Sperm Whale oil is difficult if not impossible to obtain. Killing these majestic creatures in order to oil my firearms, when so much else is available, does not make any sense. The preservative nature on metal seems good, but the lubricity is questionable. 3 in 1 oil definitely lacks the viscosity and heavy duty lubricating qualities for smooth operation and minimizing wear. It does seem to offer good surface protection.
Graphites provide great lubricity, but depend on oils for preservative qualities.
I cannot tell which is the carbon gunk or graphite when cleaning the firearm since both are black. If you coat the metal surfaces with this type of product, you will immediately have soiled hands and soon after, very dirty clothing. This product is not user friendly. All the various commercial gun oils are very similar to the 3 in 1 oil. Moving parts in a gun need an oil thick enough to cling to the surfaces, and these products are just too light to do the job.