Does olive oil on leather ever go rancid like some other food oils?

[Tallbald]

I really like the idea of natural dyes and finishes. I have had peanut oil go rancid in a jar, but don't know if this could be an issue with olive oil used to finish a holster. Are there  salts in olive oil that may affect gun finishes? Sorry if this has been discussed, but I tried a search and couldn't find an answer. Thanks, Don.

[ChuckBurrows]

In 40 years of using only the cold pressed Extra Virgin type - the answer is no, at least none has been reported and I've had no rancidity on my own gear.

Salt should not be in the oil, but I always double check the ingredients before buying just to make sure. I also use Manteca brand lard to make dubbin (a mix of animal fat, eitehr olive oil or animal fat oil, and bees wax) when I dont have deer or beef tallow available. Manteca has no salt but some brands do.

In so far as affecting the finish on a gun - even good quality, unfinished veg/bark tan can cause wear and rust problems on steel or verdigris on brass and copper - especially if the leather gets damp or pics up enough moisture from the air in a high humidity area. Veg/Bark tan is fairly high in tannic acids at a norm of 4.5 on the PH scale (neutral is 7.0 PH). General rule of thumb is to never store items long term in leather not matter the type or finish used.........

[amin ledbetter]

I really like the idea of natural dyes and finishes. I have had peanut oil go rancid in a jar, but don't know if this could be an issue with olive oil used to finish a holster. Are there  salts in olive oil that may affect gun finishes? Sorry if this has been discussed, but I tried a search and couldn't find an answer. Thanks, Don.

Try reading this post I did a year or so back. Pay close attention to what the experts say Olive Oil! Especially what Chuck Burrows says. Should answer most of your questions. Here's a link.

http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,31724.0.html

[bedbugbilly]

I can't remembeer the name of the book, even though I have a copy of it back in MI.  It was written by a gentleman (a WW II vet) who knew many Civil War veterans during his youth and the book was basically on the '51 Colt Navy - tips and tricks, etc. that he picked up from the vets and his own extensive experiences with '51 Navies.  The book was a limited private printing and I apologize for drawing a blank on the title and author.  Anyways - in it, he claims that some of the best gun oil that you can get is accomplished by taking Extra Virgin Olive Oil - putting it in a glass container and setting it in the sun for a year - turn it every so often (gently) and at the end of a year, draw off the oil from the top.  He claimed that this was often used in the "period" and that it was basically adopted from clock and watchmakers who would use the oil in their trade for lubrication.  If the clock/watch makers used it, it would have to be pretty pure and not have a problem of getting rancid or "gummy".  I've used it on leather for years without a problem and I now use it for gun oil as well.  I've grown to prefer it over Neatsfoot oil and 99% of the time, I use it as a part of the finish process on my holsters, etc.  I'm going to start another batch of it for gun oil when I get back out here in Arizona next October - where the sun shines EVERY DAY!  Ooops . . a big "I'm sorry" to those of you who are shoveling snow!      Just thought I'd add the little tidbit on using it for gun oil as well as leatherwork.   

[ChuckBurrows]

High quality olive oil as noted was used for guns and watches and was second only to whale oil. HQ EV Olive oil was sold as sweet oil back when.

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

High quality olive oil as noted was used for guns and watches and was second only to whale oil. HQ EV Olive oil was sold as sweet oil back when.

     Your right Chuck, My Mom use to use sweet oil on me for ear aches as a kid, and it worked great, just last year I had an ear ache and bought another small bottle of Sweet Oil from the drug store, so it's still used, Mom would warm a small amount in a tea spoon and put it on a piece of cotton ball, and put in my ear, for ear aches nothing feels better.


           tEN wOLVES