Webley Premier now repaired after seizing up from neatsfoot oil

[andrewM]

Neatsfoot oil is usually only applied to leather products, ie piston washers as on say a W & S MKIII / Falcon / Jaguar or any gun with a leather piston washer. I have never come across anyone recommending neatsfoot oil on synthetic washers. Can I ask the question, why did you use neatsfoot on a known synthetic seal ? I have never known this use before as I'm sure lots of seasoned 'repairers' have never known it either. It is however an interesting reaction and I'm sure a warning to others; just glad you managed to recover the situation and restore the pistol, well done for that.
abellringer

Thanks abellringer. To answer your question, I did not know that the Premier had a synthetic washer, naturally presuming it was leather since it was manufactured in 1975. Otherwise, I would have been more cautious. As Gingernut observed, it was an old pistol and I had no idea synthetic washers were used in those days.

Out of curiosity, what does one use for a synthetic washer? Clearly, stripping the gun and introducing grease is one option but that is time-consuming. Is there an alternative?

As you say, it is a warning to others.

Rgds
A