Ah! An astute observation, Herr Aaron, but one which belittles the fact that THEN I would have an almost as new pistol WHICH I could shoot WITHOUT the guilt of worrying about shooting that same said matching numbered, collectors piece. I was LAMBASTED in another thread for suggesting such a crime, and have come around to recognizing the sins of my (evil) ways. As such, is it not worth the money (I have read here that you can always get more) to restore such a piece to it's former glory? Even if it is "just a shooter"?
I don't know if I will, but I have a tendency to get sentimental about such things, and unfortunatly in this particular case, I can see the pro's to both sides of the coin, restore or not restore, and thus my dilema is further compounded...
As this baby is pretty rough, I doubt I will spend much on a re-bluing...unless I re-barrel it, which I have thought of (faux Navy???!!!)
I am going to the local GoonShow tomorrow, and am hoping to see a man about a wallaby...er, uh...see a man about possibly refinishing this pistol. I have asked for experiences and recommendations about John G. Lawsen's work here, and haven't heard anything pro or con, but he seems to carry a favorable reputation elsewhere on the net, and he's local, and told me he'd be at this show, so...off I go!
Regardless of what I decide to do with this P08, I am very glad it found its way to me, and am proud to act as coustodian of it until I hand it off to one of my still pre-school lads one day far in the future.
Merry Christmas!!!
