Repair vs. restoration

[Joe D.]

After many years I, again, own a VH 16 ga O frame Parker (sn 168904). I was very fortunate to find it at a local auction. The gun has seen use but is crisp and tight. When I got the gun it was dry and had an even patina on the receiver and furniture. The screws are perfect and all timed correctly. Engraving is as sharp as when it left the factory. The more I wipe the receiver with a Walley's wipe, the more trace case colot peeps through the patina. The barrels cleaned up well and retain about 98% original blue. Bores are great (28" IC, F). The stock and forend are the darkest walnut I have ever seen on a VH and show some pretty figure although most of the original finish is gone and the stock is fairly dry looking. It has the original DHBP and grip cap.
Now for the warts.... there are 2 small dents in the barrels- nothing major. The right barrel has a blood spot on top which has mostly cleaned up but left some pitting. The dolls head has the top right corner slightly (1/16") dog eared from a fall but the metal is there, just bent up. Lastly there is the finest of hairline crack in the wrist of the stock from the back of trigger guard bow through the checkered panel about 2" long. I don't know what cracked it but I want it repaired/stabilized before I shoot the gun.
This gun talks to me! I am a hunter and revere the use which put it in the condition that it is in today. Someone hunted this little gun and once I get a few things attended, that is what I intend to do.
Now to my questions. I want to have the dents raised and the dolls head corner peened back to original with the cross hatch as normal. I want barrel wall thickness measured to be certain of what I have. I want the stock crack stabilized but want it to be as invisible as possible. I have been reading the posts eagerly since I found this site a few weeks ago. Looking for referrals to an expert who is close enough to home that I can drive up and talk with the person who will perform the work. From what I've seen, there is a Vicknair Resorations near Lancaster, PA who seems to be highly regarded. I will appreciate any references to this person or anyone within a few hundred miles of Parkville, MD who can do this work correctly.
Lastly, although this gun would be a prime candidate for a "full restoration" and wind up absolutely gorgeous, I do not want to change it. I believe that automobile collectors call it a sympathetic restoration. Where a vehicle is put in 100% mechanical condition and cleaned up cosmetically but not refinished in any way. That is what I want to do. I am 62 years old and this gun is damned near 100. The older I get the more I appreciate the character a gun gets with use. I figure I'll be its' steward for a while and pass it down to someone who will respect and use it like myself.
Makes me want to go out and get a new Britany pup again.......!