Cosmoline
Member
If this is bubba I shall probably continue. It may "diminish collector value" but while alive, I can enjoy a gun that looks better. Guess I am like one of my doctor friends, "if it's not pretty, it doesn't shoot well"
I see nothing wrong with restoring the stocks. I know that museums and collectors prefer nothing be done, but wood is a living thing and needs to be cared for. Esp. when we're dealing with 100 year old hardwood stocks from forests that have been gone for generations, a little TLC and some BLO is a fine idea. To leave the thing covered in grime and cosmoline never made much sense to me. That said, it will generally reduce the value of higher end collectors items.
Rebluing is a bit more iffy, esp. since it's almost impossible to reproduce the original blue. The ones I've seen have a decidedly flat appearance to them. Plus, a nice patina will serve to prevent rust outbreaks.