Wax versus Oil preservation.

[LugerVern]

I have used wax for display guns for about 30 years,while living near the coast. ( salt spray environment) If done properly it will provide protection to the outer finish and no harm will result. The advantage is in the durability, you can go a couple of years between treatments. I use to travel a great deal I know this to be true.

I treat the inside parts with a good sealant, usually this is petroleum based and more like a waxy grease.

On gold inlayed guns you must be careful in applying high tech sealants as some will remove the gold, not good for the value.

In my purest days I used boiled linseed oil on internal surfaces, this is the same as DWM did in the early days, it provides long duration protection but does eventually break down and allow rust, this you may not be able to see beneath the dried oil.

Of note: I have been lucky a few times in purchasing early guns at a substantial discount price that appeared to be rust buckets but this was just dried linseed oil, once home they cleaned up very nicely.

As with everything it is in the application, wax is not for everyday used guns, I would say its not even for occasionally used guns.

Vern