I have a reprint of a U.S. WW I era rifle manual and it recommends Vasoline petroleum jelly as a lubricant. Gun grease has improved quite a bit since 1917. I've got a can of U.S. Army gun grease circa 1960s that works quite satisfactorily that my great-grandchildren will still be able to use. It just takes a little dab. I generally use the old rule of "if it slides, grease it and if it rotates, oil it".

"...why, land is the only thing in the world worth working for, worth fighting for, worth dying for,... because it is the only thing that lasts."