Vacuum Sealing a Pistol For Long Term Storage??

L

l98ster

New member
Hi everyone,

I have a colt python in absolutely pristine condition that I am going to be storing for a long term. I was curious to see everyones thoughts on vacuum sealing it?

My first thoughts are not to worry about the metal/bluing. Im figuring with a light coat of oil, coupled with the fact that its airtight, this would be good for the metal.

My other first thought was about the wood grips.

The question I have is, does wood need to breathe? Would vacuum sealing wood cause it to dry out and deteriorate?

For that matter, are my thoughts correct concerning the bluing/metal?

Thanks....
George
 
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I don't think it would hurt anything at all and probably help a bunch. Most chemical reactions that cause rust and deterioration need oxygen to occur. The wood grips do not need to breathe or anything.

I say put a light coat of oil on and go for it. It sounds like a good idea.
 
Clean thoroughly, apply a good preservative oil or grease ,wrap in VPI paper [vapor phase inhibiter] ,put in a zip-loc plastic bag .No vacuum necessary.
 
The question I have is, does wood need to breathe? Would vacuum sealing wood cause it to dry out and deteriorate?
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If it's truly vacuum sealed, it can't dry out. I'm thinking seriously about doing that to a few of my pistols that I don't fire much. What we need to worry most about is the solvents degradation of the sealing plastic.
 
How long term are we talking about? A century with no attention paid to it? A handgun case with VPI paper will do just fine for any normal storage within a human's life span assuming you look in once in a while. Once a year or something. I would hate to experiment with vacum sealing when the gun in question is a mint Python. Museums have far more valuable weapons in their store rooms and not on display, that are not vacum sealed. I see no real harm in it, I just see it as not necessary. In fact you may want to call a ajor museum and ask how they store weapons long term without resorting to a dip in cosmoline.
 
I think that vacuum sealing does draw out some moisture, which is why it's used to impregnate woods w/ stabilizers and sealants. But I doubt that you'd be drying it out so much that it degrades.

VCI / VPI bags are a good idea and so is contacting someone who'd know about long term storage methods, like a museum.
 
If it's truly vacuum sealed, it can't dry out.
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Wood under vacuum will outgas some of the moisture it contains and shrink.

If the shrinkage does not produce checks (splitting) you are fine.
It might take a while to be sure since it will take time for the wood moisture content to come to equilibrium in the sealed container.

Tghe quality of the seal and what the container is made of will also have a large part.

No plastic is 'gas tight.'

NONE.
All allow some gasses to cross.

Truly hermetic plastic containers include a layer of evaporated metal to further slow gas flow, but the seals then become a leakage point since the metal layer is not continuous there.
 
I would be concerned about moisture being trapped inside the polymer envelope.

Variations in temperature could theoretically allow moisture to condense on the inside of the plastic, like when sunlight hits an empty, closed plastic soda bottle.

You might want to check with an archivist at the NRA Firearms Museum in Fairfax, VA. They have hundreds of priceless firearms, basically stored indefinitely. I do not recall seeing any of them sealed in plastic...

Worth a phonecall, I would think.

;)
 
10 years worked

I took the grips off my Dan Wesson (pistol pack), oiled up the works and sealed them up in sandwich bags with most all the air sucked out with a straw.

Stayed that way for over 10 years with no visible damage.

I did not pay any particular attention to the grips, but in retrospect probably should have taken preservation steps on them, too. But they came out just fine, nevertheless.

The advice about checking with the NRA museum (or other preservationists) sounds like good counsel.

Good luck.

Lesson: Temperature variations are your enemy.

My other Dan Wesson went cross-country in an enclosed trailer inside a gun rug. Normal oil did not help it. When I unpacked, it had about 5% of its finish gone to rust. Dan Wesson's Monson guns had a finish that had to be seen to be believed. I was sick. I had it tefloned (1978). Kind of ugly, but it did slick up the action quite a bit.

Lost Sheep
 
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Another person thinking their discontinued revolver is going to pay for their retirement.
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Not so! I use my python quite regularly, but I am going to be shooting USPSA very often, so the python will not get any use for a while. Dont jump to conclusions. I only asked about the effects of vacuum sealing! My retirement is going to be just fine without the python!

It is obvious that the only reason you wrote what you wrote was to TRY to be insulting. Not needed!!!

-George
 
Personally, I would store the grips separate. I've seen what some oils can do to wood over time...just a thought. If sealed up air tight, might soak up some of the lube.
 
Vacuum sealing done properly is essentially forever.

Metal doesn't rust in the absence of oxygen and chemical corrosion is unlikely in a dry and inert atmosphere.

Coat the metal, inside and out, with a good rust prevetative, realistically any good oil or grease will work. Ed Harris recommends diluted Lee Liquid Alox, coat the wood with a good wax, car wax Carnaba would be excellent. Allow to dry properly.

Wrap in a thin layer of cotton or a siliconised SacUp to prevent contact of the gun with the vacuum bag to prevent any sharp edges punching micro holes through the plastic.

Place in the vacuum bag (mylar is best, Sorbent systems have good ones) add a dessicant bag and an oxygen absorber, vacuum and seal and voila, you have 100's of years of protection.
 
Long term storage.

Why not contact the Colt factory and see what they suggest. You have a quality pistol that does have some collectors value, why take chances.
 
Settle down George!

I just found it amusing that you plan on going to such an extreme
to preserve a "relatively" common revolver. Even though you may actually use your python, it seems about once a week someone comes on here and talks about their python like it is going to be worth a fortune one day.

Don't be so sensitive. Depending on the length of time you plan to store it, more than likely heavy oiling will be enough.
 
Silicone spray works good. I found out about this when I was honing the cylinders of a Big block Ford engine. I honed one cylinder and it was shiny metal. I walked to the house to get a drink and came back and the cyl. was already rusting like a brake disc in that short of period of time. I honed the cyl. again and had some silicone spray so I sprayed the cyl. I did the other seven cyls. and sprayed them as I went. This engine block sat in damp conditions for over a year with bright shiny cylinders.
Now when I store a gun I spray it down with the silicone. It's a pain to get off when you want to use it again for it's gummy but there won't be any rust. I know this is good for at least a few years. FullCry
 
I am curious as to whether, or not, the vacuum sealing oil is even possible. Perhaps it depends upon the viscosity. Does anyone have experience with vacumm sealing where a light oil is involved ?

How about an inert gas ... opposite of a vacuum. Maybe nitrogen.
 
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