I am a full time gunsmith and I have been stripping that kind of finish on guns for over 40 years.
Take a good knife and sharpen it like a razor. Now, use it as a scraper. I can take a Browning or Weatherby down to wood and ready for sand paper in 5 minute with a good knife using it as a scraper.
Great. Make us a five minute video next time you do the task. I'd really like to see it done.