The smell of cosmoline

Status
Not open for further replies.
J

jagdpanzer347

Member
Joined
Jan 9, 2006
Messages
744
Location
Southwest Ohio
That smell.....that cosmoline smell.....it smells like history! Seriously folks, does anybody out there like the smell of cosmoline? Not the sticky mess it brings with it, but just the smell. It always brings back memories of gun shops and shows I've been to, and old war relics I've brought home. Surely I'm not the only one, am I?

-jagd
 
I'm with you, jagdpanzer. A buddy and I went to a show a couple of weeks back... on the way he said he'd been "looking forward to the smell of cosmoline and moldy canvas for months!"

Of course, I like the smell of Hoppes too... not for the milsurp connection, but the general association with shooting. Luckily I now have a workshop that is detached from the house where all the cleaning and maintenance takes place, as my wife doesn't share my olfactory tastes :D
 
Mmm mmm good!

Though my father had purchased my first rifle and shotgun for me when I was young, my very first gun that I puchased with my own money was a fine example of a K98 Mauser (DOU 1944, still have it to this day) with plenty of original markings intact. I spent all night cleaning the brown/orange muck from its wood and steel, and from that point on I was hooked on milsurps. I've since acquired Mausers from all over the globe, and still love a good cosmoline challenge. A gentle brush, an old rag, some mineral spirits and a rifle make for a fine afternoon!
 
When I open my safe,

the odor of cosmoline fills the room.........almost as good as Hoppe's.......chris3
 
I think it smells like skunk basted in ramps and then boiled in crap. But it does wonders to protect firearms in long term storage.
 
The timliness of this thread amuses me. Today I took an sks coated in cosmoline to the gunsmith to do the dirty work. The SKS is in the back of the car in the box I bought it in. Wife and kids are in the car and we're off to run some errands, the first of which is the gunsmith. Six year old daughter says: "Daddy, it smells like the gun store in here".

Pretty impressive that a six year old can identify and associate the smell of cosmoline. I was impressed.

Farmer
 
Wrong time to ask me. I just bought a dozen AK mags that were entombed in the crap! Two days soaking in a bucket of diesel followed by several hours of disassembly and cleaning. But I suppose that I shouldn’t complain as they were in great shape under the goo. And, a dozen 30 round AK mags for $80? I don’t mind some scrubbing at this price!
 
The smell of cosmoline brings back memories of hot summer days at flee markets with my dad, uncles, and grampa when I was a kid.:)
 
AK Mags?

Hey Elza - where did you get them? Were they unissued or used and do you know the country of origin?

I'm a big fan of new Bulgy AK mags. I think i'm up to 9 so far :D
 
Excuse my ignorance, but what exactly is cosmoline? I mean chemically speaking. Is cosmoline the generic name? Is it known by that name internationally? Is it available commercially?

It's a preservative-lubricant alright, but what the hell is it really? Mystery goo?
 
I grew up in the tropics next to the ocean. The odor given off by the cosmoline-soaked wooden stock of an SKS is extremely reminiscent of the smell aboard one of the many small wooden boats that ply the coastal waters.
 
Ah, yes. Love that smell...and #9. Elicits good memories. P.S. I didn't try 'search' but there are some very easy ways to remove cosmoline without the use of chemicals (or very little use anyway.)
 
It's a preservative-lubricant alright, but what the hell is it really? Mystery goo?
Click to expand...

It's a petroleum based grease. Like vasoline in chemical composition, but much thicker. It is not used as a lubricant on any firearm I know of. Maybe on some battleship size gun. Nor is it supposed to be put on wood, though unfortunately it often was. It's a preservative for metal parts.
 
Cosmoline is more "waxy" than "greasy" though it is a petroleum compound. As you say, Cosmo, I'm not aware of any application where it is used for lubrication... only as a preservative.

Heat is one of the best ways to de-cosmo a firearm (or anything else). It melts at a fairly low temperature (150 degrees or so) so only a small amount of heat (low oven, wrapped in a black plastic bag on the back deck of your car on a hot Summer day, etc.) will cause it to melt and flow easily off whatever's been dipped in the stuff.
 
C'mon!!!!!!!!! When even the guy that was the subject of my joke fails to even give me a courtesy giggle, there is something wrong. I know it's not A material, but give a guy a break..... :)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

T
  • Locked
Does anybody here have any firearms they've never shot?
2 3 4 5
Replies
117
Views
4K
Omaha-BeenGlockin
O
Float Pilot
  • Locked
Rifle oil / solvent smells that trigger memories.
2
Replies
35
Views
1K
loose noose
loose noose
M
  • Locked
Sherwin Shooting Sports, Eastlake, IN?
Replies
0
Views
369
Monkeyleg
M
S
  • Locked
Do you remember the very first time you went shooting?
2
Replies
30
Views
1K
bwsmith2850
B
A
  • Locked
Old dusty 231
Replies
2
Views
505
Automac
A
Back
Top