Cleaning "in the field"

[Gibbs]

Soldiers on both sides fought battles sometimes lasting days. How did them maintain their rifles for cleaning? I know it sounds rather simplistic to ask such a question, but I take mine all apart and take out the nipple, and with just the barrel I immerse the end in a small bucket of very HOT water with Dawn dish soap and have a swab that I use to suck up water and push it back out again and finally use a Hoppe's Tynex (type of nylon) brush to clean it further. They didn't have hot water tanks, nor Dawn dish water, and I used a black powder formula lubricant that is good for bullets, patches and for swabbing the barrel to keep the rust down. It's called Wonder Lube 1000 PLUS. Pretty sure they didn't have that either. They might have had lard, kerosene, beef tallow, and such, but pretty sure they didn't even have crude oil back in those days.

You're shooting and you want to get out some of the BP residue and keep the bore from rusting until you get a chance to really clean it. What do you all use? You've shot a bunch and want to swab it out a bit to keep right on shooting. What do you all use?

Just curious about something. They all say no petroleum oils or products, although I think any shooter in that day would really like something like even motor oil. So, why is modern oils bad to use with BP rifles?

 

[johan_steele]

They used the implements designed for the task they were issued. A worm/ wiper attached to the threads of the ramrod, a bit of tow or a rag, boiling water or cold as the situation demanded and a drop or two of oil. They also had a musket tool to remove the nipple as needed.

 

[captaindrew]

Here is a reproduction Enfield oil bottle I carry in the field. There were many oils available at the time, vegtibal oils, whale oils, mineral oils, and some petroleum products were just coming around. I remember there was a preferred oil but I forget it off the top of my head. If they had no oil available I've read they would use a little cooking oil, grease, animal fats.

 

[captaindrew]

If they required heavy cleaning/polishing they would use a slurry made of rotten stone or fire ash.

 

[Gibbs]

Here is a reproduction Enfield oil bottle I carry in the field. There were many oils available at the time, vegetable oils, whale oils, mineral oils, and some petroleum products were just coming around. I remember there was a preferred oil but I forget it off the top of my head. If they had no oil available I've read they would use a little cooking oil, grease, animal fats.

Very cool bottle! You speak of "vegetable" oils, is that like corn oil or cottonseed oil? I am pretty sure canola oil and sunflower oil was not around then, but perhaps peanut oil was.

Why are Petroleum oil products not used in Black Powder rifles/weapons?

 

[Gibbs]

They used the implements designed for the task they were issued. A worm/ wiper attached to the threads of the ramrod, a bit of tow or a rag, boiling water or cold as the situation demanded and a drop or two of oil. They also had a musket tool to remove the nipple as needed.

Johan, a bit of rag or towel on the end of the ramrod worm? Would this be used occasionally during the battles, or was this idea of cleaning more relegated to the night, end of the day?

Was they any night fighting, or just battles during daylight hours where you could see target and sights?

It appears oil made it's mark on the scene in 1859 and there was kerosene, a type of distillate, from crude oil at the time of the Civil War. ref: https://www.history.com/topics/oil-industry

 

[captaindrew]

Very cool bottle! You speak of "vegetable" oils, is that like corn oil or cottonseed oil? I am pretty sure canola oil and sunflower oil was not around then, but perhaps peanut oil was.

Why are Petroleum oil products not used in Black Powder rifles/weapons?

Thanks, Regimental Quartermaster had some, I'll look and see if they are still on their site. Yes on the oils. You can use petroleum oils but they tend to cause more fouling, the soot like to stick to it for whatever reason. I made the mistake of overdoing it with the Hoppe's once with my Springfield and it was a mess. I've had good results with Ballistol, it's what I have in my bottle.

 

[captaindrew]

I looked if you're interested in the oil bottle they still have them listed, regtqm.com click on gun supplies. I thought it was a nice touch with my gun tools and a handy way to carry a little oil on me at reenactments.

 

[johan_steele]

Johan, a bit of rag or towel on the end of the ramrod worm? Would this be used occasionally during the battles, or was this idea of cleaning more relegated to the night, end of the day?

Was they any night fighting, or just battles during daylight hours where you could see target and sights?

It appears oil made it's mark on the scene in 1859 and there was kerosene, a type of distillate, from crude oil at the time of the Civil War. ref: https://www.history.com/topics/oil-industry

Neat oil as well as sperm oil were common. Any fine oil will work.

Units were often rotated out of the line so they could replenish ammo, water and clean arms as needed. Using period ammo a minimum of 40 rounds between cleaning was quite possible. All you need to clean quickly is hot water and a couple patches. I've read of cold water, coffee, vinager being used as well as urine in a pinch. No one will ever catch me using urine... Hot barrel near sensitive parts. No thank you very much.

There were battles in all weather and at all hours. Night fighting was confusing and nasty but it happened.