Grease Hole?

[Elnathan]

I'd assume that in the 18th and early 19th century "grease" usually indicated some sort of animal fat, the fossil fuel industry not really getting started until the mid-19th century, IIRC. There were some naptha-derived substances in use, I believe, but I don't think that they were used as lubricants generally.

Honestly never crossed my mind that "grease" could be taken to mean anything other than animal fats until DT posted....

A quick Bing search reveals that the melting points of various animal greases varies according what grade of fat and place in the animal it was rendered from. The better stuff has a melting point over 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

 

[coloradoclyde]

As someone who actually uses their "grease" hole or "lube" hole as I prefer....If you use a grease with the consistency of modern day grease gun grease or axle grease, you are going to have a disappointing mess on your hands.....
The grease or lube that works best (for me) is thick and hard like a tallow candle. The lube I use is a mixture of beeswax and olive oil, heated up to liquid state and poured into the hole and allowed to cool and harden......works great for me.
Because the lube is hard, it resists debris contamination. The heat from my thumb and the friction of rubbing the patch liberates just the right amount of wax and oil onto the patch....

In the event that the lube does become contaminated....because it is hard the contamination is easily removed with your fingernail or a patch.....Rather than driving it deeper into the lube.....

This isn't rocket science folks....any problems associated with using a grease hole can easily be overcome...

 

[coloradoclyde]

A quick Bing search reveals that the melting points of various animal greases varies according what grade of fat and place in the animal it was rendered from. The better stuff has a melting point over 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

The addition of some beeswax will raise the melting point.

 

[bpd303]

My Grandfather's 36 cal Ohio flintlock had a grease hole. He would lick a dry patch then rub it on the grease. When he got a squirrel in his sights it always went home with us to be put in the pot. I never questioned why he did it that way, just always thought that's how it's done.

Wish I had that old flintlock.

 

[ron wehmeyer]

I'd assume that in the 18th and early 19th century "grease" usually indicated some sort of animal fat, the fossil fuel industry not really getting started until the mid-19th century, IIRC. There were some naptha-derived substances in use, I believe, but I don't think that they were used as lubricants generally.

Honestly never crossed my mind that "grease" could be taken to mean anything other than animal fats until DT posted....

A quick Bing search reveals that the melting points of various animal greases varies according what grade of fat and place in the animal it was rendered from. The better stuff has a melting point over 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

I refer to grease as Wax/Grease , the grease being some sort or tallow or animal fat oil ect. Just as I use today! I cant take credit for bringing petrolium into the mix. ,,,,DT

 

[Gene L]

I've always heard them called "Taller holes." Which is mountain talk for "tallow." as in "He's so cheap he'd skin a tick for its hide and taller."

I remember reading in Bernard Cornwell's Sharp book "Waterloo" where in the evening Sharp cut a couple of steaks off a dead horse and got a handful of axle grease from a bucket at an artillery carriage.

He and his sergeant built a fire and fried these steaks on a French breastplate. When I first read it, I was taken aback and thought "Petro" for grease but of course it would have been tallow.

Recently, I went to Publix and asked to buy some beef tallow. I was told they couldn't sell any fat, although of course they sell fatback. I don't think the butcher knew what he was talking about.

 

[ron wehmeyer]

Think he was telling a big one Gene L. Most of what they call ground meat nowday's in the store, is fat. The last few yrs. Mother Nature has been kind to us. The deer have had enough body cavity fat alone to furnish me with more tallow than I can use. Let that stuff cool a bit and its easy to remove. ,,DT

 

[azmntman]

A quick Bing search reveals that the melting points of various animal greases varies according what grade of fat and place in the animal it was rendered from. The better stuff has a melting point over 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

The addition of some beeswax will raise the melting point.

Have you ever had the whole "plug" of grease drop out? Seems like if it got too hard(or cold?) it could just pop the whole thing out :hmm:

 

[coloradoclyde]

Yes, if I manually fill the hole....but not if I pour it in hot. It sticks better when hot.

 

[satx78247]

Fwiw, when the old-timers like my GF (1873-1961) & (what my mother called) "his playfellows" talked about "grease" for their ML, they meant beef tallow.
(Other than me, "the fairly well accepted tag-a-long", the younger gents in the ML group were WWI veterans & >65yo back in the early 1960s.)

yours, satx

 

[coloradoclyde]

"his playfellows" talked about "grease" for their ML, they meant beef tallow.


yours, satx

I have no doubt that tallow was used.....But I'm sure it was well rendered and not used straight from the cow.
Useful stuff tallow.......
You can make patch lube, candles, soap, and McDonald's french-fries from it.... :wink:

 

[satx78247]

Indeed you can use rendered tallow for all sorts of things.

I, too, serious doubt that any of "the old boys" would have used un-rendered tallow.
(I certainly would not.)

yours, satx

 

[crockett]

Thanks longrifle- shows what a bunch of dummies the rest of us are. :grin:

 

[coloradoclyde]

One way to keep the grease clean is to cut a patch and press it down on the grease and it'll stay stuck there until you need it to reload your gun, after you reload put a new patch on your grease.

I've done that too....but more as a way to reload fast when squirrel hunting...A patch on the grease hole and a ball in my shirt pocket...makes for a quick reload....I'm always thinking about my next shot.

 

[54ball]

Clyde,
I don't understand the logic of those who dislike a rifle simply because it has a grease hole. :idunno: It's just a small feature. It's use is optional.
If you don't like the grease simply clean out the hole and carry lube in a tin or use pre-lubed patches.
You use yours and thats great. I've had rifle that had one and the last thing I judged the rifle by was the grease hole. I mean it's such a quaint and trivial feature. Again, it's use or non use is no big deal.

 

[coloradoclyde]

I actually added the grease hole to my rifle...For 2 reasons....

1. to add aesthetics and make it look more like a southern squirrel rifle.

2. for the simple functionality.

 

[Many Klatch]

I have a rifle with a tallow hole in the stock. Built it to look like a Flint Indiana Poor Boy from the early 1800's. No butt plate, just a large nail to rest on when loading and a tallow or grease hole in the stock. Filled it with a mix of rendered tallow and beeswax. I haven't used it much because most of my shooting is with a spit patch. Some years ago a mouse took a liking to the tallow and chewed some around the hole. Now that's what I call Patina.

 

[BrownBear]

Some years ago a mouse took a liking to the tallow and chewed some around the hole. Now that's what I call Patina.

Oh yeah. You ought to see what they'll do to horn or antler in the Southwest. :shocked2:

Had one of our hands rub down his new reins with bacon grease "cuzz his granddaddy always did it." The very next morning we went into the tack shed and there was a fine silver curb bit and two buckles laying on the floor in a heap of mouse manure, and not a scrap of leather to be found! :rotf:

 

[pab1]

Had one of our hands rub down his new reins with bacon grease "cuzz his granddaddy always did it." The very next morning we went into the tack shed and there was a fine silver curb bit and two buckles laying on the floor in a heap of mouse manure, and not a scrap of leather to be found! :rotf:

That's funny! I can imagine the look on his face when he saw that! :rotf: