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Surface Rust

3K views 20 replies 12 participants last post by  CRF28 
#1 ·
I recently purchased a Marlin 1894. The previous owner had put a bipod on the gun and when I went to remove it, I noticed some surface rust on the barrel bands. I'm curious what is the best method to remove this without damaging the finish on the fore-end of the stock or the barrel band itself? Thank you in advance! Wood Metal
Material property Hand Finger
 
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#4 ·
It appears that the barrel band can be removed from the stock forearm.

If so, remove the major portion of the rust by soaking the band in some Kroil (I would not let it soak more than an hour or 2). Then take 0000 steel wool and lightly rub with more Kroil to get rust off. I would try to gently rub just the rusted area. Rub from the center part of the band (where the rust starts) to the outer edge of the band in straight light strokes.

If you can not get ALL of the rust off or if you get it off and there is no bluing left under the rust, then send the part to East Coast Bluing and have Jerry reblue it for you. He does great work (no, I am not kin to him nor do I have any interest in his business).

Thanks.
 
#10 ·
I'd respectfully disagree, regular steel wool can and will remove the bluing right down to bare steel if you are too aggressive with it and it can leave small scratches in the blue even if you are careful.

I've never had that happen with stainless steel wool even using it dry, it's too soft. It's far more forgiving that regular steel wool especially for someone that's never cleaned up a rusty gun part before.
 
#8 ·
I bought a Savage Model 99 off a co-worker for a pittance because the entire inside had a fine coat of surface rust. I disassembled the gun and used 0000 steel wool and Hoppe's . All of the surface rust disappeared completely. I later bought a Ruger Model 77, from a different co-worker, covered with surface rust externally just to get the action. But first I removed the surface rust the same as with the Savage. The bluing was not damaged and the rust was complexity gone without a trace. In both cases the bore was NOT rusted at all.

Now, if the rust is a pit rather than fine surface rust then the rust will be gone leaving the pit and a raw spot in the blued surface. The results all depend on how bad the rust is.

My worst case of rust on rifles was reveal this year when I pulled two older rifles from a steel storage cabinet located some 20 feet from the front of a swamp cooler that runs all summer long for a couple summers. The rifles were a total loss and went on display at a friends small Western Town on his property. Two other rifles in the same cabinet stored in silicon stocks were rust free.

LDBennett
 
#13 ·
You never know how bad it is underneath the rust until you get the rust off of it, a little bit of careful elbow grease is cheaper than a new barrel band but at least the rust is only on a part that's easy to replace or refinish depending on how well it cleans up.
 
#14 ·
Thanks everyone for the info. I'll start out with 0000 steel wool and some oil and see how it does.

Yes, I was scratching my head when I saw the bipod on a .357 lever action Marlin!
 
#16 ·
Same gun but different question. I removed the scope and mount from this gun and now have the open holes on top of the receiver where the mount was. Can someone tell me where I can find the threaded inserts/studs that I can put in that will be flush with the top of the receiver? Do I need to order from Marlin or is there an aftermarket supplier? Thanks!
 
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