Tow is untwisted fiber from the flax plant and can be used to clean your musket, start fires and for stuffing. The tow comes by the hank, when unfolded it is about 3' long and about 1/2" round and weigh very little. I carry tow in my shooting bags and cartridge box for cleaning using a tow worm which you can find in our store. The tow can be used more than once for cleaning, I also let the tow dry after cleaning and use it to start fires with it. The tow is also used in flint&steel Cleaning with tow at reenactments is a good authentic demonstration of how muskets were cleaned in the 18th century.