new find

[Dean Romig]

I would do nothing at all to the barrel length or those patches. By doing so you might be encouraging a subsequent owner to attempt firing that gun - something which must never be done with a gun in that condition.

[Bill Murphy]

To be absolutely clear about the value of your gun, the charm and value of the gun rests heavily on the condition of the muzzles and in the patches on the barrels. It is not often that a gun like this comes on the market and the obviously heavy use and neglect are its main selling points. Don't mess it up.