Actually Daniel, I believe I got it right first.
People make the mistake of thinking Flitz isn't abrasive, it most certainly is, just less so than other polishes, and I can tell you from personal experience, Flitz will reduce the contrast, and, if you go further, you can give that blade a nice mirror polish too.
Jerry might have a stroke if you do, but, Flitz will do it if you keep at it. Flitz contains a mild abrasive, but it's still abrasive.
I would try some oil and a stiff nylon toothbrush before all else, it can't abrade, and it may get some of the rust off.
Funny about Bailey's suggestion, I suppose thats what he TELLS the guy at his local beauty supply, when we all know the truth.
Actually, I have used something very similar for touching up steels for a while, very close to what Bailey suggested, but, my wife, who is the buyer for a large wholesale beauty supply, one day brought home these disposable nail files, which have 3 levels of grit on them, a dark gray part, which is pretty coarse, maybe 200, a white part, which is about 600, and the other side is a lighter gray, which is very fine, maybe 1000 or so, the neat thing about these is, each file has all 3 grits on them, makes it very easy and convienient. Plus, as Bailey said, theyre pretty cheap, especially if you know somebody.