lube
"I've never put grease on any of my guns, and they run like tops."
+1 on that. (Use some grease on my O/U shotguns)
I FS my 1911s after every match. Lube with TSI 301. The guns have never not worked (any FTFs, not many, have always been traceable to ammo) and one has at least 30K rounds through it. I might just give the grease idea a try, though. Would there be any advantage over using oil?
Other guns are stripped less and oiled while assembled. They work, always. (I try to stay away from words like "always" but I cannot remember any firearm that I own having any issues related to cleaning and lubing)
The recommended articles were worth looking at if only to reinforce what I am doing when I clean and lube my guns. One paragraph from Cylinder and Slide describes my own process exactly:
"Just what are the right places? With the pistol unloaded and closed, put three or four drops on the barrel hood that is exposed in the ejection port. Then lock the slide open. Put a ring of oil 1/4 inch back of the muzzle of the barrel. This will keep the barrel/bushing area lubricated. If possible, put a couple of drops of oil in the open ejection port where the slide and frame touch on both sides. Turn the pistol upside down. The rear of the slide is now sticking back of the frame. Place two or three drops of oil in each slide rail groove and one or two drops on the center rail that cocks the hammer. Now close the slide and hand cycle the pistol half a dozen times with the muzzle pointed down. This will spread the oil. Wipe off any excess that might run out at the rear of the slide/frame area and commence firing."
So, according to C&S, the answer to the original question is "yes".
Pete