How do I remove freckle rust from US Model of 1917

[MD]

I'm baby-sitting my neighbour's US Model of 1917 Enfield rifle.
This is an unaltered full stock military model with red paint around the muzzle end.

It was poorly stored in a marine environment (Charlottes) for many years.

But all the exposed metal is flecked with what I call rust freckles. I don't want to scratch the metal but I sure would like to get rid of that rust somehow. I have not attempted dismantling the rifle to see what it is like under the wood. It is otherwise in pretty nice shape. The wood is relatively unscarred, oily and waxy and the bolt face seems little used.

I suspect it was at a coastal air force base or local ranger unit.

 

[5440fight]

0000 steel wool, and wd40. Lightly polish. Leaves bluing, removes freckles.

 

['Boo]

I would try just rubbing it down with a clean rag wet with Fluid Film. Let it sit for a few days and see if it looks any better.

 

[MD]

I would try just rubbing it down with a clean rag wet with Fluid Film. Let it sit for a few days and see if it looks any better.

Fluid Film is my favourite go-to lubricant already 'Boo. Goes on my shotgun before and after every outing and I even sprayed the frame of my new truck with it for undercoating in 2015.

 

[grauhanen]

0000 steel wool, and wd40. Lightly polish. Leaves bluing, removes freckles.

This is the way to do it. The very fine steel wool does not harm the bluing. In fact, south of the border, where it's more readily available, many people use a Big 45 Frontier pad. It removes rust without harming the bluing -- even though it looks very aggressive. It works very well as does the steel wool.

 

[billdick]

steel wool and oil of some sort. I like kroil

 

[ted_dent]

I use 0000 steel wool after letting Break Free sit on the metal for a day or two. Seems to work really well removing freckling. Most of the time you can't tell it was ever there.

 

[kjohn]

This is the way to do it. The very fine steel wool does not harm the bluing. In fact, south of the border, where it's more readily available, many people use a Big 45 Frontier pad. It removes rust without harming the bluing -- even though it looks very aggressive. It works very well as does the steel wool.

That's what I sell at gun shows. Best for removing scum, surface rust, etc. DOES NOT remove bluing unless you get too exuberant.