Imperial Luger Lubrication~

cirelaw · 07-26-2021, 07:18 PM

Years before modern lube, we have tools but no reference to what they used to clean and protect their guns~ Example tools but what was some lubricant?

sheepherder · 07-26-2021, 08:24 PM

Whale oil???

(It will not fetch thee much in our Nantucket market.)

Sonofeugene · 07-26-2021, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheepherder

Whale oil???

(It will not fetch thee much in our Nantucket market.)

Oh, god no! My father had some whale oil when I was a kid in junior high school and tuning up my tuba one evening before a concert he said "Hey, I've got just the thing for it. It'll never freeze up."

So he coated the number three valve with the gunk, I reassembled it and pressed down on the valve. Where it stayed. I had to pull it back up by hand.

I removed the valve and cleaned everything up as best I could before using the proper lube. But that valve never worked the same again.

cirelaw · 07-26-2021, 10:58 PM

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whale_oil

Heinz · 07-27-2021, 08:09 PM

Whale oil, like petroleum oil, came in many grades and weights.
If we are talking about the early 20th century many grades of mineral oil, aka petroleum oil, were available. Whale oil and refined fish oil were used for some special applications.

ithacaartist · 07-27-2021, 10:33 PM

Not certain it's strictly true, but I've heard that whale oil is used for clocks and watches. The claim was that it doesn't dry/gum up as quickly as other lubricants. I'll bet by now that there are modern petroleum based oils/formulations that mimic this property. Not so hard on the whales...

schutzen-jager · 07-28-2021, 07:34 AM

i use it sparingly so i still have almost a full can left -
old Luger pamphlet recommended using vaseline petroleum jelly on page #26 -

sheepherder · 07-28-2021, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ithacaartist

Not certain it's strictly true, but I've heard that whale oil is used for clocks and watches.

Oddly enough, I came across another oil for watches while reading a Lee Child book, Without Fail. It's oil from shark's livers - Squalene. C-thirty H-fifty. A minor character in the book states it's good for watches. The character was in the Red Army and was now a watch repairman.

spangy · 07-28-2021, 10:44 AM

Ezra Kelley (1798-1895) was a watch maker from New Bedford, Massachusetts. He is credited with the discovery that oil from the jaw and head of porpoises and blackfish (or pilot whales) was the best known lubricant for the delicate workings of watches and chronometers.

It was the 'go to' oil for many years because it stayed put ... in other words a tiny drop placed on a critical point stayed there and didn't 'flow' away from its placement.

These days watches are literally a 'dime a dozen' and an attractive watch is a convenience store away.

cirelaw · 07-28-2021, 02:14 PM

It hold the oil and pointed tool! 1906 French Contract~

sheepherder · 07-28-2021, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cirelaw

It hold the oil and pointed tool! 1906 French Contract~

Is it actually a 'tool' or just a dauber???

Kiwi · 07-28-2021, 06:14 PM

I like sewing machine oil for my pistols.
Put it on a cotton patch and wipe to apply a really thin coat - all it needs

Only use a gun oil for the bore - formulated for hot gasses

over many years (~50) it seems to work

Swords use pure mineral oil - with a tiny splash of clove oil for historical relevance
(Choji oil)

Sieger · 07-30-2021, 01:43 PM

Hi,

The German Army's Choice was Ballistol created in 1905.

I still use it today for an outstanding CLP.

Sieger

Doubs · 07-31-2021, 02:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cirelaw

It hold the oil and pointed tool! 1906 French Contract~

It's identical to the cleaning rod/oiler issued with the model 1906 Portuguese Lugers.

sheepherder · 07-31-2021, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doubs

It's identical to the cleaning rod/oiler issued with the model 1906 Portuguese Lugers.

What does the 'tool' (inside the oil bottle) look like it is intended to do??? Eric's pic isn't clear...

hayhugh · 07-31-2021, 12:08 PM

Makes it easy to put just a drop of oil in a certain spot.

Sieger · 07-31-2021, 12:11 PM

Hi!

Who here knows what German Soldaten were to use for pistol patches originally?

Sierger

cirelaw · 07-31-2021, 02:12 PM

I am sure it was an important part of training! How to maintain their firearms!!

Doubs · 07-31-2021, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheepherder

What does the 'tool' (inside the oil bottle) look like it is intended to do??? Eric's pic isn't clear...

It's as if the post was made into a diamond shape but the point blunted. I'm sure it was designed to pick up oil and deposit it precisely.

I gave the entire rig to my youngest son as a present. I've since replaced the pistol with one not quite as nice but still better than the average Portuguese.

sheepherder · 07-31-2021, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hayhugh

Makes it easy to put just a drop of oil in a certain spot.

Hence the term 'dauber'.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doubs

It's as if the post was made into a diamond shape but the point blunted.

It looks like (to me, from Eric's pic) a thick blunt screwdriver shape. I know the grips use slotted screws, but the firing pin spring guide uses a slot too. No one else has given an opinion besides oil dauber so I'll go back to downloading pr0n and shut up...

07-26-2021, 07:18 PM	#1
cirelaw Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: PORT ST LUCIE, FLORIDA Posts: 12,216 Thanks: 6,209 Thanked 4,138 Times in 2,176 Posts	Imperial Luger Lubrication~ Years before modern lube, we have tools but no reference to what they used to clean and protect their guns~ Example tools but what was some lubricant? Attached Thumbnails

07-26-2021, 10:58 PM	#4
cirelaw Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: PORT ST LUCIE, FLORIDA Posts: 12,216 Thanks: 6,209 Thanked 4,138 Times in 2,176 Posts	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whale_oil Attached Images

07-27-2021, 10:33 PM	#6
ithacaartist Twice a Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Atop the highest hill in Schuyler County NY Posts: 3,363 Thanks: 7,410 Thanked 2,595 Times in 1,374 Posts	Not certain it's strictly true, but I've heard that whale oil is used for clocks and watches. The claim was that it doesn't dry/gum up as quickly as other lubricants. I'll bet by now that there are modern petroleum based oils/formulations that mimic this property. Not so hard on the whales... __________________ "... Liberty is the seed and soil, the air and light, the dew and rain of progress, love and joy."-- Robert Greene Ingersoll 1894

07-28-2021, 07:34 AM	#7
schutzen-jager User Join Date: Aug 2020 Location: peoples republic of New Jersey Posts: 187 Thanks: 208 Thanked 187 Times in 86 Posts	sperm oil i use it sparingly so i still have almost a full can left - old Luger pamphlet recommended using vaseline petroleum jelly on page #26 - Attached Thumbnails

07-28-2021, 10:44 AM	#9
spangy Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Sep 2020 Location: Winnipeg, Canada Posts: 621 Thanks: 3,124 Thanked 1,062 Times in 432 Posts	Ezra Kelley (1798-1895) was a watch maker from New Bedford, Massachusetts. He is credited with the discovery that oil from the jaw and head of porpoises and blackfish (or pilot whales) was the best known lubricant for the delicate workings of watches and chronometers. It was the 'go to' oil for many years because it stayed put ... in other words a tiny drop placed on a critical point stayed there and didn't 'flow' away from its placement. These days watches are literally a 'dime a dozen' and an attractive watch is a convenience store away. __________________ Whoever said that "money can't buy you happiness" never bought a Luger. WTB - Take Down Lever & Trigger Plate (#90) for an Imperial Artillery.

07-26-2021, 08:24 PM	#2
sheepherder Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: ...on the 'ol Erie Canal... Posts: 8,190 Thanks: 1,407 Thanked 4,458 Times in 2,334 Posts	Whale oil??? (It will not fetch thee much in our Nantucket market.) __________________ I like my coffee the way I like my women... ...Cold and bitter...

07-27-2021, 08:09 PM	#5
Heinz User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Greenville SC Posts: 1,004 Thanks: 377 Thanked 411 Times in 180 Posts	Whale oil, like petroleum oil, came in many grades and weights. If we are talking about the early 20th century many grades of mineral oil, aka petroleum oil, were available. Whale oil and refined fish oil were used for some special applications.

07-28-2021, 02:14 PM	#10
cirelaw Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: PORT ST LUCIE, FLORIDA Posts: 12,216 Thanks: 6,209 Thanked 4,138 Times in 2,176 Posts	This Early Makes Sense It hold the oil and pointed tool! 1906 French Contract~ Attached Thumbnails Attached Images

07-28-2021, 06:14 PM	#12
Kiwi User Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Wrong side of the Delaware river Posts: 319 Thanks: 228 Thanked 455 Times in 179 Posts	I like sewing machine oil for my pistols. Put it on a cotton patch and wipe to apply a really thin coat - all it needs Only use a gun oil for the bore - formulated for hot gasses over many years (~50) it seems to work Swords use pure mineral oil - with a tiny splash of clove oil for historical relevance (Choji oil)

07-30-2021, 01:43 PM	#13
Sieger User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: New York, NY Posts: 1,575 Thanks: 2,132 Thanked 400 Times in 249 Posts	Hi, The German Army's Choice was Ballistol created in 1905. I still use it today for an outstanding CLP. Sieger

07-31-2021, 12:08 PM	#16
hayhugh User Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Florida/Penna Posts: 898 Thanks: 868 Thanked 514 Times in 276 Posts	Makes it easy to put just a drop of oil in a certain spot.

07-31-2021, 12:11 PM	#17
Sieger User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: New York, NY Posts: 1,575 Thanks: 2,132 Thanked 400 Times in 249 Posts	Hi! Who here knows what German Soldaten were to use for pistol patches originally? Sierger

07-31-2021, 02:12 PM	#18
cirelaw Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: PORT ST LUCIE, FLORIDA Posts: 12,216 Thanks: 6,209 Thanked 4,138 Times in 2,176 Posts	I am sure it was an important part of training! How to maintain their firearms!!