I've become quite a convert to the use of a bead blasting cabinet, to prepare any firearm part for refinishing and to remove corrosion or blemishes of any kind.
A fine functional blast cabinet is available from Harbor Freight for around $100. Attach it to any air compressor.
There are many grades of blasting abrasive available, both glass beads and all sorts of silicon (sand) types. Some of this media is extremely gentle and non-destructive.
You are watching the process happen through a glass window in a lighted chamber. You control the air pressure and the amount of blasting, directed by your hands. When you have what you want, the minimum, you stop. Right there.
You can heavily blast one bad area and very lightly cover a relatively good area on the same piece. You are watching the transformation in real time.
You will probably not need to polish at all, depending on what type of surface smoothness you want.
By varying the blast media, the pressure, and the time spent blasting in one spot, you can remove severe and deep defects.
Fine, faint stampings, such as the shallow ones Colt often uses, are not worn away. It's great on an old Woodsman, for example.
There are no swirl marks or rounded edges, or shallow depressions created. You can get a matte finish or a smooth one, depending upon media used and how aggressive you are. Matte is great for parkerizing.
Seriously, guys, if you have not tried this, and if you have a workshop and an air compressor, give it a try...on some metal scraps. You will be quickly converted.
One thing, be sure to thoroughly wash off any traces of media before applying final finish. But this really produces clean metal.
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