Description
1943 WWII U.S. Army Cleaner, Rifle Bore 6 oz. Can – Banner Manufacturing Co. – RIXS-205 Rev. 1
This original World War II U.S. Army 6-fluid-ounce can of Cleaner, Rifle Bore was manufactured by Banner Manufacturing Co., Inc. of Brooklyn, New York for military small-arms maintenance.
The can is marked Specification RIXS-205 Rev. 1, Purchase Order 43-18171, and Army Contract W-41-ORD-17159. The purchase-order number is worn on some examples, and the “8” in 18171 can resemble a “6.”
Rifle-bore cleaner was a standard military cleaning solvent used to remove firing residue and corrosive primer salts from weapon bores and other surfaces exposed to powder gases. It was a general U.S. military small-arms maintenance product, not a cleaner made only for the M1 Garand.
Historical Significance
Corrosive ammunition was common in U.S. military service during World War II. Residue left after firing could attract moisture and quickly damage a weapon if the bore and other exposed areas were not cleaned correctly.
For this reason, rifle-bore cleaner became an important part of routine weapons maintenance. Soldiers and armorers used it with cleaning patches and other issued cleaning equipment after firing.
Although collectors often associate WWII bore-cleaner cans with the M1 Garand, M1 Carbine, and M1903 Springfield, Army maintenance instructions also called for rifle-bore cleaner on machine guns and other automatic weapons.
The product was therefore part of the everyday maintenance system supporting a wide range of American weapons during the war.
What This Item Is and Does
Cleaner, Rifle Bore was a purpose-made military cleaning solution.
Its main job was to loosen and remove:
- Firing residue
- Powder fouling
- Corrosive primer salts
- Deposits left in the bore and chamber
- Residue on parts exposed to firing gases
It was normally applied with patches or cloth during cleaning.
The cleaner could also leave limited short-term protection between repeated cleanings, but it was not a substitute for normal preservative lubricating oil. Army procedures generally called for the weapon to be dried and protected with the proper oil after the required cleaning cycle.
General Small-Arms Use
This product should not be described as an M1 Garand-only accessory.
Rifle-bore cleaner was used across the Army's small-arms inventory. Period maintenance publications prescribed bore cleaner for rifles as well as automatic weapons and machine guns.
That makes this can appropriate for displays involving equipment such as:
- M1 Garand
- M1 Carbine
- M1903 Springfield
- Browning M1918 BAR
- Browning M1917 machine gun
- Browning M1919-series machine guns
- Browning M2 .50-caliber machine gun
- Other U.S. weapons requiring bore and firing-residue cleaning
The exact maintenance procedure varied by weapon.
Key Features
- Official nomenclature: Cleaner, Rifle Bore
- Period: World War II
- Date: 1943
- Service: U.S. Army
- Capacity: 6 fluid ounces
- Specification: RIXS-205 Rev. 1
- Purchase order: 43-18171
- Army contract: W-41-ORD-17159
- Manufacturer: Banner Manufacturing Co., Inc.
- Manufacturer location: Brooklyn, New York
- Original container: Metal military can
- Original hazard marking: POISON
- Purpose: Military firearm bore and firing-residue cleaning
- Application: General U.S. military small arms and machine guns
- Product type: Cleaning solvent, not ordinary lubricating oil
- Collector status: Original WWII maintenance supply
Original Military Packaging
A documented matching wartime shipping crate contained 72 six-ounce cans of Cleaner, Rifle Bore, showing how the Army supplied the cleaner in quantity for unit-level weapons maintenance.
The surviving individual cans are compact, but they were part of a much larger wartime supply system that kept weapons cleaned and serviceable in training and combat.
That original packaging context makes these cans useful not only as firearm accessories but also as examples of WWII Army logistics and maintenance supplies.
Why This Item Matters
Small maintenance supplies were used up, discarded, or thrown away after the war, so original expendable items often did not survive as well as rifles, helmets, or larger pieces of equipment.
A dated can of WWII rifle-bore cleaner helps complete a display by showing what soldiers actually used to maintain their weapons.
The 1943 purchase order, Banner Manufacturing markings, military specification, original 6 oz. size, and POISON warning also give the item strong historical character even when displayed by itself.
About This Item
This listing is for one original 1943 U.S. Army 6 oz. can of Cleaner, Rifle Bore manufactured by Banner Manufacturing Co., Inc.
The can may show dents, scratches, paint loss, surface rust, discoloration, staining, faded lettering, oxidation, or other signs of more than 80 years of storage.
Important safety notice: If the can still contains liquid, do not open, smell, taste, pour out, or use the contents. The original container is clearly marked POISON, and the identity and condition of any remaining chemical after decades of storage cannot be guaranteed. Treat a filled or partially filled can as a hazardous historical collectible.
This product is being offered for collection and display, not for use as a firearm cleaner.
Ideal For
- WWII U.S. Army collections
- M1 Garand displays
- M1 Carbine displays
- M1903 Springfield collections
- Browning machine-gun displays
- WWII armorer displays
- Military maintenance collections
- Field-equipment exhibits
- Original WWII consumables collections
- Military museums
- Quartermaster and ordnance displays
- Educational WWII exhibits
Approx length 4", Approx width 3", Approx height 1", Approx weight 0.6 lbs.
Pictures are stock images of our inventory. Unless otherwise noted, you will not be receiving the exact item shown in the pictures. The pictures are representative of the item's general condition. The item you receive might be slightly better, or worse, condition than was shown in the pictures.
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