Grease to waterproof Flintlock

[Zerstoerer]

Can't remember where I read this, but:

Use grease to smear around the flintlock pan and all open spaces between barrel and lock to prevent moisture to get in?

Sounds reasonable to me. What kind of grease should one use and what about having to deprime the pan when hunting and getting in and out of vehicles?

Where I live the grease used to lube bullets will turn liquid 3/4 of the year.
Anybody any thoughts on this?

Thanks

 

[arcticap]

I've heard of people using either melted wax or beeswax and placing it around where the lock mates with the stock to seal any gaps and to keep powder residue and moisture out of the lock. Others use waterpump grease or paraffin (canning wax) in any exposed wood area like the barrel channel and to seal it from temperature, humidity etc...
I don't know if wax can also be used to help seal the pan itself without interfering with the action. You might need to experiment some to see how it might affect performance and practical use.
If the temperature is that hot most of the year, why worry about moisture? You probably don't need to worry much unless the temp. gets cooler... just keep repriming the pan hourly if needed, and keep moisture out of your barrel by putting tape or a ballon over the muzzle, and a toothpick in the vent. Or keep the action covered with your coat...
There's also an item called a "cow's knee" or pan cover that's used to help weatherproof a flintlock action, but it hinders bringing the rifle into fast action. But it's especially helpful for traveling through the woods. But check to make sure it's legal to use in your state:





Flintlock pan covers are often made from oiled, weather repellent leather or cloth. Here's a couple available for sale:

http://www.possibleshop.com/flintlocksupplies1.htm

Always keep a rag handy for wiping whenever you may need to reprime or deprime while hunting and the pan should always be empty before it's placed into the vehicle, it's a nearly universal law.

 

[Zerstoerer]

Thank you - thats all the info I needed.
What rifle is your flintlock?
Beautiful.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

The problem with the cow's knee, is that water can run along the edge of the stock where it contacts the barrel, and run right under the CK, and into the pan. You have to put a little dab of grease that will be under the cow's knee when it's in place, where the barrel and stock meet, to avoid this rain gutter effect. You can also grease the outer edge of the pan, as sometimes you have to pause a few moments with ck removed before the deer is in the best position to shoot. If you do grease the edge of the pan, when you shoot the grease will melt after firing, so you will have to do a good job wiping the pan before you reload as the melted grease will be in the pan in a very thin layer.

(Check the pan to frizzen fit, and make sure it's flush. A little gap will let water and moisture in, so make sure it's good first, then use the grease.)

Do-it-yourself gun grease & lube:

One part melted beeswax, two parts heated olive oil.
Mix together, allow to cool.
If a closer duplicate of "bore butter" is desired, add a 1/4 tspn of food grade wintergreen oil (available at Rite Aid).

The beeswax has a high melting point, and thickens the olive oil, keeping it in place. If you still have a temp problem, increase the ratio of beeswax, to 1:1.
Parafin will NOT work, as it's too low a melting point. Beeswax is it unless you have real bayberry wax.

It's non toxic, works for sealing the lock-stock interface, works on the internal lock parts, prevents rust, lubes patches, and works as chapstick type balm.

LD

 

[Zerstoerer]

Thanks for the recipe, I'll start mixing...

 

[arcticap]

That flintlock is beautiful, but it's not mine. I found the pictures on another forum.
I have another patch lube recipe that uses castor oil instead of olive oil in a 4:1 ratio with beeswax, along with .5 part of Murphy's Oil Soap.
I've also read of some olive oil/beeswax mixes having a ratio as high as 50/50 depending on the desired thickness of the lube.
Also, the water pump lube is supposed to be water soluble.

 

[Cosmoline]

I use grease on the inner metal parts (non-moving) and gunstock wax on the outside of all my rifles as a weather barrier. It works pretty darn well.