Question on cleaning exterior of Damascus barrel

[J.B. Books]

Originally Posted by Dean Romig

I like to use Hoppe's No. 9 for a good soaking ( don't use Hoppe's Bench Rest as I think it may be too caustic. It is designed to dissolve copper fouling) and then while it is still wet I use a Frontier Pad like a scrubbie. It is not as abrasive as 4-0 steel wool and I can even use it to clean case colored areas with no harm to the colors. Works fine on rust blued barrels as well as it does on Damascus.

Click on this http://www.big45metalcleaner.com/

Let me give a second endorsement for the Frontier pad. I used it on the Damascus barrels of a recently purchased Remington 1894. The barrels had areas rough to the touch from oxidation. The pad cleaned up all the crud and in some of the roughest areas the barrels turned a little orange. When I wiped the barrels down with Rem Oil and a rag the orange came off. The barrels were smooth to the touch and the Damascus pattern was there. It did not polish them silver and whatever finish and patina was there remains. It's about as close to miracle for neglected barrels as you will find short of a full refinish.