Antique Gun Cleaning

[ksninew]

How do you clean a antique gun without damaging it?

I have inherited a Remington 1863 Zouave rifle from my father. I know it has been kept is a gun cabinet for the past 70 years and is in excellent condition. I would really like to clean it and do whatever I can to help preserve it but don't want to damage it by cleaning it the wrong way.

I'm really excited to have this rifle and want to do the right thing.

Thanks, Bob

 

[Jim Watson]

I would not do anything more than dust it off and rub the metal down with a good preservative oil and the stock with a very little furniture cleaner. If you want to check and clean it less often, a museum would likely use Renaissance Wax which will protect the surfaces without changing them.

 

[navyretired 1]

You're making me nervous. Dust it and wax it only without EXPERT advise. I've seen thousands of dollars in damage cleaning antques.

 

[ksninew]

Thats just what I wanted to know. I'm going to do what Jim suggests and try to find some Renaissance Wax for it.

Thanks for the advise guys.

 

[Malamute]

May be a good idea to check and be sure it isnt loaded also. It is possible to have sat all these years with a charge in the barrel.

 

[ksninew]

I'll check it to make sure it isn't loaded.

 

[PTK]

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=541091

That's the product you want.