I like a finish that fits the gun. To me, nothing beats original finish, but when that is largely gone or damaged, something as close to original as possible... and a surface finish that fits the other condition factors. An example is the much abused Optimus Lefever that appeared here in it's semi-restored state a week or two ago. The gunsmith, Keith Kearcher didn't go whole hog with new case colors etc., and the recut checkering and stock finish is right in line with the metal. I gotta bite my lip when I'm told a gun is all original finish, and the metal looks like it spent 80 years in a salt marsh duck boat, while the wood shines like Liberaces' piano.
