I'd strip the factory finish, put a tung oil/urethane finish, recut the checkering and it would look great.
That's a lot of work.
I once traded for a Grade IV BAR, metal was perfect, wood was showing wear. I restored the wood with that type finish, sent the stock and forearm to Errol Case in MO. Errol recut the super fine checkering, cleaned up the fancy carving, stippling. I was into that gun for around half what it would have been worth.
That gun looked 100% when done and I traded it for par value. So, in that case, the value doubled, but the work was impeccable...
So, it depends on quality of the work.
DF
