Questions about “Grease, Rifle” history

[CalTex]

This is not a “what grease should I use” thread, at least I hope not. After I answered a friend’s question about Garand lubrication, I realized that I know less about the grease history of this rifle than I would like. Looking around online and in books, I can’t find all that much documented either. Here is what I think I have learned from these sources and where I still have questions:

- The original grease was “Stano-Rust No. 3” to spec SXS77, adopted in FY38. It is mentioned in the 7/40 edition of FM 23-5 as issued in a tube. Pictures of tubes can be found online. These show instructions on the tube to lube all the usual places, including the compensating spring. So definitely this grease goes back pretty far.

- Following washout problems and maybe insufficient use of the Stano-Rust, Lubriplate 130-A was adopted in late ’42, following tests vs. several competitors, and provided in the little yellow-lidded containers added to the cleaning kits.

- At some point apparently after WWII, the little containers marked Lubriplate 130-A were replaced by similar ones just marked “Grease, Rifle”, containing a darker grease that is widely called Plastilube, but sometimes also called Lubriplate. Does anyone know when exactly this change was made, and why?

- One pound cans of this darker grease used to be widely available. For some reason, every one I have seen is dated 11/63. Coincidence, or what? The cans are marked as “Grease, Rifle”, made by International Lube. Corp, to spec MIL-G-46003, Amend 2.

- You can still buy commercial Lubriplate 130-A today, and spec sheets are available online.

- You can still buy a grease marketed as Plastilube today, and find a spec sheet for it. But the current Plastilube is a premium synthetic grease made by Henkel and targeted at brake pad applications, that I doubt has much if any similarity to “Grease, Rifle”.

- Did Lubriplate 130-A meet the same spec (maybe an earlier revision) as the darker grease?

- Can anyone comment on what exactly is in the darker grease?

- The spec for the darker grease was rescinded in 1/09. But there are still some M14s in service. What grease do they use?

I am hoping the experts here can help fill in or improve any of the above. Sorry for all the questions and thanks so much for any assistance.

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