I see this all the time, when someone brings a gun in this condition wanting to restore it. Gunsmithing is expensive and there is no way economically to restore this gun and have it be worth what you will have into it even if the gun was given to you. If you want to try your hand at gun smithing and work on it your self that is ok, but if you want to end up with a nice gun that is worth what you have in the gun then look around and buy a nicer gun.

Lol

that is true, that is what happen when you looking for a gunsmith and when you want to make money on the restored gu . Look for a passionate artist that truly understands what restoration means from art/museum point of view not a body shop view.

Either way, whether it is going to be re-sold or put into a museum it is best to start with a gun that is not too far gone.

As long it was never redone and rust didn't created too deep damage and inside bores are OK I can restore it to a perfect factory condition or refinish to customers recommendation, no matter of how much of original all is gone. Otherwise project runs into category of more or less remanufaturing/restoring and I do that too but mostly on guns 50k or more value.

I get very suspicious anytime someone uses the word 'perfect'. But I am guessing English is not your first language so I will cut you some slack on that...

I developed this experience over the years of fine work: there are a lot of people with guns and ideas, there are only hand full of this who can put out truly work of art. Lol