What color is cosmoline

[ttuttle]

I just received a 1917 Eddystone. A quick examination tells me it is filthy. It has a lot of tan/brown greasy crap in it. The magazine is covered in brown junk. The question is what color is cosmoline? I've never had to tangle with it but due to the amount thru out the rifle I'm wondering what it is.

 

[Jakashh]

kinda like petroleum jelly with shit in it.

 

[Jakashh]

 

[Jakashh]

By the way, we need pics of the 1917.

 

[busykngt]

kinda like petroleum jelly with shit in it.

^^^^ Nailed It ^^^^

LMAO!

 

[Ole Cowboy]

I just received a 1917 Eddystone. A quick examination tells me it is filthy. It has a lot of tan/brown greasy crap in it. The magazine is covered in brown junk. The question is what color is cosmoline? I've never had to tangle with it but due to the amount thru out the rifle I'm wondering what it is.

Having done 3 guns, 2 rifles and a pistol:

Its summer, wipe off any excess with paper towel, put out side, let it get hot form sun, open action remove bolt, separate the wood if you can, prop up vertical and pour boiling water over it, wipe, repeat boiling water, wipe, repeat till its clean enough to handle and finish.

Took about 2- tea kettles full of boiling water to clean it where I could finish it.

 

[vmax]

View attachment 142522

View attachment 142523

View attachment 142524

I didn't know that the Soviets used cosmoline on those Mosins since that is a US Military spec although some could have been sold to allied nations
It has a slight amount of solvent in it to aid in application, then it would slowly flash off and leave a thick weather resistant coating.

On OPs gun, does it really matter that it is?
It is some type of petroleum based rust inhibitor more than likely.
I have used gasoline in a well ventilated garage to clean up old rifles it various compounds on them

 

[jrbfishn]

kinda like petroleum jelly with shit in it.

Sticky shit at that.
WD40 works good for getting it off.

Sent by an idjit coffeeholic from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

 

[TxStetson]

This. Also the older the shit is the darker it is.

 

[vmax]

This. Also the older the shit is the darker it is.

Oxidation