I bought this reprint of manual for Colt 1917 Army. Most of the book is rather simple operating procedure and drawings but there is a page about concocting your own cleaning solvent.
Anyone know where to by sperm whale oil today ?

Well, my memory is a little rusty, but I think that about thirty or more years ago, sperm whale oil went the way that elephant ivory grips on or for our revolvers are going in six more days. I think that it is illegal to buy or sell any of it. At least across state borders. I guess if someone still had some, it would ok to use it, but I don't think you can sell or buy it.

It's been awhile, so my memory may have faded, but I seem to remember a big deal about it maybe in the 1970s?

Best Regards, Les

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

Toyman, hello from the northern half of Nevada. Sperm oil was the lubricant used in the original formula for Ed's Red Bore Cleaner. A suitable modern substitute is good old ATF, automatic transmission fluid. I use ER bore cleaner all the time with excellent results, might try this formula also.

Regards from Nevada duke.

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old bird

The replacement for sperm whale oil has been jojoba oil. I believe this is derived from a desert cactus or other plant.

Hope this helps.

Says not to lay the gun aside without cleaning, especially with SMOKELESS powder. I'd have thought that black powder would cause rust sooner.

Maybe primers were different for black powder ammo then, and corrosive, mercuric primers were only in smokeless ammo? Doesn't seem likely.

I had a Colt M-1917 when I was 16. Christmas gift. Pretty good gun, but S&W's hold cylinder timing better. The beefy Colt might make a better club, if empty.

I always thought the unburned particles that make up the smoke in black powder absorbed the corrosive elements from the primer and carried them away.

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and what his trumpet saith