Pietta 1858

[PeterN]

Mine is a standard blued version.
Regards
Peter.

[bradaz11]

Mine is a standard blued version.
Regards
Peter.

that may be the difference then? mine was stainless so is ops going by the pic. wonder if blueing holds up better somehow?

[Nickharvey888]

The sticking arbor seems to be a feature of the Pietta. It always happened with mine and I tried many different options to try and stop the fouling as, like others, the arbor would need to be hammered out. The best result I had was with copper based grease (Copaslip) since I had some. Interestingly, the Hege I’ve used since 2005 doesn’t do this but I’ve only ever used about 15 grains in the repro and 17 grains in the original. Work out how much semolina is needed to fill the remaining space without compressing the powder with the ball just below the chamber mouth. A smear of grease can then be used to seal the chamber (mandatory in international competition).

[Graham M]

Tried the copper grease and it didn't make a scrap of difference. I have chucked the pin/arbour in the lathe and cut 5 thou' deep grooves along its length at 125 thou' intervals and I'm going to see how that works with lard.

[channel12]

I am of the opinion that the arbour being half round allows the fouling into the cylinder centre. I have found even if you coat the flat of the arbour with lube the loading ram will remove the lube from the flat as you push the arbour in place. My answer is to install the loading ram after cylinder replacement.

Re the copper slip I thought that the current wisdom was not to use any petroleum based greases or lubricants with black powder.

[dromia]

That usually refers to bullet lube which will be exposed to the heat and pressure when fired.

It is OK for lubing working parts.

Rangoon oil was recommended for the Enfield P53 locks, a naturally found light petroleum oil.

[Graham M]

Can you still get Rangoon oil?

parker-hale-rangoon-oil-made-england_1_6b2efe93de3513852b57ae9dbb26c83b.jpg (28.53 KiB) Viewed 1972 times

[dromia]

There used to be Rangoon oil in one of the UK lines back in the the day, Parker Hale perhaps? as to whether 'twas the real Mckay I have my doubts as the original was found naturally and didn't need processing.

I have some that is supposed to be pukka in an old oil can that was sealed with wax. It is a lovely fine oil with a petroleum whiff to it but I cannot verify its provenance.

Sperm whale oil was a go to gun oil in days of yore but nigh impossible to get. However automatic transmission fluid is supposed to be a sperm whale oil substitute and it is indeed fine and my go to gunoil. It is also the key ingredient of Eds Red which is supposed to replicate US government sperm whale oil gun oil.

[Dark Skies]

I don't think it being stainless is the problem. Mine is stainless and doesn't suffer this issue.

[channel12]

Sperm whale oil was a go to gun oil in days of yore but nigh impossible to get

Way back in the mid 1960's I worked for a specialist oil company in their laboratories. The company produced soluble oils for engineering cutting fluids and leather tanning industry and one of the oils we processed was sperm whale oil and blown sperm oil (air was blown through it until oxidised and it became a thick dark malodourous liquid, or should I say even more smelly whale oil). Now with benefit of hindsight I could have stocked up with the whale oil before it was banned.

Fun fact, fish oils and cod liver oil are used in leather production and that smell of new leather is actually the fish oil, the chamois leather smell is the cod liver oil.