I agree with the course of not taking action, except for replacing the blacksmithed parts with original and finding a toggle latch catch for it. One of my shooters is an '06 AE. It will never be a valuable collectible due to the replacement of the bbl. Its grips were not numbered, and because the right grip's checkering was incorrect and the left grip was, as yours, worn almost smooth, I felt compelled to swap out the right one for a crisper one from Hugh Clark, and freshen the left one. All has worked out OK so far, but still, in the back of my mind, I miss the smoothness of the grips the way they were. They had an indefinable charm for me, it turns out. Had the checkering been the proper number of lines per inch, I might have left them completely alone and shot/enjoyed it just that way, or plopped on an aftermarket pair.
If you work on the grip situation, I'd vote for another pair in addition to what's on it. To me, these display the honest wear the pistol has borne, and a display of such cannot be brought back, particularly if refreshed.
MHO
DP
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