Those actions are made by powdered metal casting. The final product is somewhat of a stainless steel. If you sand the finish off, you wind up with a silvery, matt finish that is very resistant to corrosion. I engine tuŕned mine and some others. The finish has held up for years. I think that it is the iron plating that flakes and rusts. Stainless steels are notorious for shedding plating. I have modified a few 94's from the 70's and look at them as they pinnacle of the breed. They have a coil main spring, no safety and eject out the top. I was always of the opinon that putting a scope on a lever action was somewhat like putting a saddle on a hog.