I agree with this restoration, if its tatty restore it, if its original but just showing patina from its age and use and a significant piece of history, then perhaps not, but hey its yours, your choice, do as you wish. Now its a thing of beauty, before it was just a scruffy old thing.
Where I think the line should be drawn is with pieces of specific historic interest, a rare example, or where the condition reflects its history, such as with Winston Churchills initials carved by penknife and you know its provenance!
I think restorers do have a responsibility to research and know what they are restoring.
As a long time target shooter it pains me when I see a target rifle with history that has been restored back to "as new", yet the restorer has no idea of its history, whose it was, what it did in its heyday.
Those who follow on here will know I'm desparate to find an Original 75, one of the first into the UK (if not the first), modded from standard to fit my wife, who shot it Internationaly (probably the only 75 to do so), we can find no trace of it even though its quite distinctive, we fear it has been restored back to as new, hope not, we hope it just has yet to emerge as it was a part of target air gun history.
I rescued a Walther GX1 stock just before the owner removed all the match stickers and refinished the stock, it was the late great Malcolm Coopers first 300 mt rifle, it set world records, won world championships, and still holds most of the Uk records. I've restored it with a replica action as it was stock only, but the stock is original and untouched, it gets shot and its promised to the Walther museum when we stop shooting.
I agree with restoring an old scruffy clonker, just be sure you know it does not have a hidden history!
Have Fun and good shooting
Robin
Walther KK500 Alutec expert special - Barnard .223 "wilde" in a Walther KK500 Alutec stock, mmm...tasty!! - Keppeler 6 mmBR with Walther grip and wood! I may be a Walther-phile?