Jimmy -- Had an old Noske steel-tubed scope here some time ago that had been painted a flat black - - including the rest of the rifle. I assumed a lacquer base and wiped it off with a cloth not so saturated with lacquer thinner that the thinner ran on contact with the steel. I used a tooth brush on difficult to reach areas. Worked fine. I tried to keep the thinner off the glass and generally, to not let it pool to the point that it might penetrate into the interior.

Good luck.