If you want your rifle to last, it’s important to remember one thing: Prevent rust. It’s every gun owner’s enemy, especially in the postseason.

Recently, a gunsmith in West Virginia was asked by a local newspaper reporter about the No. 1 cause of repairs he makes on guns. He answered without hesitation: Rust.

“A lot of the repairs I make are on guns that have rusted because they weren’t properly maintained,” he said. It happens at least once a week.