If you've recently bought or inherited an antique gun, it’s important that you take good care of it and buy a proper gun display in order to make sure that it will remain in good condition for as long as possible. Individuals who have never owned guns or antiques before will want to be especially diligent about taking care of old firearms correctly.

Be Aware of the Humidity

It’s best that you keep antique guns in buildings that have a humidity that ranges anywhere from 40 to 50 percent in order to properly preserve your antique gun. The reason for this is that wood cells have a tendency to contract with shifting humidity. Once those wood cells start to contract, the wood stock can crack, not to mention that there’s a chance that there could be damage done to the gun display if it’s made of wood. 

Protect Yourself

Whenever you're handling older guns, you'll want to make sure that you’re wearing protective gloves so that the acid on your fingers doesn't get on your gun. 

Another protective measure that you’ll want to take is to keep your guns and display free of dust. Dust can lead to trapped moisture, which can cause corrosion over time. When you do dust, only use a soft clean cloth instead of any products with chemicals. 

Keep the Wood Stock Clean 

Use a gallon of distilled warm water and about three drops of a mild detergent to clean the wood stock of antique guns. Before you start cleaning the wood stock, make sure that you remove it from the gun display. Once the stock has been cleaned, use a clean cotton cloth to dry it. 

Use Padded Supports

When keeping your gun in a gun display, make sure that the display is padded, since hooks and wires can damage the stock. 

Antique guns aren't simply for shooting; they can remind you of a family member or carry historical relevance. Take good care of them, and those memories are sure to be with you for years to come.