[trigger643]

Tom,

I have read similar articles. I agree waxes are the best way to preserve a firearm for the long term; i.e. decades, wherein the firearms are not handled or used, but I would recommend they be in an atmosphere of open storage, such as a display case or safe. There is an excellent wax (need to do a google search), that is endorsed by the British Museum, that I've cleaned off of a few guns. If I had an old Kentucky rifle hanging over my fire place, it certainly would be so preserved.

Being an eclectic collector and frequent shooter, my arms are submitted to, as my wife says, frequent "fingering". I have shed myself of guns I won't shoot. This currently brings me down to 2 lugers (from about 2 dozen at one point), and of the 40 or 50 or so weapons I currently own (down from a hundred or so this time last year), I shoot all of them at least once a year, and probably "finger" them all at least every 4 or 5 months or so (that reminds me, I should get the 1910 out today). This would be why I store my guns as I do.

I agree waxes used in metal preservation are perfectly designed for weapons that are infrequently handled or shot. Unfortunately for my heirs, this will not be the case. I now only collect 85% to 95% originals so that I can put at least one magazine through them a year without guilt.

I store my frequently shot firearms the same way, but with loads of grease on the mechanical parts (I like tetra or in the case of my shotguns, slick 50). The range ritual is to run a bore snake through them just before firing to remove the oil from the bore, wipe them down with a silicone impregnated cloth and lightly re-grease the mechanical parts prior to firing.

Glen