Antique weapon

[Guyra]

I recently aquired an antique foil from an auction, it was pretty rusty so I started to clean it up and found it to still be in very good condition. I managed to get the blade completely clean, but Im a bit puzzled as to handle the guard, I dont want to use sand paper in an effort to maintain what shine it has left under the rust, any suggestions on a compound of some sort to take the rust off? Im also trying to protect the original wrapping on the handle, so im being weary about which chemicals im using.
I would also like to figure out a date on it, my best estimate is very late 1800's at the earliest and 1920's-30's latest. Ill see if I can get a picture of it to post once I get my scanner working. As I mentioned above the weapon is still in very good shape, and I love the balance on it, I originally purchased it for decoration, but now I wanna try using it at least a few times.

Thanks!
Matt

[Talen]

I'm not an expert, so hopefully someone else will pipe in with their experience, but I've heard several recommendations for Coca Cola as a cleaner. I used it to remove what I suspect were blood stains on an old 1930's coup de gras knife. It was a little harsh on the gold inlay, but the steel seemed fine.

[Inquartata]

I trust that it's not really very valuable. True antiques ought not to be restored, or at best restoration ought to be done by a professional. But that ship has already sailed in this case, I guess, so I'll just say that in my experience with reproductions and armour it is not feasible to take off the rust without marring the surrounding shine---you'll probably have to remove the rust and then bring the whole guard back to the degree of polish you want...

Clots of rust can be removed with a bit of metal softer than that of which the guard is made---like a copper penny or a heavy bit of copper wire with the end "sharpened" like a chisel. But even so the result will be a shiny guard with ugly black or gray spots where the rust used to be. Depending on its extent and depth you may even have pitting, which you'll either have to live with or sand out and then, again, bring up the polish on the entire guard from scratch.