I remove them, or at least reduce them, with 0000 steel wool and gun oil, gently as you stated. For heavier encrustations, I use a flattened brass rod or an empty cartridge case to scrape down the rust without damaging the metal or the blue. The brass traces left on the blue can then be removed with the 0000 steel wool/oil. Gently applied, both processes will not harm a rust blue finish. It stops the active rust and leaves the finish looking much better, although not restored to original.
I consider such treatment to be maintenance and not "boosting". If I am wrong, break out the horsewhip.
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If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction
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