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BALLISTOL DETAILS
Introduction
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In 1913 Messrs. Kolb, a Philadelphia
corporation submitted Ballistol to the "War Department's" Springfield
Armory for T&E. Ballistol was tested on several firearms and Ordnance
Captain Ramsey notified Messrs. Kolb by end of April 1914 that Ballistol
had been found to be far superior to the Cosmoline used at the time by
the US Army for firearms maintenance. Kolb was encouraged to submit a
proposal in response to the Army's next RFP. However, in the Fall of
1914 the Austrian Army marched into Serbia and WWI began. Since January
01, 1993, Ballistol has been marketed exclusively by the former
Washington Trading Company, now called Ballistol, USA. In 1993 the
Navy's Seal Team 6 tested Ballistol and adopted it in 1994 for weapon
maintenance. The US Coast Guard began using Ballistol in 1994. Today
Ballistol is used by numerous state and local law enforcement
departments and departments of correction throughout the US. For Federal
Agencies, Ballistol is available through the Defense General Supply
Center (DGSC) of the Defense Logistics Agency. The CAGE Code for
Ballistol is "OZKM2". Inquire about the NSN,s for Ballistol sizes.
Lubrication
Ballistol is a far better lubricant than
most, if not all, other so-called gun oils. Test it by putting Ballistol
on your right index finger and another product on your left index finger
and by rubbing your index fingers against your thumbs. You will find
that Ballistol is significantly slicker than competing products. Then
clean your hands and again rub each index finger against the thumb. You
will find that the finger which had the Ballistol is still slicker. Now
wash both hands with soap and rub again. The finger with Ballistol will
will still be slicker. This proves that Ballistol lubricates not only
better but also more long-lasting than other products.
Even if you mix Ballistol with water, for
example one part Ballistol and ten parts water, Ballistol will still be
slick. Ballistol is the only gun oil which does not lose its capability
to lubricate in the presence of water! Ballistol can be used on dry and
wet metal, leather and wooden stocks. If you are out hunting and you get
caught in that torrential downpour and you do not have the opportunity
or time to take your gun apart and dry and clean and lubricate it, do
not worry! Just soak it with Ballistol, lock, stock and barrel. Wipe off
the excess oil and carry the gun home. Water will not affect metal, wood
or leather in the presence of Ballistol for quite a while.
One of the worst sins of most common 'gun
oils' is that they gum up and harden relatively fast. They become sticky
and gluey and can dangerously interfere with the proper mechanical
function of a firearm. Ballistol will positively never gum up or harden.
In 1952 a bottle with Ballistol, with the cap only loosely attached, was
found in the attic of a deceased German hunter. Also the purchase
voucher was found. It could be established that the Ballistol had been
sitting there for over 30 years. Yet, it still had the consistency of
freshly produced Ballistol. It is fairly obvious but not too well known
that if a gun oil gums up or hardens inside the bore and/or bolt
mechanism, this may not only interfere with the proper mechanical
functioning of certain components but it might also throw off the guns
zero.
For hand loaders: Ballistol is an
excellent case sizing lubricant. Cases won't get stuck in the re-loading
dies and when you wipe them off, they will be cleaned of dirt and oxide.
Corrosion Inhibition
There is more than one type of corrosion.
Common corrosion is oxidation, a chemical reaction between ferrous
metals and the oxygen contained in air and water. Rust is the best
example for this type of corrosion. But there are also other types of
corrosion, such as acidic corrosion, galvanic corrosion and stress
corrosion. Salt water corrosion is a combination of oxidation and acidic
and galvanic corrosion. It is virtually impossible to stop corrosion
completely. Corrosion happens, albeit very slowly. It is, therefore,
more honest to speak about inhibiting corrosion rather than stopping or
preventing it. Ballistol is mildly alkaline (pH between 8.5 and 9.5).
Therefore, it is capable of neutralizing mild acids and acidic residues
such as hand sweat (no fingerprints etched into the soft damascus steel
of the old collector gun) or residues from black powder (which are
acidic). Ballistol not only protects against normal corrosion (i.e.
oxidation) but also against acidic and galvanic corrosion, against which
non-alkaline corrosion inhibitors are completely useless. Due to its low
surface tension Ballistol creeps and penetrates. It will actively propel
itself and reach areas inaccessible for the applicator. It will even
creep upwards against gravity.
Ballistol neutralizes bluing salts and
flux bleeding out around soldering seams thus preventing damage to and
the discoloration of the bluing of your gun.
Cleaning
Another problem found with many gun oils
is that they are not good cleaners. The gun owner has to use a cleaner
first and then a lubricant. And then there is no guarantee that the
lubricant is a good corrosion inhibitor. Ballistol fulfills all three
functions: it cleans, lubricates and protects against corrosion!
Ballistol has the capability to dissolve
traces of copper, zinc, tombac and lead. It can actively eliminate
residues of these metals from the chambers and bores of firearms. Test
it by sticking a dispensed and slightly corroded brass shell into
Ballistol so that the Ballistol covers approximately half of the shell.
Leave the shell in the Ballistol for approximately 30 minutes and wipe
the part exposed to Ballistol with a dry cotton cloth. You will see it
become shiny again.
Ballistol dissolves the inorganic
residues from black powder In black powder guns, it also neutralizes the
acidic residues from black powder.
Wood
Most common gun oils, solvents, cleaners
or corrosion inhibitors are not good for your gun's wooden stocks. Some
attack the high gloss varnish, some will bleach the wood, some will wash
the oil out of your oil stocks. Ballistol is good for wood and wooden
stocks. It was designed to protect even untreated gun stocks against
humidity, insects and fungus and to be compatible with all sorts of
paints and varnishes, even those on most antique guns. Ballistol can be
used to re-treat oil stocks. It penetrates into the wood and inhibits
the growth of fungus and mildew in the wood. Of course, you can also use
Ballistol on modern and antique furniture or to protect external wooden
structures against decay. Ballistol will also prevent insects from
attacking wood.
Caution:
It is sometimes uncertain which type of paint, lacquer or varnish was
used on antique guns or furniture. Test Ballistol on a small spot first!
Leather
There is virtually no gun oil around that
you would also want to apply to leather. Good leather is processed with
tannic acid of which residues remain in the leather. There is an
ironclad rule in chemistry: whenever an acid and an alkaline substance
interact, they form a salt + water. When the alkaline Ballistol is
applied to leather, which has been processed with tannic acid, Ballistol
and the tannic acid residues in the leather interact forming a salt from
tannic acid, called tannate, and water. While the water evaporates, the
tannate remains in the leather making it water impermeable and
protecting it against destruction through fungus, bacteria and insects.
Ballistol also keeps leather water impermeable. (Do not use Ballistol on
suede. It might spoil its look.)
Emulsifiability
Most general lubricants and gun oils
claim to be so-called water displacement oils. WD-40 is the typical
example. The principle of water displacement works fine - but only under
certain circumstances: the surface must be smooth and flat or convex and
there must be an area to where the water can be displaced. By contrast,
in a confined space such as a bolt hole or a countersunk hole or an area
with a concave or cylindrical configuration the principle of water
displacement does not work. Convince yourself: fill a test tube or small
glass half an inch high with WD-40 or with the gun oil of your choice.
Then add water about half an inch high. You will see that the water
displaces the WD-40 or other gun oil, which will end up floating on top
of the water. The area which you wanted to protect will no longer be
protected. But the oil on top of the water will prevent it from
dissipating and so corrosion will set in underneath the oil. Now do the
same experiment with Ballistol. When you pour water into the Ballistol
you will see the Ballistol actively emulsify with it. Test the lubricity
of this mix. Stick your index finger into it and rub it against your
thumb. You will feel that Ballistol still lubricates. You will also see
that the area where the water was, will now be protected by a mix out of
Ballistol and water. Just as this mix can still lubricate It can also
still inhibit corrosion. The fact that Ballistol emulsifies with water
can be used to lubricate and protect even wet firearms, wet leather and
wet wood. Since the Ballistol does not cover up the water, the water can
dissipate and the risk of rust is diminished. No other product can do
this.
Other uses for Ballistol
In addition to being a uniquely capable
gun oil, Ballistol can be used for many other purposes. To name a few as
an octane booster and top engine oil in combustion engines; for the
winterization of motors; at a polish for car paint when added to rinsing
water or to beautify faded gel coats of old fiberglass boats. Ballistol
maintains and cleans plastic dash boards and vinyl seat covers. It
eliminates oil and rubber stains In carpets. Due to its low electric
conductivity it can be safely used In electrical equipment.
User Safety & the Environment
Most general lubricants and corrosion
inhibitors and most gun oils and gun cleaners contain rather aggressive
chemicals. They contain substances such as Teflon (PTFE), silicone, tar,
trichloroethane or tetrachloroethylene, which are all listed cancer
causing agents. Or they contain petroleum, kerosene, benzene or
chlorinated paraffins, all of which are toxic ('harmful or fatal if
swallowed') for warm-blooded organisms and fish. Some are 'skin and eye
irritants'. Others emit toxic vapors. Very few are biodegradable.
Ballistol does not contain anything known to cause cancer. Ballistol is
non-toxic for warm-blooded and aquatic organisms. Ballistol meets the
criteria of the Federal Trade Commission for the claim of
biodegradability and Ballistol sprays do not contain any CFCs.
The Odor of Ballistol
Ballistol has a distinct odor. It comes
from a medicinal oil contained in it, which is called Anethole. Anethole
is derived from a plant called Pimpinella Anisum L. The odor fades away
after approximately 20-30 minutes of contact with the air. After
approximately 60 minutes Ballistol becomes a practically tasteless and
odorless substance. Ballistol has been approved by the USDA for use in
the Federally Regulated Meat and Poultry Industry in areas with no
direct contact with food. Some people like the odor of Ballistol, some
don¡¯t. Just like beauty is in the eye of the beholder likewise, what is
a good or bad odor, is in the nose of the sniffer - so to speak. If you
like the smell of licorice, anise cookies, Uzo, Pernot or Aguardiente
you will probably also like the smell of Ballistol.
Ballistol has been around for over 90
years. Three generations of hunters, shooters, outdoorsmen and soldiers
have tested this product. They may not all have liked its odor but they
sure found it to be the best!
Warning:
Although Ballistol has been engineered not only to be a gun oil but also
to serve as a medicinal drug and in spite of the fact that it is
approved and used in Germany for veterinary and human medicinal
applications, Ballistol is not approved as a medicinal drug in the USA.
Therefore, do not use Ballistol as a medicinal drug! Ballistol is not
for human or animal consumption.
Caution:
Although Ballistol is non-toxic for people, warm-blooded animals,
snakes, reptiles and aquatic organisms it may kill small insects such as
aphids, mites, ants, termites, fleas, ticks, chiggers, wasps, spiders,
flies, bees or similar.
We are certain that
you will find more amazing uses for BALLISTOL.
BALLISTOL:
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