I went through this same dilemma with a Remington 700 rifle that I received from my grandfather. It was a very pretty blued steel and walnut stocked firearm. I took it on a hog hunt in OK and the heat, humidity, and terrible conditions beat the crap out of it. I felt guilty because there was a scratch here and the metal needed oiled there. I went out looking for a new hunting "beater" rifle to put my inherited rem 700 in the safe.
But I spoke to my father about it. A practical man, he asked me, "Why would your pap give you a rifle to not use? He didn't have alot of money and if he owned something, it had a purpose and the purpose would be to be used and not admired. He didn't have the money for wall-hangers. He would want you to use it."
So basically I decided to continue to rely on my most prized rifle. However, I have picked up two other rifles for when conditions get realllly nasty (marlin lever for the brush and winny xpr for the long shots). So basically, in your shoes, I decided to use it, but not beat it. In nicer weather in moderate areas, I'll take it. But if it's a blizzard or I'm in a swamp, I'll take something else.
Not to make this post all about me.... but if I were you, I would use it. But lightly. I wouldn't bushcraft and baton it, but I wouldn't be afraid to let a knife be a knife. That's why it was originally purchased, wasn't it??