choji oil

[thickskinner54]

Does anyone have experience with this type of oil? Is it a better lubricant or protectant? The bottle I received was a 4oz. bottle with just a typed sticker tag on it that said CHOJI OIL, The guy who sent it to me said he bought it after he was told that its used by Japanese sword makers.
He didn't say much else except that he had found a bunch of knives while magnet fishing and was going to use the oil to clean them up.
It is a pretty thick, clear oil & doesn't have a particularly strong scent. Thanks for any help.

[gsmith7158]

Choji oil is a traditional Japanese blade preserving compound. It is used in the maintenance of high quality collectible blades. It contains clove oil extract and mineral oil, usually at a ratio of 1:10 to 1:100.
It's available on amazon.

[thickskinner54]

Thank you very much, gsmith7158, so it is more preservative oil than a lubricating oil, but ok for both, I would assume.

[Colonel26]

Sounds interesting. Let us know how it does as a preservative for the blade. But if it’s thich I do t think I’d want to use it as a line for the joints. A good light/thin oil would be better imo.

[Berryb]

A friend of mine is a samurai collector. He only uses straight clove oil on his blades, because, he says, it's the only kind of oil that has absolutely no H2O in it. I suppose he uses it mainly as a preservative, rust barrier rather than a lubricant. If nothin' else his swords really smell good.
Bruce

[treefarmer]

thickskinner54, interesting about the oil, never heard of it and I never heard about "magnet fishing" either. I'd like to hear about that.
Treefarmer

[gsmith7158]

Here you go fellows.
https://www.ebay.com/i/362204910575?chn=ps

[Woodly]

thickskinner54, I never heard about "magnet fishing" either. I'd like to hear about that.
Treefarmer

That's how you catch Steelheads

[treefarmer]

C'mon Woodly, are you sure about that?
Treefarmer

[RobesonsRme.com]

This discussion reminded me, via my olfactory recollection phenomenon, that my Dad used to buy whale oil as a gun lubricant and preservative. This was back in the 1950’s.

I can smell it right now and even though whales are mammals, their oil had a “fishy” smell.

Charlie Noyes

[mrwatch]

I have a small antique hanging lamp in my living room with the wale oil burner.

[gsmith7158]

A friend of mine is a samurai collector. He only uses straight clove oil on his blades, because, he says, it's the only kind of oil that has absolutely no H2O in it. I suppose he uses it mainly as a preservative, rust barrier rather than a lubricant. If nothin' else his swords really smell good.
Bruce

Bruce that would be an added benefit to the preservation aspect. I always loved the smell of cloves. I chewed the three gums constantly when I was a kid.

[Quick Steel]

Had to look it up. Whales do have hair tho it is sparse. Learn something every day.

[Berryb]

gsmith; That picture really brings back memories. Boy would I love to get a mouth full of that stuff again.
Bruce

[tongueriver]

In my opinion, Quick Release is unparalleled as a knife lubricant. As far as preservatives for steel go, I am a little un-versed, because the humidity is so low in my area that when something gets wet it is a quick one-time fix with common treatments. I have never stored a gun with oil in the barrel, but I don't slog through the wet mountains ahunting, either. I am pretty much a dryland prairie boy. Back 50 years ago I was trapped in a 12 foot camp trailer with 3 other knuckleheads in the Little Belt mountains of Montana in minus 20 degree weather overnight. We were elk hunting after a fashion. The atmosphere in the camper was redolent with the fumes of once-processed garlic, cabbage, beer, pizza and eggs. Need I say more? The walls and ceiling were pouring with condensation from the inhabitants' breath and uh... suchlike. Our guns got wet, you bet.