There doesn't appear to be anything in your photos that suggests the gun's life has expired, so I'm not sure I would characterize restoring this gun to new as giving it a new lease on life. Generally, there isn't anything in a cosmetic restoration that would extend the life of this gun. Even guns whose barrel bluing has all but gone will last with proper cleaning and normal post-use preservation.
There are many gun gunsmiths, whose work is well known, and regarded, however the experienced eye will always detect the restored guns from the pristine originals. All it takes is a scan of the big three gun sites to note that restored guns always lag behind good originals in the prices they realize.
I forgot what Dean calls it, but I have a similar way of describing how a gun "feels". They don't talk to me (and I don't see dead people) but they impart a warmth that only comes from a well loved, well cared for piece.
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