Long Term (3 or 4 years) Storage...
 

Gentlemen, I have been transferred to Japan (where they take a dim view of weapons) and will need to store my Luger (and K-98, M-1, M-1 Carbine, P-38, etc) for a period of about 3 or 4 years. I have a reliable, safe spot (moving my gun safe to my Dad's house), but am concerned about the care of the pistol- how do you recommend I 'package' it for storage? It may not get anything more than a cursory wipe down by my Dad for that entire period. Thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Leon, I was in Europe for 7 years, and my guns came out fine.

Take into account that at my dads, under the spare bed(!), in Eastern Washington it is very dry and humid free.

I cleaned all guns normally, but completely and then added gun grease, I would say of the consistency of cosmoline to all exterior and many interior parts, then placed in gun cases, blankets etc. I did check on them on my one of two visits home 5 years into the tour and all were okay.

If possible, place some of those packets that suck moisture and / or place them in a gun safe with a dehumidifier.

Ed

Leon, give this consideration, I have used bulk silica-gel in my safe for years and have never had any kind of problem. http://www.zorb-it.com/home.htm

An outfit called Roberts Arms Specialties makes neat boxes the right size for most pistols. They come with VPI paper and should be good for many years of protection against both impact damage and rust. Phone is (304) 728-4472.

You can also buy VPI paper at some industrial supply houses and I think Brownells has it. For larger quantities, try www.highcottonpackaging.com in CA.

Jim

1. Liberally coat the gun with Breakfree CLP Gun oil. Tetra or Shooter's Choice Gun Grease slathered liberally overall.

I've been racking the internet to give you an authoritative response. There is a gun page somewhere that did a comparision of rust preventatives on severe situations. The winner was Break Free CLP gun oil. I've used it for years along with Tetra gun grease. I've been in the south for the last 10 years (East Texas, North Carolina, Mississippi, Louisiana), until last year I did not own a gun safe (my darling bride purchased a 42 gun Presidential Liberty with dehumidifier wand as a wedding gift = I think I would have prefered a mauser banner, but love is a strange thing).

I've used breakfree for many years, and Tetra for a couple of years.

But this all has a lead into my own little testimonial. Louisiana is where everything rusts (they taught florida how to sweat). Today is a typical late spring. Temp it 90, Humidity is 95. A couple weeks ago, we were digging in the attic and I found my 1952 vintage Marlin 39a. It's mint and unfired. (by the way, my bride bought me the gun safe last year as a wedding present because I was the consumate bachelor. Guns stashed everywhere. While rearranging the furnature before our wedding and her move in, she noted I had guns hidden in sofas, under beds, in closets, she figured a 42 gun safe would suffice...). two teens in the house don't need access to vintage arms and ammunition.

The Marlin I bought about 10 years ago and after 5 moves, I'd kind of lost track of it (truly forgotten I owned it). I'd broken it down and put it on a box in tissue paper and it has spent the last 5 years in the attic of a Louisiana home with nothing protecting it but Breakfree and Shooter's choice grease (the brand I was using at the time).

It's minty still, Perfect as the day I put it up in North Carolina. Not a spec of rust on it anywhere. A luger mag was also in the box, also treated, also perfect.

Well, that was a lot of words to plop down here for a simple statement.