I do occasionally hunt with some of my old Winchesters. The last one was a high condition Model 1873 (the one shown in my signature). Each night before the next day’s hunt, I would put on a very generous amount of Conservator’s Wax. I would let it dry that way overnight without wiping off the excess. The carry area got an especially liberal amount of wax. A rifle like that was carried in a case to and from the area I hiked into or to my stand, depending upon how I was hunting. Four days of hunting in occasional light snow and at temperatures around freezing or several degrees below, I would see snow flakes melting on the waxed barrel, and there were times when my damp leather mitts were carrying the rifle. Nevertheless, the generous wax applied each night before seemed to protect it. I could find no sign whatsoever that the blue at the carry area was affected. Having said all this, I am sure that there are other more effective ways to protect your Winchester from any dampness or wear it may encounter while hunting.

hedley lamarr said

I also layered on quite a bit of wax on two rifles this fall and winter.  I thought the wax was especially useful for the wood.  On the Model 70 I had also put a generous amount underneath the stock when I had it off.  I shot the Model 70 at an earlier date in steady rain because that was when I had made time to do it.  The wax seemed to hold up good.  Maybe there is a better wax for that application but the renaissance is what I had.

 

I still like the look of some kind of oil for storage.  I’m not sure whether wax can penetrate into screw holes, etc. in the metal.  If there is moisture present maybe the wax would just be sealing it off?

Brad

win38-55 said

I do occasionally hunt with some of my old Winchesters. The last one was a high condition Model 1873 (the one shown in my signature). Each night before the next day’s hunt, I would put on a very generous amount of Conservator’s Wax. I would let it dry that way overnight without wiping off the excess. The carry area got an especially liberal amount of wax. A rifle like that was carried in a case to and from the area I hiked into or to my stand, depending upon how I was hunting. Four days of hunting in occasional light snow and at temperatures around freezing or several degrees below, I would see snow flakes melting on the waxed barrel, and there were times when my damp leather mitts were carrying the rifle. Nevertheless, the generous wax applied each night before seemed to protect it. I could find no sign whatsoever that the blue at the carry area was affected. Having said all this, I am sure that there are other more effective ways to protect your Winchester from any dampness or wear it may encounter while hunting.

In days gone bye, I usually hunted the west slopes of Colorado with my M1892 and M1894 rifles. I once tried a M1873 Musket. Never got a shot. This was in the late 60’s and early 70’s. Never did wax one in those days. Got my deer too. Big Larry

I should add that I also generously wax the wood finish with Conservator’s Wax. I note that as a Winchester is used, it begins to loose its wood finish in the grip area and the forearm carry point. I don’t want this to happen to my Winchesters so I am especially zealous about keeping those areas well waxed as well, especially if I am hunting or shooting with them. 

I should also add that before I started using Conservator’s Wax, I was leaving a light coat of 3-in-1 oil on the metal. However, it seemed to evaporate over the months while the rifle was on display and very light spots of extremely fine surface corrosion occurred on one of my Winchester receivers one summer when it was more humid. Since I started keeping all my Winchesters coated with Conservator’s Wax, I’ve never had any hint of surface rust spots occur even though we’ve had some very humid summers.

Folks,  I have no experience with either wax.  I do have experience with Birchwood-Casey Sheath (now known as Barricade).  I have no idea from a chemist’s perspective of its contents, but can say from use on shotguns used in rain it remains on the metal far longer than an oil will.  It claims and appears to be true to “remove fingerprints” by creeping under and remaining in contact with the metal.  I doubt it would be persistent enough to preclude long term wear protection of wood at the carry points, though.  I think it is supposed to have a wax component that makes it relatively persistent, and being a liquid it is relatively easy to apply and creeps into small crevices/screw depressions, etc.  For longer term storage, a rag kept damp with it is easy to wipe over the surfaces, to include the wood, every 6 months to a year.

Tim