“Hope for the best and prepare for the worst” isn’t how most people want to live their lives. But if you have a valuable collection of small arms or perhaps a few firearms for personal defense, those would be wise words to live by. Most firearms were designed and manufactured to be used and even a little abused, but that doesn’t mean surviving a flood or fire. You need to be armed for disaster. Simply put, guns are tough but not invincible. Part of preparing for the worst includes properly storing them and even recovering from a disaster. An important consideration is that even the best-laid plans can go sideways. You need to be Armed for Disaster and prepared to face unexpected challenges.
Armed for Disaster – What do Do When Your Guns Face Disaster
The most common advice given regarding keeping valuable firearms safe is to lock them up – in an actual waterproof/fireproof safe. Some collectors may balk at the idea of sealing away the Holland & Holland shotgun or 18th century British Army Brown Bess. However that could be the best option to ensure it doesn’t fall victim to disaster.
Other factors are at play in why displays might not be the best course of action for gun collectors and firearms enthusiasts. “The days of displaying our weapons in glass-and-walnut cases for all to see are gone. For better or worse, times have changed,” said historian and antique firearms author John Adams-Graf. “While advanced collectors may be fortunate enough to have a designated room to lock and control the access, most others do not,” Adams-Graf added. The times are changing, and some communities even require that firearms – even those of a historic nature – be locked up at all times. The good news is that it ensures they’re better protected.
A good gun safe is meant to provide “peace of mind,” but it is advisable to make sure you know what you’re buying. This means checking the ratings of the safe for flood and fire. Some models might be touted to handle multiple feet of water for days on end, but that ensures you do everything right – including checking the seals often and ensuring it is properly closed. Some experts also recommend lifting/mounting the safe at least six inches off the ground so it won’t sit in low-standing water. Additionally, if you know a flood is coming, you can put your firearms in a container, such as a plastic garbage can, within the safe. That can help for upwards of three to even four feet of water.
Good Gun Safe
Fire is a similar story. Gun safes may protect the contents from direct flames, but an all-metal safe will still become an oven inside a home on fire, given enough time. Therefore, it is important to look for a safe that has a fire rating of at least an hour, but depending on the intensity of the fire, safes can offer less protection than advertised. No one would likely want to choose what type of calamity to face, but generally speaking, a flood is far less catastrophic for a firearm than a fire. Anyone who has seen Saving Private Ryan will note the opening sequence where the soldiers “stormed” Omaha Beach in Normandy, France, subjecting their firearms to sand and surf.
Modern Durability
A modern rifle can endure a day at the range in the rain, while plenty of hunters have likely dropped their shotguns while duck hunting. It happens. Firearms are typically oiled up and must be cleaned after each use so that a little water won’t be the end of the world for most guns. However, it is when a little water becomes a lot of water for a period of time. A firearm that gets wet is one thing; a soaked firearm for hours or days is another issue entirely.
Armed for Disaster – Step Numer One
The first step is to get the firearms out of the water as quickly as possible. After that, efforts should be made as quickly as possible to address the problem – that doesn’t mean leaving the rest of the house to float away while you clean your guns, but don’t put off the recovery efforts for too long. Ensure that the firearm is unloaded, and then you can begin to inspect the severity of the problem. This includes stripping the gun as you would clean it but then taking it a step further. Where possible, remove the stock and grips. Experts warn that whether wood or synthetic, the stock and grips can easily trap and hold moisture against corrodible metal parts.
All the metal parts should be towel dried, and this can include using moisture-displacing lubricants such as Hoppes #9 MDL or WD-40 to clean and stabilize the parts. However, be warned that some lubricants can damage plastic and synthetic parts and ruin the finish on anodized and painted surfaces. Similarly, wood stocks and grips should be air-dried and not exposed to heat, which can damage the finish, cause dryness, or even cracking.
Dry Everything
“This is a time-consuming, arduous chore, but there isn’t really any shortcut to recovering weapons from a water-soaked state of being,” said Adams-Graf. “Eliminating the water and oil seem to be the best steps to recovery.” If you don’t have time to deal with the firearms immediately, there are efforts you can make in the meantime. “While dealing with a flood, you probably don’t have the time to break down your weapons, so the first thing you might do is drop them in a deep freezer,” suggested Adams-Graf. “Frozen water isn’t going to rust as fast as liquid – however, bear in mind that it will expand. Wet wooden stocks or grips may need to be treated differently.”
A flood can happen in an instant, but recovery can take time.yIf’re unsure when it comes to disassembly, consider enlisting the services of knowledgeable persons or a qualified gunsmith. Likewise, after the gun has dried, it may still be advisable to have the firearm inspected and/or serviced by the manufacturer, an authorized service center, or a qualified gunsmith to ensure the gun is safe to use. They can help you be armed for didiaster.
Armed for Disaster -Fire and Smoke Damage
After a flood, the other element of concern is fire, but it should be noted that a firearm in an inferno likely also suffered water damage. The combination of heat and water could cause serious problems that can include warping, but even if the gun was just near a fire, there could be singed or burned-off wood, pitting in the bluing, as well as melted plastics.
Any of those should be seen as tell-tale signs that the firearm needs to be disassembled, cleaned, and addressed. Even if the firearm doesn’t show such damage, it needs to be addressed as the smoke can actually do more harm than water due to the acidic nature of smoke, which can cause rust and pitting quickly. “You have to neutralize the smoke as soon as possible,” said firearms restoration expert Doug Turnbull. He added that the first thing to do after a firearm has been in a fire is to bath it to get the soot and ash off and prevent future rust damage.
Secret Formula
Turnbull suggested that half of a cup of laundry detergent, and three pounds of baking soda in about five gallons of warm water, was a good mix to remove the acid from the soot while also neutralizing the smoke. Deep scrubbing isn’t needed or even advised, as it can scratch the finish. A wet cloth run over the parts will do the trick. A soaking also isn’t required, much for the above reasons about flood damage. Instead, a quick immersion, followed by a wipe down and oiling, should help those guns in a building that suffered fire damage.
The process will also remove the smoke smell while reducing any permanent damage to the metal. In many cases, the guns can even be fired again. “Look at the barrel and the bore, and you can determine the extent of the damage,” said Turnbull. “If it is mechanically sound, and the chamber and bore aren’t rotted out, there is no reason you can’t shoot it. It might not look good outside, but it should work.” For weapons that were exposed to direct heat or show damage, including to the metal and synthetic parts, it is recommended that the guns be sent to a qualified expert for inspection and possible repair.
Armed for Disaster
While none of us wants to deal with the recovery process, it may not be the end of the line for your guns. Good storage and education can help save your beloved guns from Mother Nature’s fury.
For more information, visit: https://www.turnbullrestoration.com/
