I've a VZ 24 action (non matching, scrubbed crest) that I'd like to rebarrel and add sights to. Plan is to skip mounting a scope and go directly past go and mount a receiver sight. But this will leave that scrubbed crest glaring out for all to see. Can this be buffed down/smoothed out without too much work? Or am I going to have reheat treat afterward? Any idea what this type of work costs?

This action is pretty clean, otherwise.

Coot

I have done what you're talking about on several actions. All were done with progressively finer grits of Emory cloth. It only takes a couple of hours and doesn't hurt the heat treating of the receiver.
I've learned to draw file pretty well now, and I can do a front ring and polish it out in about 45 minutes.

Do yourself a favor a go back a week or two and look for the topic Jack Belks polishing files. This will tell you all you need to know to do the job nicely.