the trend to knob/*T*-handled rods is in part the assumption of surer grip (which I don't believe) and less space taken up in cleaning kit boxes. I've been able to unscrew those knobs and replace with screwdriver handles a couple of times.

Another I buy every one of when priced attractively are Marbels all-in-the-handle kits like the #99. I use them a lot and have them stashed everywhere.

Todd.

Tipton makes decent gear. The ones that I have do have a coating

https://www.tiptonclean.com/cleaning-tools/cleaning-rods-kits/

The Tipton segmented rod kit is "temporarily unavailable".

Try Pro Shot and see if they can fill your needs.

Guy48065 said:

I want something similar with coated or carbon rods that can't scratch but none I've found have the short rod sections. . .

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If I was going to send more than $10 on a rod (and I have, many times over), it would have zero joints! I really like my Tipton carbon rods, but I wouldn't keep a free one that screwed together.

Buy a pistol rod for pistols, and one or two rifle rods for rifles.

The only use I have for segmented rods is they fit in a range bag for stoppages there that require one, and in a pack while hunting or whatever.

I use these.
https://www.amazon.com/TuffMan-Tool...115&sprefix=carbon+fiber+clean,aps,172&sr=8-5

daniel craig said:

Sounds like a business opportunity for someone with metal craft abilities. I’d buy one of these for sure.

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Agreed. I would also pick up a set like this. I like the pull through cable type but depending on muzzle devices, can be kid of a pain to fish through the end...

Dewey Rods are often rated among the best and they have some that are nylon coated. Someone already mentioned Pro-Shot and you mentioned that it was pretty much like what you have; well, Pro Shot has sort of two different levels of rods -- check out the higher priced ones, especially the set that has the rod guides and you might find what you're looking for. Pro Shot does have a four piece, "universal" kit with coated rods as does Kleenbore (my favorite). Birchwood Casey and Tuffman have coated rods, but most of them are one-piece rods. Hoppes has a carbon fiber rod that is interesting, but I haven't tried it yet. Hope this all helps. Let us know what you decide on and how it works for you.

Makes me think....might be jankey but what about getting a multi piece steel rod of a smaller diameter and putting each section in some heat shrink tubing to protect the bore from the rod?

dagger dog said:

Try Pro Shot and see if they can fill your needs.

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Good advice here...

Like some of the others, I use a Pro Shot 12” one piece .22 cal rod with the swivel handle for longer rimfire pistols. This may be what will work for you.



For larger calibers I use one piece rods with the loop built into the end of the rod.

For long guns I use one-piece coated rods; a .22-270 Dewey, a 28-35 Birchwood, a 35- 45 Tipton and a Pro Shot for shotguns. I keep them in their shipping tubes so they don’t get bent.



Stay safe.

I was thinking of getting a Pro-Shot pistol rod similar to the one Riomouse911 shows, but Amazon was out of them when I needed them. Pro-Shot does make segmented rifle rods: https://www.amazon.com/Pro-Shot-Gau...d&qid=1615179478&s=sporting-goods&sr=1-5&th=1

They seem pricey to me, but I grew up with cheap aluminum rods. I am not used to high quality cleaning equipment, I guess. Maybe I will get the Pro-Shot pistol rod after all.

Most any sporting goods carries Pro shot these days

I'll second or third the Pro-Shot. I damaged my old one piece rifle rod, and picked up a new Pro-Shot one piece rifle rod Saturday. I am impressed. Their shorter one piece pistol rods are same just shorter . They look to be well made and should stand up. TIme will tell. The best part is the reasonable price and Made in the USA.

-Jeff

My old school Outers rods could stand some reinforcements. That Birchwood Casey kit looks promising.

Names like Dewey and Tipton come to mind.both are well made rods for handgun and rifle. They also make assorted rod adapters, jags and other cleaning rod hardware. Nylon coated and ball bearing. Any reputable distributor will have their products like Brownell's or Midway to name a few.

Yes, they are not segmented but do come in assorted lengths. Likely not segmented because sectioning a carbon fiber rod is a little difficulty adding to cost. I figure buy once and cry once.

Ron

Here are a couple:

HOPPE'S Elite 1-Piece Cleaning Rod Carbon Fiber 8 x 32 Thread https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B01B496E28/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_SGM4RJ36PX98S77HZB44

Tipton 1-Piece Deluxe Cleaning Rods with Multiple Caliber Sizes and Lengths, Carbon Fiber Shaft and Hanging Hole for Cleaning, Maintenance and Gunsmithing https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B000BY56FO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_H8BVHHCTS6Z3DYZWEJ3M

Found these on an Amazon search for a Caldwell cleaning rod. Caldwell used to make screwdriver handle type cleaning rods but I haven’t seen them in a while.

The lack of a standardized male/female connectivity between rods, jags and brushes by Different companies is a real waste..