Vegetable shortening. What gives?

[Daryl]

you are right, Bill- it was Beeswax/Tallow for the Sharps lube, not BW/Vas.

[hanshi]

It was a while after the Civil War (war of northern aggression) that I got my first .58 percussion military rifle.  Back then I shot mostly minies.  I used Crisco mixed with bees wax; because in the deep South fall and winter can get warm enough to melt Crisco not to mention the blistering spring/summer heat.  The BW gave the lube just enough "body" to keep it from turning to liquid.  Since "hot" was invented down there I would take a single ply from a piece of 2-ply toilet or tissue paper and wrap once around the minie.  This prevented the lube from either falling out, melting out and pretty much put an end to greasy fingers and bag.  They also shot as well or better than minies plucked from the bag.  Unwrapped ones might have lots of lube or very little, otherwise.  Just thought I'd mention it.     

[Mad Monk]

And with a little garlic, onion and thyme in the Crisco you can season the bore.  Sorry.  Just could not resist this one!