I got the 94 all cleaned up. The worst shanker was on the magazine tube. I scraped at it with a 1979 penny and some oil after soaking it for over a week.
It ended up looking like this
Not horrible and that is at the barrel band so not that visible when assembled.
I tried to convert the rust on the band's and mag plug by boiling them in distilled water as seen from my favorite internet gunsmith uTube channel (mark novak). It did work some but I doubt I prepared the surface sufficiently . rust more fell off than turned black. Not too worried about it, this gun is going to be a shooter and I don't even have $50 into it, not bad. The barrel had one spot that was pitted , it's minor and in direct conjunction with the magazine wart. It's so minor that I'm not concerned with barrel integrity at all.
I also put a coat of Danish oil on the wood because it was apart and was dry as a bone like the rest of the rifle. I buffed it down with 0000 steel wool when I was done and it has a bit of a dull shine now but it's cleaner, I'm sure ther was existing finish that prevented the oil from really getting in there but the inside soaked it all in and that makes me feel better (I think).
The receiver is unusual, I know the post 64 steel doesn't blue well or that the finish is easily discolored. So after giving it the oil steel wood treatment it looked....... Exactly the same. There was never any rust you could scratch at, it was smooth as can be but discolored from the start. It looks like this
I don't honestly think it's active corrosion but more like discoloration . the inside of the barrel and receiver look good as new, crisp and shiney to the point that I'm certain this rifle hasn't had but a few rounds ever fired out of it. No rush in the bore, I gave it a thorough cleaning and just got some carbon out, nothing orange.
As for the rest, it's good to go I think. I've owned 94s before but have never taken one all the way down, it wasn't great, I struggled to get the tiny pieces and screws in the correct orientation . I had the two pieces (cartridge guides?) In and out several times trying to get the correct side up and right side of the rifle and all that and I fought the lower tang/ hammer reinstall , had it one time and thought it was good but hammer wouldn't cock. Got that straightened out and it cycles smooth and puts cartridges in and out like butter.
Looking forward to getting this one out. Any advice on keeping rust away from already pitted areas? I was thinking maybe some wax but I don't know. I had to put it all together because my mother's coming for a visit Tuesday and my basement was stinking like penetrating oil and hoppes from this thing in a million pieces sitting in cups of oil. I'll take it back apart to address the pitted area when I have time, until then I'm not going to worry about it, it's clean and oily and sitting in my safe muzzle down.