Practical maintenance of the 1911

[Steve762us]

While BreakFree CLP and Tri-Flow are products with similar properties (the original BreakFree had Teflon while I believe the current version does not, while Tri-Flow still does have Teflon), I would have guessed they were always separate companies.

They were (separate companies, and separate products).

The original maker of Break Free CLP was the San/Bar Corporation of southern California. SafariLand and maybe somebody else bought the rights to
produce it. San/Bar (San-Bar? CRS) initially sent cases over to infantry units in Vietnam, pro bono. The GIs found it so much better than LSA (and
much less digusting to work with, no doubt) that the Army contracted for it--my first supervisor in Army was a recipient, and told me the story.

It's gone thru at least a couple of formula variations in the guvmint version, but has always had PTFE (what Dupont trademarks as "Teflon"),
AFAIK.

 

[Twisted Chemist]

Having used Break Free CLP since before I enlisted, (it was called Tri-Flow back then) I too tend to reach for the CLP first. I have tried just about every gun- specific lube made, they were sitting on the benches of the places I worked at. Currently I have been using the Slip 2000 products also, but I have a bottle of CLP on my home bench, and some in my range bag also. My shotgun cases each have a gun cloth soaked in CLP in a Ziploc bag for wipe downs as needed.

I second that emotion. Large bottle at home, small bottles in field kits and soaked wipes in ziploc bags. Does everything but clip toenails.
New 1911 owner and CLP works just like with all the rest.

 

[hutch51]

New here. Here's my 2 cents American.
Take a look here. https://www.grantcunningham.com/2006/05/lubrication-101/
Good explanation of lubrication basics.
I also have a PDF of an old Army manual that specifies sperm oil for 1911 lubrication (FM23-35, page 10, pub 1940). Sperm oil is a little tough to find nowadays <grin>.
Lots of good products out there, but use what ya got in a pinch.