As to your question, Ironman, my understanding, or bias if you will, is that the slightest remnant of case color is still an indicator or originality; i.e., unremuddled gun. Threadbare field grades aren't particularly valuable but they don't get more so by being pimped, customized, personalized. Case in point: have that same heavy 30" SW 12, restocked in crotch black walnut, recased, good bores, lever right. $840 at local shop. Apparently the 700 bucks worth of stock work didn't impress them as much value added. I like it because the comb is high but I'd hate to have spent the money on it. I went this route just once with an early Fox BE. Got 1700 in it and I don't know if I could get it back out although the feeding frenzy on GunBroker a couple years back suggested that there might have been a moment in time when I could have.
jack
