"Unissued" Savage No.4MkI*

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Originally Posted by Meshuggah

Looks great! The color of the wood is beautiful...

So what really is the difference between RLO and BLO? Is it just the finish like mentioned?

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The biggest single difference, in practical terms, is that BLO is just RLO that is treated and had some additives put in so that the oil on the outer surface of the wood will "polymerize", which basically means it will harden - not quite dry, but very hard - think of the outer film on old spruce sap.

BLO, once hard, is a little more resistant to water than RLO. If you add a lot of BLO and allow it to "dry" between coats, it can actually build up the surface, fill in grain and sanding lines, etc. Eventually it can start to look like french polish. You sometimes see No.1 rifles that were in service from pre-WW1 up to the 1940's where the surface is smooth like glass and glossy. Some people make the mistake of thinking those rifles have had a modern try-oil application, but that's not always the case. Some of those rifles, particularly the ones at training bases, have just had BLO rubbed in to them a few times a week, over many years, by LOTS of recruits. They are actually beautiful pieces of furniture to behold!

One old trick some aspiring tropes would employ to make the RSM bug the other guy, was to "bone" the surface during oilings. Basically you would take something very like a rib bone (or a real rib bone), and using the linseed oil as a sort of lubricant you would burnish the wood surface with the implement. This would remove many surface imperfections, such as sanding lines, by slightly compressing the outer wood fibres. This is a shortcut to filling in the surface of the wood with many BLO applications. I would not recommend anyone do this on a wartime No.4 rifle.

During WW2, the Commonwealth forces switched to RLO because it was cheaper, more available, and worked basically as well since idle soldiers often spend their time slathering on more oil. If you apply it regularly, both products will keep the wood just as protected.

We 'boned' all of our rifle woodwork during out Armourer training especially during trade test times. You could get it as smooooooth as a baby's bottom. Especially the old well used and oiled Bren and No4 woodwork.

Forgot to add.......... We used to use a long hardwood dowell to bone our woodwork. And to us 60's apprentices, it wasn't known as boning then. To us, boning was something you did - or at least TRIED on - with your girlfriend in Carlisle at the weekend. Not me you understand. I was too busy at chior practice and knitting scarves and socks for the needy and homeless

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Originally Posted by Peter Laidler

Not me you understand. I was too busy at chior practice and knitting scarves and socks for the needy and homeless

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A worthy cause.....

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Originally Posted by Peter Laidler

And to us 60's apprentices, it wasn't known as boning then. To us, boning was something you did - or at least TRIED on - with your girlfriend in Carlisle at the weekend. Not me you understand. I was too busy at chior practice and knitting scarves and socks for the needy and homeless

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I recall coming off the firing line during Operation Linebacker in Vietnam in '72 to be refit in Subic Bay in the Phillipines. All the guys from Weapons Division boned their weapons as they headed ashore to Alongapo City. Chief Pharmacist mate Hicks stood on the gangplank making sure all the crew's weapons had functional safeties. Pauline's was their target of opportunity with the Zanzibar being their backup as favorite houses of ill repute. (There are actually pictures of Pauline's at the beginning of Officer & a Gentleman, and Top Gun, if I recall correctly). As a Junior Officer from a staid New England family, my jaw dropped to see what "Sin City" really looked like. It made Los Vegas look like Peter's choir and knitting class. But I digress from the world of Stevens-Savage and Long Branch Mk1* and Boiled Linseed Oil-- so sorry ;-)

You can sleep soundly now seaspriter as the recent visit by the Pope has hopefully washed clean the sins your pals left behind!

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Originally Posted by Peter Laidler

You can sleep soundly now seaspriter as the recent visit by the Pope has hopefully washed clean the sins your pals left behind!

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Yes - I guess they would be 40 odd by now with 'sins' (or should that be Sons) of their own

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Originally Posted by Claven2

The biggest single difference, in practical terms, is that BLO is just RLO that is treated and had some additives put in

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In the EU BLO must be just that. Not adulterated as it is in the US.

At school (1950s/60s) we used linseed oil from a tin labelled "Linseed oil". This was raw linseed oil that was issued to us byt the War Department.

I remember some time ago "he who should not be mentioned" (Ed Horton) published some of the 'Data Sheets' for the US version of BLO - it contained a number of carcinogens and should only be handled whilst wearing protective clothing and a mask.

Apparently the only 'safe' stuff in the US was that used by Artists.

I don't remember our Armourers shops being too concerned about all this dangerous stuff that is said to now litter the workshops. At senior level you had to pay lip service to it all...... you know....., nod and say the right noises in the right place and listen carefully.......... But I still just dunked my complete MGB GT V8 front crossmember and gearbox into the boiling vapour tricho tank. Followed by the rest of the mechanical gear train.......... Oh yes.......... health and safety. For one moment I had my don't-give-a-shxxometer switched off!

Reminds me of a parachuting day over Eversleigh DZ some years ago. To be honest, it looked and even felt a bit windy and the concensus was that it'd be called off. But no...., it went ahead with just a few minor casualties such as elbow or knee burns from being pulled along while trying to collapse the bloody canopy. I commented to Major Alistair XXXX another EEME Territorial, that it just seemed a bit too windy but he replied that he'd spoken to the RAF Ground Liaison Officer (the GLO) who showed him the hand held anaerometer. The vanes were wizzing around OK............ But on closer inspection, the wind speed indicator ball was missing! 'Well I never' commented the RAF GLO, '.......must have fallen out after the very successful drop. Hope the blokes enjoyed the day...... You don't think I was going to call the whole day off for a few extra knots of wind do you Alistair.....?'

Oh yes....., health and safety

And yet, it is nice to work with something completely hazard free, like raw linseed oil. For some reason we have easy access to it here in Canada with gallon size jugs available at the local hardware store. Maybe it's because we grow a lot of flax here? Check you healthfood store for flaxseed oil.

Ridolpho