Sperm oil was $35 a gallon in the mid 19th century. Sperm oil (in 19th century parlance) was specifically the light, fine oil drawn from a cavity in the head of sperm whales. Whale oil (also called train oil) is what they would have used. Whale oil is the heavier oil made by melting the blubber of whales of all types.

@Kaboomf

4 жыл бұрын

Yup, sperm oil was way too expensive for gun cleaning. It never goes rancid or otherwise bad, so it was used extensively for clocks and other fine instruments or machinery. Good stuff for lubing and protecting the lockwork on guns, but way too expensive for use as a cleaning solvent.

@anonfilly7335

4 жыл бұрын

35$ in 1860 was worth a lot more than today

@nonamesplease6288

4 жыл бұрын

Whale oil was not always available in the Confederate army or at the end of a supply chain when the army was on campaign. I have heard stories of things like bacon grease or other meat greases being used instead. Not an ideal solution, but if you need to keep you shooting iron from rusting it will do. Also, the 53 Enfield also has brass furniture on it. Many officers, especially in the Union army, wanted the brass whitened. I've heard the urine could be used for this, but a more pleasant solution was to use ash from the fire mixed with spit and some elbow grease.

@sabertoothray

4 жыл бұрын

How much could they get out of a single sperm whales head?

@NikoMoraKamu

4 жыл бұрын

@@sabertoothray www.mysticseaport.org/voyage/files/2015/05/Vogel_morgan.pdf here says that between 6-8 barrels from the head and 45-50 all the whale

I use ballistol on anything - steel, wood, leather, plastic. Great stuff.

@Bushy_P

4 жыл бұрын

Ed walmsley not like wd40. Smells like LPS #2. Might be the same stuff as LPS #2, that’s not a fact though.

@Lakikano

4 жыл бұрын

It's an old German oil meant to clean, lube, and protect a whole bunch of different materials while being non-toxic. You might have to order it online but I think it's available most anywhere. I highly recommend it for steel and leather care.

@Tobascodagama

4 жыл бұрын

@Bill Dauterive It is petroleum-based, but very highly refined. It's mineral oil, which Wikipedia tells me is called "paraffinum perliquidum" in the UK, plus a few other additives.

@Blazer02LS

4 жыл бұрын

From the MSDS - Ballistol contains Mineral Oil Potassium Oleate Ammonium Oleate Oleic Acid Benzyl Alcohol Amyl Alcohol Isobutyl Alcohol Benzyl Acetate Anethole

@bob445566DE

4 жыл бұрын

You can even use it on yourself. It's antibacterial and was used by the German Army to treat wounds.

"Men just make sure you don't forget to say whale when you ask ask the supply sergeant for sperm oil... you might not get what you're expecting..." Nice video Karl.

@zloychechen5150

4 жыл бұрын

could get really confusing if one also forgot to say "oil"

@thetalesofdaneandco

4 жыл бұрын

@@zloychechen5150 "That's a giant gun you have there sir. It must be tough to clean." "Nah" (Truck backs in with an aquarium on the back)

@johngulyas4334

4 жыл бұрын

19th C. Quartermaster SGT’s were notorious pervs.

@dongblak7048

4 жыл бұрын

No wonder they started using rapeseed oil.

@FitnessTips4Ux

Жыл бұрын

“Sir I’m sorry I meant sperm whale oil not sperm oil.” *me, a surprised and very tired supply sergeant* “Son… do you know how long it took me to get you that can of sperm oil?”

I remember going to a Rev War reenactment one time. Afterwards I watched a participant take a part off the breach end. Then he held a hose to that end and had the muzzle down. When he turned the water on black mud came flowing out. I looked at him and said "Field maintenance?" and he laughed and said "Yes."

Infantryman: How do we maintain our rifles in the field? NCO: Water, patches and some oil, now let's go die. Infantryman: "But Sarge"-Yusha Thomas

“Sperm oil” certainly puts a new spin on “I was cleaning it and it went off”.

@marzcapone9939

4 жыл бұрын

It was clean 15 minutes ago....🤔

@michelguevara151

4 жыл бұрын

lol XD

@VonSchpam

4 жыл бұрын

Yes. It's good that he clarified where the sperm oil came(?...!) from.

@billstevens5277

4 жыл бұрын

"Can I borrow your Playboy? I gotta clean my rifle".

@TexasHellcat1836

4 жыл бұрын

😂😂😂

Can't wait to see the long reply of someone explaining why the super long method is superior, completely missing the point of the video. Solid video Karl, stay safe.

@jaredfoogle2298

4 жыл бұрын

Honestly the only extra thing we'd do more during reenactments is we boiled the water sometimes, but this is really standard for what we did and I'm glad Karl made the video on it

I like ARs too but this type of content is why I started watching your channel.

Thank you Karl. A picture really is worth a thousand words. Please consider doing a similar video on your WWSD AR.

i see you are using Ballistol. Man i love this stuff

Two things come to mind. 1. NEVER do this in your shower/tub, it is extremely difficult to scrub the stain out of the no skid, don't ask how I know. 2. Differences in volume of fire and expectations. Back in the day how often were these guns really fired, and how many rounds were expected to go through them between overhauls? Today people expect something like this to last a lifetime of occasional use, and for that more intensive, nuke it from orbit cleaning (stronger solvents or the bucket of hot water) may be warranted to ensure the barrel is kept entirely free of anything corossive.

Thats a nice Pedersoli 1853. I just got one of their 2-band 1858 Enfields and I can't wait to try it out with some Pritchett paper cartridges.

How anachronistic, using an ultra modern 1905 CLP for a Civil War design. BTW I was taught to use Ballistol over 50 years ago on BP guns.

@5000rgb

4 жыл бұрын

It's "not modern by modern standards"

Great stuff Karl. Simple & concise.

Karl, I want to see more of this content. Love the history content too. There is so much contradictory information out there, it’s good to hear it from someone who is a realist, and I respect. Keep up the good work.

I am so glad my old school trade rifle has the quick detach barrel - drive out the wedge and it's off. I can slop water everywhere while cleaning the barrel and not worry about the stock or lock getting wet.

Cracking video. Pretty much how I clean my Martini. Boiling water helps, but cold works fine. Then oiled patches. Works fine.

5:53 onwards, Karl's signature dance move

When I demonstrated a replica 1842 Springfield at a state park, we used hot water and REM-Oil. It was simple albeit very messy. Great learning experience.

Love the 2600hz phreaking shirt!

I'd love to see more videos on field cleaning weapons. I think that we take for granted the amount of cleaning supplies and items we have these days, and it is nice to see how soldiers would have done this type of thing in the field. Have you thought about doing a video on field cleaning weapons that use corrosive ammo like the AK? I know standard practice is to douse it in water (usually with a hose) before just cleaning normally, but what about in proper field conditions? I'd imagine that soldiers don't always have access to hoses and barrels of water, so how would soldiers clean their weapons if only a limited amount of water (perhaps just what is in their canteens) was available? Thanks for the video!

@pozsmith8207

4 жыл бұрын

Dunk in a creek, run the bolt 10 times, dry and oil.

Thank you. I've watched half a dozen vids on how to clean my muzzle loader, and most of them left me thinking 1) I don't want to spend more time cleaning it than I do shooting it and 2) there is no way a Civil War soldier would have had the time / equipment to do it this way. I'll still use some of the more intensive cleaning methods, but now I'm confident I can use those methods two or three times a year, not after every time I shoot.

At 7:40 you can hear the giggles of a thousand twelve-year-olds

@Taistelukalkkuna

4 жыл бұрын

*thousand twelve-year-olds of all ages* Fixed

@dannyd3717

4 жыл бұрын

When you get your Rifle and your gun mixed up.

@elwayfan01

4 жыл бұрын

I'll have you know I'm actually 31, not 12. *huffs dismissively*

@studentdrake

3 жыл бұрын

@@elwayfan01 that's called getting younger in reverse.

@jdkeith5373

3 жыл бұрын

Oh no my cover is blown ABORT THE MISSION

Your videos have been great lately Karl. I got out of black powder shooting a while ago, but it is a very fun, unique experience. I used to own 3 of these Enfields, a 2 band Musketoon, a 3 band infantry musket like the one in the video and a 3 band Zouave (spelling?) Model. They are awesome shooting muskets, I used to deer hunt with the musketoon. The other simple cleaning method I was taught was to mix water, dawn dish detergent and hydrogen peroxide. Take the nipple out, put the butt end down on the ground or in a bath tub and spray a bunch of the mixture into the bore until mostly clear or clear. Then run patches down until dry, then run bore butter down the bore. Ballistol is different but most gun oils will cause a massive mess in black powder guns. Keep up the awesome content!

But for a really authentic cleaning, you need the whale oil. Considering it is in such short supply these days, this may be a great opportunity to do a demmo of a black powder actuated harpoon gun to provide yourself with the correct period solvent.

@Hopeofmen

4 жыл бұрын

Just ask the Japanese. :) They would know where to get some.

Good job! I'm not a BP fan because I figured it would be a lot of work. That's not bad. I would never have searched for this info, but now I know. And I learned from a trusted source, sometimes a problem on YT. I AM PROUD TO BE A PATREON SUPPORTER.

"This is what they would've done with sperm-oil..." The fan-fiction practically writes itself ... :P

Could you please do a field cleaning video on cap and ball revolvers?

I've recently become really interested in the Civil War. Thanks for these videos, Karl. I'll be supporting on Patreon at the end of the month.

5:53 that's getting turned into a gif, probably with transparency

I'm gonna go clean all my rifles now. You tripped my guilty conscience with this video.

I use this same procedure to clean my bong, works like a charm!

I'm really loving this content Karl, the U.S. civil war is my favorite time period to learn about.

Me? I prefer the British army method; draw the hammer to full cock, lean the gun at a 45 degree angle with the barrel down. pour water (preferably hot water) down the barrel, pump the water through the barrel with a patch attached to the ramrod/cleaning rod. This forces the water through the bolster (cone seat) and cone, cleaning out any debris in there.

@Derecq

4 жыл бұрын

Yes that is the recommended cleaning method however you have to remember that the nipple was open bored and not reverse cone like a modern nipple so the fouling would wash straight through.

Karl, I hope you have the opportunity to show similar maintenance on the blackpowder guns of the later eras, such as the lever-actions. I've performed maintenance on modern cap-n'-ball revolvers, single-shot pistols, and rifles, even black powder shotguns, but not something like a lever-action or especially like a Winchester 97 pump shotgun. It's amazing that black powder fired in a cartridge still gets fouling everywhere. Thank you Karl.

I shoot a sharps replica with black powder. Folks at the range always ask, "Isn't that a lot of work to clean?" Nope... Six to eight wet patches, one dry patch, and one patch with WD-40. I go back a couple days later and wipe off the WD-40 and use a better preservative oil for long term storage. The cleaning solution I use is Mike Venturino's recommended solution of Windex with vinegar diluted 3 to 1. (Just enough soap to act as a surfactant and cut the bullet lube grease.) I don't spend more than 10 minutes at the range cleaning up and maybe 5 minutes at home reoiling with a good preservative oil. Spend more time shooting and less cleaning.

Very interesting stuff. Really do enjoy the videos that you guys make.

Thanks so much for this vid. You’re absolutely right in stating that the average online vid makes this job sound prohibitively time and labor intensive.

Really enjoying your musket content, thank you for doing these videos and I hope to see more.

cool video, Karl. thanks for loading it

Spectacularly good condition musket too. Great video !

Nice video ! My trapdoor is the messiest thing to clean but you’ve given me a new idea.

On other video on cleaning riffles they used the same method - fill muzzle with water, hot water if possible. There was a tip/remark: empty it somewhere further from your camp/stand, water can be really filthy.

I'm glad I'm not the only one using Ballistol on my black powder guns.

@52Ford

4 жыл бұрын

Heck no! I almost exclusively use Ballistol on everything. I only own one other brand of gun oil and Ballistol is the only chemical I use on some of my guns (not counting oil and wax for the stocks).

@charlescomly1

4 жыл бұрын

Smells really bad and makes the wife complain, but it does a great job.

@greencreekranch

4 жыл бұрын

Ballistol is basically the only thing german hunters use on any gun. And knives. And sometimes their dogs...

I shot a lot of black powder, both ML and BL. Thank you for the video. Perfectly practical, I do similar, though I do add a bronze brush to the routine. Surprising what still comes out. When cleaning indoors I use patches soaked with a solution of water and water-soluble cutting oil. Less mess in my gun room. Fyi, the slot in the ram rod is for a bar to assist in withdrawing the ball using the screw attachment. Keep them coming!

Cool stuff Karl

You're one of the best youtubers Karl

@InrangeTv

4 жыл бұрын

Wow, thanks! :)

Great video I use to do civil war reenacting and we did it alittle differently but pretty much the same way. Glad someone made a good video your def right people make all kinds of expensive concoctions to clean these. Or they do the opposite and clean it w water and don't put any lube on 🤦‍♂️ love your guy's content!

Ballistol is a great product to use. It will dissolve the salts from black powder while not harming the wood at all. Also it conditions leather, so safe to leave your sling on.

@cameronlamb7274

10 ай бұрын

Black powder doesn’t have salts it’s fouling is hygroscopic it pulls in moisture from the air. This is true at least for the real stuff.

@Jesses001

10 ай бұрын

@@cameronlamb7274 Black powder contains potassium nitrate. Common term is saltpeter. It is not what we generally call salt, sodium chloride.

One of the "emergency" cleaners used during combat when the fouling got so bad that you couldn't load the bullet, that appears to have worked pretty well, was to urinate down the barrel. Mentioned in several of the "Sharp's Rifles" books.

I did enjoy this, thank you Karl!

Ballistol is some awesome stuff. On some of my guns, Ballistol is the only chemical I use (not counting oil and wax for the wood). I rarely shoot my muzzle loading firearms, so I pull the barrel out of the stock, remove the nipple, stick that end into a sink full of water and dish soap, scrub the bore with a (cotton?) mop on a cleaning rod. After that I dry the bore with a few patches, run some patches with Ballistol to keep it from rusting, wipe the outside down, and call it done. If I know the gun is going to sit a long time, I spray Ballistol into the bore and just plan on cleaning it before I shoot it next. The only bad thing that over-oiling is going to do to a gun in storage is saturate the wood - you can remove the oil from the wood and it's a lot easier that undoing rust damage.

A beautiful bit of kit Karl, some specs would be appreciated.

Excellent video. I have the 1858 and use ballistol.

Hey Karl, what reproduction/maker enfield is that? I've been interested in getting one. Great video by the way, one thing I never looked into was how soldiers cleaned their guns in the civil war. Thank you.

Remember, that's sperm whale OIL. Not whale SPERM. Trust me, you do not want to make that mistake

@studentdrake

3 жыл бұрын

Or do you?😁

Thank you for the cool video Karl

I have used boiling water followed with ballistol for years. Hard to go wrong with simplicity. Thanks for sharing !

just woke up after a night shift, good guy karl providing little tired me with some nice content :-)

Great video I always wondered how they did that in the field

Great work. Thanks

Feels like asmr when you were filling up the bore lmao

Excellent video. From UK.

Thank you! Very informative

Great video as always You could probably reuse those patches as fire starters once they dry out

@uraniumpenetrator3844

4 жыл бұрын

In my more frugal days, I'd wash my used patches in dish water and re-use them to clean my guns over and over. Gets hard to tell if the patch comes out clean after a few rotations, but it's better than not cleaning.

@ivankrylov6270

4 жыл бұрын

@@uraniumpenetrator3844 yeah i rotate my patches for cleaning new patches for final swipes, old grey one for the first few

Thanks Carl I was wondering how they clean the rifles in the field.

Great, now I want to buy a new Enfield... Thanks a lot InRangeTV! ;-)

Great video

thank you for this. this is i havent seen black powder channels do, how to clean your gun when you in the middle of the wood on a 3 day hunting trip or backwoods shootout.

It wouldn't be too terribly different from the Enfield, but I'd love to see you guys go over the 1854 Lorenz rifle-musket, along with other weapons of the 19th century. The history associated with such arms is fascinating, and it's great to see people with a love for modern weaponry take interest in the tools related to soldiery of yesteryear as well.

I did enjoy this gun care. Thank you

I like to imagine Karl was just standing there, in frame, in his camo pajama pants for the entire 10 minutes of letting the water sit

Good useful information.

Instructions unclear, now my musket shoots bubbles ...

Me rolling into my local gun store. "Where you keep your sperm oil?" Good video though. Its something I really hadn't considered before.

This video is oddly relaxing.

Seems like a mix between polishing grandma's silver and cleaning out a bong

@dragonsword7370

4 жыл бұрын

So your G.ma's silver Bong then?

@paullytle1904

4 жыл бұрын

@@dragonsword7370 i guess so

@romanpfaff3039

4 жыл бұрын

Solid

@nicholaspatton5590

4 жыл бұрын

Cleaning out the Quartermaster's bong, 1861 colorized

fill wait for the next 2 cups of water boil or 10 min, make 1 cup of coffe or tea use rest of HOT water for second rinse

Nice! Thanks Karl. Rich.

Let it be put on record: the internet now has audio of Karl saying "sperm." 1:55 Prepare to reap what you sow, Karl von Internet!!

I’d like to see you clean some black powder handguns, 1851 navy’s etc, that be cool

InRange doing musket videos coincided nicely with me marathoning Sharpe again

Been a CAS/SASS shooter for years, I have always competed in a black powder category. My method for cleaning is very similar, just plain old water to clean rifle, pistols and shotgun. Then lightly oiled with Ballistol. Never had any issues with rust in 12 years of real black powder shooting (no subs). Some of the worst/complicated cleaning methods and myths about black powder come from fellow SASS shooters that have little or no experience with actually shooting bp.

I never would have thought cleaning an old muzzle loader would be that easier. Im thinking about getting into these. They look fun, and I'd imagine they are cheaper to shoot

I have no direct experience with black-powder arms but have always been fascinated by them... from a distance. Descriptions of how "High-Maintenance" BP arms were have kinda scared me off but I really like bits like these kinda de-mystifying aspects of firearms of all kinds like this.

Hi Karl, Thanks for doing some videos on muzzle loaders and for doing a period correct description of field cleaning the 1853 Enfield. Did the 1853 Enfield have a steel ramrod? Most black powder rifles have wooden ramrods. P.S. Fantastic shots you made with it in your previous video.

@GreenCanoeb

4 жыл бұрын

Most military rifles had steel ramrods to survive the roughest use in the field.

That's how we do it at re-enactments. Hot water, patches, oil.

Great vid

Great shirt!

Interesting and very excellent video Carl. I wish you would have poured the dirty barrel water on to a white rag each time. would have been neat to see. 👍😎

ive always been told ..... all ya need to clean black powder..... is hot water.... at boy scout camp in both montana and MN..... i always took a shooting badge eventually, the "leaders" started recognizing me.... and would let me shoot double barrel muzzle loading shotguns.... IF!!! i helped clean the ~8 muskets they knew i already knew my shit.... safety practices.... how to clean a gun.... ETC was pretty cool...... i remember "shotgun charley".... old namn vet..... glad i got to meet that dude

@kainhall

4 жыл бұрын

for the slosh part..... id always stick the ram rod or cleaning rod into the bore..... (we also used dawn dish soap to help neutralize acids) something loose enough to not "hydro lock" the action, and blow off your cap/leather piece and run it up and down a shit ton its sorta like your washing machine..... agitates the water..... then run like 3 patches threw it...... oil it up with a 4th (with a LIGHT coat on the external metal parts) and your good to go..... just make sure you dry it QUICKLY you can almost watch it rust infront of your face when wet.... however..... the oil you apply to the external parts, will wipe away that surface rust..... and leave a protective coat

Also a shout out to your awesome background music, BIRDS OF ARIZONA!?

Finally, we see Karl shaking it.

Hi :) I use lukewarm (or cold) water and vinegar in 6 water+ 5 vinegar mixture. I found this recipe in book about Hussites war and work perfect for me + is absolutely cheap :) The reaction of this mixture and rests of burned black powder is amazing :) Thanks for video :)

And then just finish the cleaning with a few prayers and annoint the weapon with holy oils.

@danielkaczynski9702

4 жыл бұрын

And be sure to have Gun Jesus bless your weapon.

@Robert-qr8co

4 жыл бұрын

Litany of the ...Caplock? "And then we gonna spray the whole darn thing." Really!?

Ideally it was preferred to use hot water as it dried easier

@thatguyoverthere9634

4 жыл бұрын

And dissolves salts easier

@dposcuro

4 жыл бұрын

Ideally, yes. Soldiers are very often not in ideal situations.

Sperm whale oil was quite common in the 19th century. Sperm oil on the other hand was quite difficult to obtain, mostly due to the expense of equipping a ship's worth of men with tiny harpoons.

Karl, unless the ramrod steel is stronger and harder than the barrel steel, you will not scratch it by contact. You may scratch it if some hard particles like sand or other hard particles get inbetween the ramrod and the steel barrel, or if the ramrod surface is harder and stronger than the barrel surface, which I strongly doubt. using my Bc. in mech. eng. for this comment :D

@TheRealColBosch

4 жыл бұрын

Given perfectly hardened steel, you are correct. But one of the first thing you learn about guns - indeed, any mechanical device - is that nothing is ever perfect. Ideal conditions only exist on paper.

I have the same enfield rifle at home. I clean the barrel with Ballistol and some cleaning patches . On the rear where all the gunk from the fiering mechanism comes out i use a combination of alcohol and (schmierseife) it works really well. I dont know what schmierseife is in English translated from german its lubricating soap (its an old kind of greasy soap thats kind of brown) Nice video love this Gun !

In a completely separate topic, I was looking up mostly-scientific reviews of different laundry detergents and how they compared to water. Most affordable detergents are only about ~10-15% more effective than water. Water is treated in chemistry as a solvent. In case anyone brings it up- I'm treating detergent here as 'absorbing and removing stains'- as separate from killing microbes. Boiling water and or sunlight fixes that.