I pulled my Airweight 38 out to clean it yesterday and found rust around the tip of the barrel. This is the Model 442 with the black finish. Any recommendations on how to remove rust without damaging the finish will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Unless that rust spot is lighter than it looks, I think you are going to lose some finish no matter what you do. But, you can try soaking it with oil and then rubbing with 0000 steel wool, or scraping it with the edge of a copper penny.

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Pisgah

Dampen a clean cotton cloth with Kroil penetrating oil and wipe off as much as possible. Then apply a liberal amount of Kroil to any remaining rust and allow to soak in overnight. In the morning, wet a piece of 0000 bronze wool with Kroil and carefully rub away the remaining rust. Be sure to keep the bronze wool wet with Kroil at all times

There may be some slight 'staining' remaining afterward, but it probably won't be too noticeable against that black colored finish.

Kroil is available at better machine supply stores, Gunsmithing suppliers, Amazon.com, and direct from the manufacturer. 0000 bronze wool can be obtained at marine hardware stores.

Let us know how that works.

Randy

The penny usually works, but that rust looks like it curls around into the barrel. If that's the case, you have a rebarrel in your future.

0000 steel wool and some gun oil. After removal, use alcohol to remove any trace of oil and cold-blue a few times. Keep oiled and you are good to go. May need to be re-blued from time to time, not a big job.

Chief38

I used Blue Wonder and 0000 steel wool recently on a Colt 1917 revolver. Absolutely no finish damage and great results on the surface rust. Good luck with that barrel. It looks to have been eroded by the rust in which case you'll be looking for a new barrel.