Polished Receiver
 

Is there any way to "tone down" a receiver that has been polished? Thanks.

Disassemble it and soak it in white vinegar. You'll need to take it out and check it periodically so it doesn't get darker than you want it. Thoroughly dry it and oil it immediately.

Some cold blue very carefully applied can help as well.

What about the opposite problem? I have an over patina ed action that needs to be lightened.

Not much you can do with that short of polishing it all out and starting over.

With a soaking in Hoppe's and a discriminate application of a Frontier Pad you can regulate the removal of a century of "patina" ('crud' in some folks' lexicon) to an uncertain degree.

Do NOT use Hoppe's Bench Rest solvent - designed to dissolve copper fouling, it is much too caustic to case color and Damascus pattern.