Lubricating Lever Guns

[Larryjk]

I clean and repair lever action rifles for a sheep company that issues them to the herders. They use mainly motor oil for lubricant and it becomes varnish when it dries.
A couple use something I would like to identify because it seems to be a blend of Karo syrup and asphalt. Kroil won't cut it. I let the action (less buttstock) stand in a bucket of regular 85 octane car gas for a couple days and that loosens the gunk. On personal firearms I use Nyoil or graphite (depending on season) and on areas where there is a lot of pressure Rig Plus-P stainless grease. Don't go too cheap on lubricant, unless you want your guns to wear. Never lubricate the trigger. Then it fills with varnish and dust.