Every Lee Enfield purist will chastise me for what I'm going to say here, but I will say it anyway: Do not use RLO -- it will be gummy, attract dirt, and oxide to a dark chocolate brown over several decades. RLO was used during war because it was plentiful and cheap.
BLO
is better -- it will function better, will dry better, and will take twice as long to turn chocolate brown.
As a restorer of old boats that have to bake in the hot Florida sun and withstand tropical rain conditions in the summer, I will state unequivocally that if you want the wood on your gun to receive the best treatment, you will not use
BLO but instead use pure Tung Oil -- it's is a better wood preservative, a better fungicide, doesn't oxidize (thus displaying the grain better) and a more durable, waterproof finish. Tung Oil was used on M1s whenever it was available because it is better, but more expensive. The very best marine varnishes use Tung Oil as their base. The cheap (low quality, poor performing) marine varnishes use Linseed Oil as their base.
This summer I am going to do an experiment -- put a piece of wood out in the hot sun and tropical rain -- one half covered with BLO and the other half covered with Tung Oil. When the experiment is over, you can see the results for yourself (maybe you'll try it for yourself). Then decide what you want to do with your expensive cherished gun. Just my opinion.
Brian is the best. If you want to bring your gun back to the highest quality standards, you can't go wrong. He restored my Long Branch sniper -- it is as good as new -- the best Lee Enfield in my collection.
PM
Originally Posted by oldfoneguy
