Krag Round Oiler

[butlersrangers]

IIRC - The (watch-size) "Pocket Oilers" are mentioned in one of 'The Chief of Ordnance - Annual Reports'. The need for more oil became apparent during tropical campaigns.

The 'Brophy page' above, says they were intended to be carried by Sergeants and contained Sperm Whale Oil.

The very common Krag 'cartridge-size' Oil-Bottle was carried in altered rifle & carbine butt-traps. For Krags lacking a butt-trap, it was carried in a Mill's Belt cartridge loop.
These smaller capacity oil-bottles were described, in 'Annual Reports', as containing cosmoline-oil.

[sdkrag]

Only one I ever held in the flesh was in Bill Mook's collection. Great catch.

[Kragrifle]

If you find one for $500, buy it.

[jon_norstog]

What C W Post said in his book was that there was no oil or grease available in Cuba. The soldiers used salt pork fat to grease down their weapons. Kept the rain off but the salt in that grease did its job. A lot of those weapons went to the arsenal for a refurb after the men came back. I'd bet a lot of the damage was due to not having oil for them..

jn

[Dan Shapiro]

Just an observation re: oil and grease in tropical climates.................the more things change, the more they stay the same.

During the onset of WWII in the Pacific, troops had problems with the M1 freezing up after a heavy rain. The establishment conclusion was to find a way to keep the right bolt lug oiled. They were talking about drilling a hole in the rear of the bolt and packing it with lint. The lint would then be soaked in oil. John Garand's solution was "Why don't you just use grease?"

Fast forward to Vietnam and the M16............and the development of LSA.

[Kragrifle]

LSA?

[70ish]

"LSA Weapons Oil US Made Genuine GI Army Military Gun Rifle Pistol Firearm Lubricant Protectant". Description is from Amazon. Doesn't say what it's made from, but the bottle says "Shake before using". Seems odd for a lubricant. But then, this is supposed to be for use as a rust preventative, too.

[lyman]

"LSA Weapons Oil US Made Genuine GI Army Military Gun Rifle Pistol Firearm Lubricant Protectant". Description is from Amazon. Doesn't say what it's made from, but the bottle says "Shake before using". Seems odd for a lubricant. But then, this is supposed to be for use as a rust preventative, too.

LSA separates over time,

white goo on the bottom, thin oil on the top