[Joe from MO]

To the original question.....

Does it matter?

I guess that depends on what you want in the gun.

1. If you are looking at it as a valuable collectable, yes it does matter. But, the reality of your gun is, it appears to have been blued, etc. And, it will never be a gun that a collector will have interest in.

2. If you are simply wanting a gun to kill upland birds with, and it functions correctly as it sits today, and you are happy with it.... Then no, it doesn't matter. It's your gun, be happy with it.

Personally, the last thing I would do is spend a lot of money trying to get that gun into something it will never be. An original condition collector quality gun.

Shoot it, and enjoy it. That's what it's setup for at this point.