BLO or oiled wood

[Edward Horton]

I prefer American instructions manuals and not instructions written for a Swedish rifle that needed greased cartridges in order to cycle and function due to an inadequate designed gas system.





But then again this is a Enfield forum so lets use instructions written for the Enfield Rifle.





And then we have the warnings in our American reloading manuals

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Alan de Enfield]

>>> 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.

Sure I read somewhere that the Prvi Partizan ammunition was a reduced load especially for use in 'oiled chambers' whilst the Privi Partizan was the 'real Mcoy' with a full 'loading' and for 'dry' chambers.
Could it be true ?

[Rowdy]

To answer the original question - Ed is right, they were originally treated with raw linseed oil.
An absolutly mint unused rifle will have a raw matt unfinised surface to the woodwork - but depending on the amount of use and the age of the rifle the surface becomes smoother and filled with subsequent applications of oil and finger grease etc. which can give the appearance of a thin BLO oil finish.
A good approximation of an aged finish can be made with some fine steel wool and wiped off applications of BLO over the RLO.
A varnished finish (apart from commercial rifles) means someone has tarted it up afterwards.

[45B20]

Edward Horton
I have always wondered, how and what finish was applied to the No.4’s wood (furniture) during its production life (at time of manufacture or FTR). Can you tell me what is the source of your information is on dipping the No.4’s furniture in hot (temp??) raw linseed oil??? Was BLO used post war?? Do you know what was applied to the No.1, raw or boiled, I have conflicting answers to this one and nobody has given a source.

Speaking of sources, thank you for posting A.C.I. 1148, 25/9/40, now do you have a copy of A.C.I. 88 or any other A.C.I.s that refer to wood finishing.

I have a copy of “Instructions For Armourers” , 1931 (from you I think) and the only thing I can find on finish for furniture is on page 6, Sec.2, Par.3 and it only states “it should be well rubber with oil”, but it does not state what kind of oil.

I can not find anything in Skennerton, Stratton or Reynolds, (but I could have missed somthing).

Thank you very much for any information you can give.

45B20

[Edward Horton]

45B20

The best current source on confirming the hot dipping the stocks in raw linseed oil came in this forum from Peter Laidler the British Armourer and author. Mr. Laidler stated during the yearly teardown inspections the stocks were left soaking in a hot tank of raw linseed oil overnight.

Hot dipping in raw linseed oil was used during the manufacture of the furniture or stocks and later by the Armourers themselves during maintenance. Real actual boiled linseed oil “may or might” have been issued and applied prior to WWII (ACI 88??) or sometime after the war by the troops as a surface treatment but this is unconfirmed.

Raw linseed oil was used on American stocks up until 1943 when a switch to Tung oil was made because of better protection against water.

As Parashooter stated also raw linseed oil was used so it would penetrate deeply into the wood to protect and stabilize the wood, boiled linseed oil does NOT penetrate as deeply as raw linseed oil does and real BLO is a surface treatment.

Real actual boiled linseed oil is heated in a sealed vat which polymerizes the oil causing it to form long interlocking molecular chains (plasticisizes the oil like locking your fingers together on both hands) this makes the oil more waterproof.

Modern (fake) BLO is not boiled and just has resins add to thicken the oil and dryers added to make it dry more quickly, modern BLO is NOT polymerized or plasticisized and does not protect as well as old fashioned real boiled linseed oil.

I have an unissued No.1 that was FTR in 1953 that has raw linseed oil applied to it and nothing else, I’m not sure of the dates when boiled linseed may or might have been used or applied.

The triple mix of “raw” linseed oil, beeswax and turpentine was used during the American civil war as cosmoline for storage, as protection during use and as furniture polish by the soldiers wives.

[Edward Horton]

Please NOTE the A.C.I proceeding or just prior to A.C.I. No.1148 dated 29/9/40 Preservation of woodwork of Rifles was the painting of all metal areas below the wood line with the fore stocks no longer being packed with red mineral jelly (Vaseline).

The Enfield Rifles that were painted with green primer were not required to be torn completely down at the yearly inspections during overseas war time use (if it ain’t broke don’t fix it) and the troops were required to oil their own stocks with the raw linseed oil.

This explains the “why” of A.C.I. No.1148 dated 29/9/40 Preservation of woodwork of Rifles because the armourers no longer stripped the rifles yearly and applied or hot dipped the stocks in raw linseed oil.

[ireload2]

>>>When it comes to oiling or greasing cartridge cases <<<

Sure you are wrong, you grease cartridge cases all the time.

[RJW NZ]

>>>When it comes to oiling or greasing cartridge cases <<<

Sure you are wrong, you grease cartridge cases all the time.

er...you might grease your cartridges, allow me to stand about 30 feet behind you when firing, it's always entertaining but the blood puts me off me lunch.
all the best with your shooting.

[RJW NZ]

This is all great guys, many thanks for the peace of mind, now I actually understand the difference between BLO and an rlo finished rifle, cheers R

[Sunray]

"...the classic BLO finish..." BLO doesn't give a shiney finish. The classic BLO finish is flat. If it's shiney, something else has been put on over it. Could well be a varnish. It doesn't remove paint spots either. Use any paint remover. Try some fine steel wool first. Depends on the size of the paint flecks though.
"...'oiled chambers'..." No such thing. Chambers are never left oiled when shooting any firearm with any ammo. Causes excessive pressure. Oil doesn't compress.