It's bollix I tell you!

I kept my HW75 (same finish as the 45) in a foam lined camera case since 1993 - the type with pre-cut squares that you pluck out to make the shape you want. Still looks like new.

Another example, my HW77K. This rifle was reblued by Venom in 95 and the blueing is like a black mirror! From new in 87 I kept it in a bog standard foam lined rifle slip under the bed, for 8 years. Then in a home made steel case lined with egg box style foam, for 12 years. For over half that time I wasn't going shooting and only took it out once a year to fire a couple of pellets and give it a wipe over! This rifle looks like it was made yesterday.