Removing rust from firearms

hank_rearden

hank_rearden

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Jun 7, 2002
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Here in the Philippines, security guards are usually issued local or chinese-made copies of the Remington 870 12 ga. The coating on the firearms are kinda bad and they flake off in a short while. Nearly all guns I see them carrying are just bare steel. Now here's the thing: guards "rust-proof" their weapons by scraping the rusted surfaces with a blunted stainless steel spoon. It leaves the metal all smooth and shiny, at least right after scraping. I'm not sure scraping it imparts any kind of rust-proofing. Could their claim be true?
 
Rust leads to rust, and pits lead to rust. So burnishing the steel, which smooths better than abrasives (assuming you have no access to sub-micron compounds) seems on the surface (don't hate me) to make some sense. I mean it could also be that a soft spoon vs. hardened carbon steel is leaving some amount of nickle/chrome on the surface which would help protect it, kind of a manual chroming method? Those are just my gut reactions to how it could work if it does, I guess it would matter how often they do it. If its every night, well, a rag and some hoppe's does nearly the same thing doesn't it?
 
You're right about the nightly thing, which wouldn't really be rust-proofing (actually they do the scraping while on duty :D )
 
If they do it on duty, I'd guess its their version of KP, or maybe a "yeah sarg, I'm busy" sort of thing.
 
When I was still working, we were sent a 870 for our modifications. It was painted with some sort of flat black paint. I called the customer and told him that the finish would be damaged. He said that was OK. It was just Rustoleum and he would touch it up when we returned the shotgun. He was in the Louisiana bayous and Rustoleum worked great.
 
My great grandfather used furniture shellac on his guns. I've got one of his old damascus barreled shotguns that doesn't have a bit of rust on it. Looks like crap but I guess it worked.--KV
 
Gun steel is not that hard.

The problem is that those guns had a coating for a finish. Even blueing (which penetrates the surface of the steel) can be worn off, but coatings that sit on top of the steel are often more prone to fail in humid conditions. Part of this is because the steel they put coatings on is usually much less finally polished than parts that are blued. The rougher the surface the more open the steel, and the more dirt, moisture, and water it will hold. Polishing prevents rust.

Burnishing the steel and oiling it will remove rust, but there are better uses of time and better solutions to a finish that lasts. They could get the same effect with steel wool, and by removing the protective coating they actually encourage rust.
 
I use a flattened rifle shell as a brass scraper to knock the rust off. It won't damage the finish. Rust grows from a pin hole and sits on top of the finish. Then use an oily rag. Do not use steel wool.
 
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Big 45 Frontier Gun Cleaning Pads or Good quality 0000 Steel Wool (I prefer Rhodes) and Kroil will remove surface rust even from a blued gun and not damage the finish ...

as far as protection just wipe with good oil as needed just like a high carbon steel knife ...
 
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