I don't want to sound sappy or anything but if those wear marks were put there by my father, I guess I would want to leave them there. Sounds like they don't affect the gun functionally so why not leave those reminders on the gun. They should blend nicely with your own marks.

Yep, I agree with Recoil Rob and leave the gun as is.

Just my thoughts.

Respectfully, Bill Jolliff