I totally agree with Cayugad. But you not only didn't say how you treated your firearm but you didn't mention how or what you used to clean it. All my smoke poles are sidelocks and they get a good scrubbing with hot soapy water first with a brass brush then with patches followed by a hot water rinse. Thoroughly dried and bore butter applied in the bore and oil outside. I've never had a problem with rust. Some use bore butter, some don't.