Onaway: First thing you should know (and probably do know) is that all small arms ammo excepting the M-1 carbine were corrosive primed until after ww 2. Some lots were still corrosive primed late as 1954. In a day or two without cleaning , bad things happened to the bore (etc). In damp warm weather even quicker. Not to mention dust, dirt, muc and the likes. Your weapon condition was your "lifeline". Even though it may
not have been fired, cleaning was a must to keep it in working order also. For example, after firing a m-1 rifle one ran the bore cleaner through on a patch at least one or 2 patches.(the small can of bore cleaner could be held in a carridge belt pouch with patches plus a brass cleaning brush). Then the brass bore brush. Then a dry patch, then a oiled patch. This is just for the bore. The rest of the further cleaning depended on how much needed. The combination tool, jointed cleaning rod, oiler, plastic small jar of lubriplate, and what ever else one could fit in was in the buttstock trap door compartment.. Ones life depended on a working weapon. Same as any other small arms. Hope I have not gone into too much detail. By the way, bolt assemblies and
trigger housing assemblies were seldom taken apart in cleaning. I think that was above
our realm usually. Op rod tip and gas cylinder were stainles steel but usually also cleaned. when needed but did not corrode.