Doug Wicklund
Senior Curator
National Firearms Museum 

Conservation is the museum term used to describe the care and maintenance of objects, both while in storage and on exhibition.

An important part of conservation involves learning an object's composition, for when you know what an object is made of, you can better treat the problems that happen when the piece begins to exhibit deterioration. But perhaps the most important part of conservation deals with knowing under what environment the object is presently located and the ideal conditions for long-term stability of the object.

Firearms are viewed as composite artifacts, in that they frequently have more than one type of material used in their construction. Wood, hard rubber, plastic, ivory/bone, leather and many other materials can form parts of firearms, both modern and antique. But the majority of firearms feature ferrous alloys like iron or steel in their makeup that usually cause the majority of problems in their maintenance.

Suppose you have a collection of firearms you want to protect. Storing or exhibiting these pieces at an appropriate temperature and humidity (70 degrees and 50% rH) provides one level of protection, but insulating their surfaces from chemical attack may be more important in the long run. Handling anything with bare hands will transfer body oils and skin residues on contact.

Putting a sweaty hand into intimate contact with a metal surface, such as the blued barrel on a mint Smith & Wesson No. 1 First Issue revolver can result in almost instant corrosion in some cases. Knowing that the frame of this revolver is a silver-plated brass component, one would not expect the same iron rusting corrosion to take place. A simple solution is to use plain white cotton gloves when handling. The white color also allows you to tell if any corrosion is taking place as any surface "red rust" comes right off on the gloves. The gloves can be easily washed for re-use on a regular basis.

Many museums and collectors have sought a treatment for ferrous alloys that provides effective protection. Any treatment used must not harm the object and must be readily removable. Most oils tend to evaporate fairly shortly after application with little long term storage potential. Heavy greases tend to be too messy for display purposes and may contain materials that could interact unfavorably with wood or ivory components. Waxes offer the best balance for easy application, safety reversibility and long-term protection.

Microcrystalline wax treatment is a technique used by museum conservators to provide an insulating barrier between the surrounding environment and the object. If the object is housed in an environment where industrial byproducts such as sulphur dioxide (as in most major cities, thanks to car exhausts) are readily detectible, ferrous alloys (iron and steel) may be actively attacked by these chemicals. To make iron or steel rust, the presence of moisture and an oxidizing agent is all that is needed. How fast this reaction works depends on the temperature and the surface being attacked. If a barrier is present, much like a coat of paint on an iron bucket left out in the rain, the rusting reaction is slowed because oxygen can't get to the reactive points on the metal.

Choosing a neutral microcrystalline such as Renaissance wax eliminates problems that may be encountered with the use of acidic beeswax or harder waxes that may be impossible to safely apply at room temperature without harming the object. Any mild solvent like acetone or Stoddard's solvent can be used to remove the wax coating at any time. Avoid microcrystalline waxes that have extraneous components like silicon that may prove difficult to remove from wood components.

Use of waxing for protection may be a drawback under certain conditions. Heavy applications over rough surfaces may give a mottled white appearance to the object. Over-application of wax could also form a foundation for mold or fungus growth. Any suitable wax can be evenly applied over the surface and lightly buffed with a smooth lint-free cloth to give a pleasing sheen. The basic concept behind wax application is to provide a thin, protective barrier of wax over all surfaces to insulate the metal beneath from moisture or acidic fingerprints. Waxed firearms should be handled with gloves to protect against scratching that thin protective layer.

Microcrystalline wax under the trade name Renaissance wax can be obtained from most museum supply houses including the following sources: