What can be done about this rust?

[letusbuyyourcar]

These pics show a really old most likely late 60s or early 70s Blackhawk in 357. My stepfather has owned this gun since he married my mom in 74. Never seen it fired. It's been in a tube sock in a drawer it's whole life. Last year he asked me about funding a shop to get it cleaned up and possibly polished. But last time I was there I took these pics and saw this really ugly metal cancer near the front sight. I don't know if this is nickle or chrome. But either way probably makes it a lot harder to deal with this rust. I guess the up side is it's just in that one spot on the side of the barrel.
So my question here is what can be done that wouldn't destroy the value of the gun. BTW...I don't know the value but I believe I got clear pics of the numbers if any Ruger experts wanna comment. I believe this was considered a " 3 Screw" model.

 

[palmettomoon]

I'm going to guess it was buffed and plated after hitting the market. Won't hurt the value to strip it and replate it.

 

[41mag]

I have had a good amount of luck with taking a brass case , smashing the end to form a small scraper. Using gun oil or equivalent, keep the area wet and scrape only the rusted area.... it will remove all the rust without scratching the metal. If you keep that area wiped down it wont rust back. I have also used a cold blue to touch up in inconspicuous areas.
Cold Blue on a factory blue job seems to stick out to me, so take that FWIW.

This is good for small or deep spotted rust. But if it is really speckled or whatever you may as well strip it and refinish to taste.

Just a suggestion.

 

[JBWJr]

I use Evaporust and swear by it. Non toxic and works very well. Amazon.

 

[Treehawk]

Choot it man just Choot it

 

[letusbuyyourcar]

I'm going to guess it was buffed and plated after hitting the market. Won't hurt the value to strip it and replate it.

So you're saying this ain't a factory finish? I never would've guessed that.

 

[palmettomoon]

I have had a good amount of luck with taking a brass case , smashing the end to form a small scraper. Using gun oil or equivalent, keep the area wet and scrape only the rusted area.... it will remove all the rust without scratching the metal. If you keep that area wiped down it wont rust back. I have also used a cold blue to touch up in inconspicuous areas.
Cold Blue on a factory blue job seems to stick out to me, so take that FWIW.

Just a suggestion.

Unless my eyes have gotten really bad, worse......that Blackhawk has been chromed.

 

[palmettomoon]

So you're saying this ain't a factory finish? I never would've guessed that.

I don't think so. I can't recall seeing any Chromed Ruger Blackhawks but I'm not a Ruger collector.

 

[palmettomoon]

Not chrome more likely nickel finished or plated. If you pay for a factory letter and it was plated by Ruger, it's somewhat rare.

 

[8675309]

old hot rodders trick for rusty chrome bumpers was to take a piece of aluminum
foil fold it and wet it with water and polish out the rust. works pretty good