Wanna know why your M1 rifle stock has so much oil impregnated in it?

Trepang · Jun 18, 2021

Wanna know why your M1 rifle stock has so much oil impregnated in it?

Take a gander here . . . Marines on Iwo Jima.

To save time, jump to the two minute mark.

https://www.criticalpast.com/video/...s-repair_rifle-dipped-in-cosmoline_small-cart

Copied from the CMP Forum

shocker998md · Jun 18, 2021

Keep em wet!

Combloc · Jun 18, 2021

It looks like they are being prepared for storage.

Bullfrog · Jun 18, 2021

Trepang said:
Wanna know why your M1 rifle stock has so much oil impregnated in it?

Take a gander here . . . Marines on Iwo Jima.

To save time, jump to the two minute mark.

https://www.criticalpast.com/video/...s-repair_rifle-dipped-in-cosmoline_small-cart

Copied from the CMP Forum

Very cool video. The caption says its being dipped in cosmoline... but that looks like used motor oil to me.

If cosmoline were warm enough to drip and run off like that he wouldn't be plunging them into it with his hands.

ETA: I may be mistaken... I see its currently sold in aerosol and liquid form as well as a grease-like substance. https://www.originalcosmoline.com/shop/original-cosmoline-rust-veto-342/

TI-tick · Jun 18, 2021

Looks to me like they were culling the heard.
Validating the firearms had function issues then prepping for shipment for arsenal rebuild.
Love the footage of the BAR.

traveller · Jun 19, 2021

Cracks me up when people make expansive claims about why their particular C&R item is different from all the others. They were literally stacked like cordwood , can't believe that there is much of a custody record beyond the unit level.

River02 · Jun 19, 2021

Very Nice footage--- hey Mac..can ya just slip one or two of each under my bunk so I can ship them home direct...

Ngrovcam · Jun 30, 2021

Great clip!! A real dose of reality as to
how our treasured firearms were once
handled when they were “there”.

So if you project out a bit, much is
explained. For example, if one of those
Garands was an early one and
had, say, a lower hand guard that was
messed up and that had to be replaced,
possibly with a spare from a different
manufacturing era, we might be scratching
our heads saying, well that clip wasn’t
used with that serial number range…or
that bolt is too late for that serial number.
Makes one think as to whether a restoration
to totally correct is a good idea.
Anyhow, OP, a great clip - thanks!!!

JohnC · Jul 6, 2021

Ngrovcam said:
Great clip!! A real dose of reality as to
how our treasured firearms were once
handled when they were “there”.

So if you project out a bit, much is
explained. For example, if one of those
Garands was an early one and
had, say, a lower hand guard that was
messed up and that had to be replaced,
possibly with a spare from a different
manufacturing era, we might be scratching
our heads saying, well that clip wasn’t
used with that serial number range…or
that bolt is too late for that serial number.
Makes one think as to whether a restoration
to totally correct is a good idea.
Anyhow, OP, a great clip - thanks!!!

Agree. People lament over "Mix Masters" but I always think to myself, this is just the journey a firearm has gone on. I have an m1 and all the parts are correct Springfield except the bolt and barrel (HRA/Criterion). So it was swapped at CMP likely. Might get around to finding a NOS bolt and a period correct barrel once the life leaves the barrel currently on it, might not. Rifle looks good and shoots good.

Doco Overboard · Jul 6, 2021

The real reason the rifles are being dipped in oil is because of the corrosive nature of the sulpher and volcanic remnants/activity on Iwo.
If you could ever see the after/ combat reports from the corps for small arms on the island it indicates rifles seizing/malfunction in about 4-6 hrs or so.
Evidently the environment was such that they were being eaten right up even while not placed into immediate use because of the conditions, salt water etc.
Maybe it was recent GCA or somewhere online the reports/dox can be found for reading.

Trepang · Jul 6, 2021

Doco Overboard said:
The real reason the rifles are being dipped in oil is because of the corrosive nature of the sulpher and volcanic remnants/activity on Iwo.
If you could ever see the after/ combat reports from the corps for small arms on the island it indicates rifles seizing/malfunction in about 4-6 hrs or so.
Evidently the environment was such that they were being eaten right up even while not placed into immediate use because of the conditions, salt water etc.
Maybe it was recent GCA or somewhere online the reports/dox can be found for reading.

The most recent issue of GCA Journal had an article on after action reports.

Doco Overboard · Jul 6, 2021

Trepang said:
The most recent issue of GCA Journal had an article on after action reports.

Yep P19 however it reads if oil was used sparingly, maybe that bunch didn't get the memo.
Somewhere in one of the vaults I have a jap rifle impregnated with black sandy grit. The inside of the rifle, chiefly the in-letting is covered with a nasty black axle type of grease all caked together with bits of rust and grime. Also has a broken wrist with intact mum.
Only thing that wasn't affected too badly is the chrome bolt face and mag well- internals and such.
Have no idea how it all got there but it's a pretty good one for being around the block some.
Sometimes you see British empire rifles painted or greased in the barrel channel reinforce area. Green, or remnants of it

gtodave · Jul 16, 2021

Bullfrog said:
Very cool video. The caption says its being dipped in cosmoline... but that looks like used motor oil to me.

If cosmoline were warm enough to drip and run off like that he wouldn't be plunging them into it with his hands.

ETA: I may be mistaken... I see its currently sold in aerosol and liquid form as well as a grease-like substance. https://www.originalcosmoline.com/shop/original-cosmoline-rust-veto-342/

I like how he leans over the vat with a lit cigarette... :lol2:

fogman · Jul 25, 2021

Is it oil or military bore cleaner? I've got a small bottle I inherited from my father. I assume he got from one if his Navy buddies while he was in the service. He kept it in a glass mouthwash bottle with just a handwritten "military bore cleaner" label. It's not like military bore cleaner from the green can. It has a thicker oil like consistency

Trepang · Jul 26, 2021

No idea ... I just shared the link because I though it was interesting.

I wish I knew more about it.

Wanna know why your M1 rifle stock has so much oil impregnated in it?

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