Leave as is, if you bought it to own an untouched gun, as a collector. If you bought it to shoot, open it to your preference.

A gun accommodates hunting and shooting, a tool. The notion of assigning it to sacred ground, a gender, to "fondle," puts my teeth on edge.

Not to say a gun can't be admired for its simplicity or consummate craftsmanship but it's still only a thing performing an action.