GI Bore Cleaner

[Shawn Grear]

Hello again everyone !
A couple of weeks ago my Mother-in-law was at a local yard sale and pick up 20 full unopened cans (6oz.) of GI Rifle Bore Cleaner . She got the whole lot for $2.00 . I am thinking this stuff is of WW2 or Korean War vintage .
The cans neasure at 3-1/2 in high x 2-5/8 across .Cans are OD Green w/ Black lettering
Front of cans read ;
U.S. 6 OZ.
CLEANER
RIFLE BORE
SHAKE WELL BEFORE USING
POISON
NOT TO BE USED AS A FOOD
CONTAINER
SPECIFICATIONS RIXS 205 REV. 1
PURCHASE ORDER 43-18171
CANNER MFG. CO. INC.
The back of the cans read ;

DIRECTIONS
RUN SEVERAL CLOTH PATCHES
(EACH THOROUGHLY SATURATED
WITH FLUID) BACK AND FORTH
THROUGH THE BORE UNTIL IT IS
THOROUGHLY SCRUBBED . RUN
TWO OR THREE DRY PATCHES
THROUGH THE BORE TO PICK UP
THE FLUID WITH THE DISSOLVED
SALTS . IF THE GUN IS TO BE USED
SHORTLY , A FRESH PATCH , WET
WITH THE FLUID , CAN BE RUN
THROUGH , AND THE BORE LEFT
WET . OTHERWISE , OIL ACCORDING
TO REGULATIONS .

My questions are , Is my asumption of vintage correct ? And would this still be safe to use ?
Are there any types of firarms that this should NOT be used on ?
Again as always , any and all comments and suggestions will be graciously appreciated ! :)
Shawn

[UUURah]

That I bought about 10 years ago. Used it a couple times then set it aside, keep for looks.

If you have that much, I would say use it, it works.

Just don't use it to spike your drinks.

[Karl]

U.S. 6 OZ.
CLEANER
RIFLE BORE
SHAKE WELL BEFORE USING
POISON
NOT TO BE USED AS A FOOD
CONTAINER
SPECIFICATIONS RIXS 205 REV. 1
PURCHASE ORDER 43-18171
CANNER MFG. CO. INC.


My questions are, Is my asumption of vintage correct? And would this still be safe to use? Are there any types of firarms that this should NOT be used on? Again as always, any and all comments and suggestions will be graciously appreciated! :)
Shawn

Shawn, I believe that the number "43" in "PURCHASE ORDER 43-18171," means that the contract was signed and executed in 1943, or during World War II. As far as I know, you can use this stuff on any firearm, however, I would check first to make sure that it doesn't harm or remove blueing. HTH, Karl

[Dave Waits]

I've got one that says;
U.S. 6oz.
CLEANER
Rifle Bore
Shake Well Before Using
POISON
Not to be used as food
Container
Specifications;RIXS 205 Rev.1
Purchase Order 43-18171
Banner mfg.Co. Inc.

I think Your Canner mfg.co. may be a typo?

[dave]

That is excellent cleaner for corrisive ammo, for which it was designed. It contains ammonia so it will also remove metal/bullet fouling. I would not let it set in a bore more then a few hours because of the ammonia. They also made a smaller can about 2 1/2X2" with sort of rounded sides to fit in a ammo belt pocket. Most people can't abide the smell but I love it. It was quite commenly sold by gun shops in the late 40's. I still have a couple quart cans. I use it regularly, even tho not much corrisive ammo around anymore. Excellent price, that size goes for 2.00 can in that size at shows, if you even see it. PS; will not hurt blueing or park.

[John Sukey]

Just keep in mind the current G.I. bore cleaner is NOT the same formula.
Depending on the modern stuff to remove corrosive primer salts ia a bad mistake.

[Dave Waits]

Heck John, counting on that stuff to remove anything is sheer folly!

[RogerFoxDog]

Shawn, What color is the fluid. I ask because I had picked something up at a local show and the fluid was a milky color. I was told that it was for dealing with corrosive fouling as well but, I don't really trust it till I can find out more about this stuff. By the way, It sounds like your mother-in-law is a gem.

[dave]

The WW11 stuff is sort of a dirty brown, very dark. It is unmistakeable because of its smell. When shook up (which should be done before use) it will some times get a very slight milkey appearance. R.F.D. If the stuff you picked up has no label I would not use it for anything. If it does have a label lets hear what it says.
John, I got some of that "new" bore cleaner from the army and it smells like kerosine (sp?) Good for cleaning paint brushes?

[kcw]

The GI cleaner that Shawn has (Banner MFG) is the milky white stuff that has a bit of an oily smell. It is not the dark brown stuff with ammonia in it (Curran) that some think is smelly, but not me. The order #'s on the samples that I have shows the Banner product being approved in 43' and the Curran in 44'.
My family has used both for decades for both corrosive GI and non-corrosive sporting ammo in any and all of our rifles, shotguns and pistols. A cheap & effective substitute for Hoppes #9, which is our long time commercial favorite.
It's not unusual for us that any given gun might be put away with a "wet bore" and sit for a year of more. It seems that the Curran product has a better copper cutting capability than the Banner. Probably because the Curran has a bit of ammonia. Never had an issue regarding barrels interiors due to long term storage with a bore put away wet with the Curran product.
Granted, there's more "advanced" cleaning products to be has on today's market than those mentioned above, but I don't know that they actually provide better cleaning in a practical sense.
The only drawback to using the old GI cleaners is that they hold their stink on a stored gun for years if put away with a wet bore, especially the Curran. That could become an issue on opening morning of whitetail season.

[Dave Waits]

Went to the range today(What's new), ran two bandoleers thru a Garand and 100 rounds of surplus Dated 42 and 44 thru the 1911A1. Thought I'd try this after last night's posts.

Pushed a wet patch of it( It is a milky color ) through the barrel of the 1911, let it sit for about five minutes, Dipped a brush in it and ran it in and out about five times, let it sit another five and pushed another wet patch through followed by dry patches. This stuff works great! Bore was immaculate!
Did the same thing with the Garand, same results! I'm gonna try to find more of this stuff. Works better than my 50-50 mix of Proshot IV and Kroil!
Dave

[Karl]

Went to the range today(What's new), ran two bandoleers thru a Garand and 100 rounds of surplus Dated 42 and 44 thru the 1911A1. Thought I'd try this after last night's posts.

Pushed a wet patch of it( It is a milky color ) through the barrel of the 1911, let it sit for about five minutes, Dipped a brush in it and ran it in and out about five times, let it sit another five and pushed another wet patch through followed by dry patches. This stuff works great! Bore was immaculate!

Did the same thing with the Garand, same results! I'm gonna try to find more of this stuff. Works better than my 50-50 mix of Proshot IV and Kroil!
Dave

Dave, Don't forget to clean those firearms each day for three consecutive days after you fire corrosive primer rounds in them. That was the drill in those days when using this type of ammo. HTH, Karl

[dave]

OK, here's what I have. 6oz. Banner 43 sealed and not open. Spec. R1X5-205 REV.1

Curran 44 R1X5-204 REV.1 2oz. stinky stuff
Johnson & Son. 44 qt. cans R1X5-205 (REV1) stinky stuff

So I have two different spec. numbers but both stinky. I did not break seal on the Curran as it is display item. The instruction for use state if the rifle is to be used soon you can leave it 'wet'. Otherwise dry and oil bore as usual. So I would take that to mean it has no long term anti rust protection. And the three day cleaning is also stated. I have never done this and had no problem, And when in combat I can't imagine doing it either, perhaps not clean for days/

[Hal O'Peridol]

And when in combat I can't imagine doing it either, perhaps not clean for days/

Oh, imagine it all right! Remember, "combat" didn't last for days on end, there were often lulls between the firefights. A good rifleman ALWAYS took care of his rifle, his life depended on it!

NOT maintaining your rifle end you end up like that supply company in Iraq, inop weapons, dead and captured soldiers. And yes, you can have a reliable and clean rifle in Iraq. I did it.

[cmbtinfantry]

Weapons maintenance was a must you always did that before anything else. I remember being in a rear section and I picked up a rear echelons weapon and it was filled with dirt. Not a good thing. The M4 can be kept clean just have to want to. Learned some new things with corrosive ammo. Always clean amd make sure cleaner will take out corrosive salts. I learned something new today, I did not realize that you had to clean for 3 days after. Will start doing that from now on.

[Shawn Grear]

Hello again everyone ,
Thanks for all of the replies and comments .
I first must apologize for my typo in the OP . It is in fact "BANNER " mfg . There was a little rust on the can in that particular spot and my eyes are not as good as they use to be .
I opened a can of this stuff today and it is of a milky white color and strong oder .
I was planning on using it on all of my milsurp firearms but was wondering if it would be ok for use on my cowboy action weapons and my modern revolvers and autos ?
Thanks again for the replies , And yes , my Mother-in-law IS a real GEM . She periodicaly finds me some neat stuff at local yard sales . She is one heck of a lady !
Shawn

[Maj Dad]

I must have 20 different kinds of bore cleaner, but the one I always go to after shooting corrosive ammo is the WW2 GI stuff in the little green cans. Dark brown and malodorous (or euodorous if like me you sneak it into the closet and sniff it ;) ) The major reason for using it is because it works, and works well. Lots of others do, too - whatever floats the boat, I say!

[RED]

Bought a case of the stuff 20 years ago and still have a couple of cans left. I saw a few cans of what I thought was the same stuff at a gun show. It was not, it was the white milky stuff.

Anyway, Now I use Windex with ammonia to clean after shooting corrosive stuff. I use the GI cleaner that I have left as an air freshner! :headbang:

[smle-man]

I picked up two cases of the white fluid bore cleaner a couple years ago. It works like a charm on corrosive ammo. I also use it to clean pyrodex fouling out of my Martini Henry Mk4, works great. I like the white stuff better than the brown stinky stuff!