BLO or oiled wood

[RJW NZ]

At last, I've finally found a pic that will illustrate a long time question;

I've got an enfield or two that looks like they've been rubbed with oil, ie it looks like raw wood with an oily feel; and then I've got the rest of my enfields with a conspicuously thick/layered BLO finish, ie there's an obvious layer of shiny finish over the wood that resembles a varnish.

The trials T sniper for sale here in quartermasters stores has the bare/oiled wood appearance, and this is supposed to be truly authentic. Military Surplus Collectors Forums.

So, whats going on with this bare wood look? Why aren't they showing the classic BLO finish? It seems to me, and experience proved it, that the BLO finish protects the wood against weather, water and even light knocks in a way that oily bare wood doesn't begin to achieve.

Are they simply partially BLO'd and need more coats?
Did they miss out on BLO completely, by accident?
Is it correct for an enfield from the factory to have this bare look, as opposed to rifles made from parts like the JJCo 's , many of which/if not all, have the bare wood look.

Mainly I'm wondering if my bare look rifles should be getting about 6 coats of BLO to properly protect them?

thanks, enquiring minds must know...

Information

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[Parashooter]

The basic difference between boiled and raw linseed oil is that the boiled variety dries more quickly. As a result, it penetrates the wood less deeply and, being mostly on the surface, is easily scratched or worn off. For rough battlefield service, it's better to have the oil in the wood, rather than on top of it. Scratches and wear that would bring a boiled oil surface finish down to bare, unoiled wood have little actual effect on the deeper raw oil finish.

I think you've confused the thick external appearance of the boiled oil surface finish with the internal protection provided by the deeper penetration of raw oil, which leaves very little or no visible surface film and has the added benefit of being easily renewed by a quick application of more raw oil, with no need for any drying time.

If you want a shiny external surface finish giving reasonable protection from light rain and mild handling damage, boiled linseed will certainly provide it. If you want a classic deep, internal finish appropriate for battlefield use, raw linseed is the better choice.

FWIW, a correct raw linseed oil finish does not look or feel oily or slick. Any oil that hasn't penetrated in a few hours should be wiped off to prevent it from drying on the surface (which it would do in a few days). If you encounter an oily feeling on a classic battle rifle's wood, it's more likely that some preservative grease like cosmoline was slathered over the entire arm for storage and not thoroughly removed.

[Edward Horton]

The furniture or stocks were hot dipped in a tank of raw linseed oil during manufacture and during WWII and some time after the war only raw linseed oil was issued and applied by the troops on Enfield stocks.

Also as a side note it took oil or coal to heat the raw linseed oil to process it into boiled linseed oil and the fuel was needed elsewhere for the war effort.

The baking of white bread made from bleached flour was also banned from being made in England during the war, as the nutritional value of the bread was not worth the fuel used to make it.



You now know the raw naked truth

Please note the only reason Parashooter got here first was because my two dyslexic fingers were holding me back and because Parashooter doesn’t spell Privi Partizan with a letter y.

[Alan de Enfield]

Please note the only reason Parashooter got here first was because my two dyslexic fingers were holding me back and because Parashooter doesn’t spell Privi Partizan with a letter y.

Easy mistake to make - anyone could spell 'party' with Y
Partyzan sounds good to me !!!

[Edward Horton]

Easy mistake to make - anyone could spell 'party' with Y
Partyzan sounds good to me !!!

I never thought to spell it that way, I spelled it “Privy Partisan”.

Your spelling has more “colour”.

My spelling has more “odour”

[ireload2]

This is fun
>>Please note the only reason Parashooter got here first was because my two dyslexic fingers were holding me back and because Parashooter doesn’t spell Privi Partizan with a letter y.<<<

Check your spelling again before Parashooter catches you.

[Edward Horton]

This is fun
>>Please note the only reason Parashooter got here first was because my two dyslexic fingers were holding me back and because Parashooter doesn’t spell Privi Partizan with a letter y.<<<

Check your spelling again before Parashooter catches you.

Microsoft Word spell checker changes Privi to Privy and Mauser to Mouser, do you have a spell checker with a firearms word background library.

Besides I like cut and paste soooooo much better

[ireload2]

>>> do you have a spell checker with a firearms word background library.<<<

No I have box of PPU ammo by my keyboard.
Notice the spelling.

[Edward Horton]

When it comes to oiling or greasing cartridge cases and Serbian ammunition………….

I’m NEVER wrong

[ireload2]

Since you THINK you are never wrong please read the warning signs on both the ammo box and the outhouse. You should never be left alone with ammunition or in two story structures.

When it comes to oiling or greasing cartridge cases and Serbian ammunition………….

I’m NEVER wrong