Bushmaster, best guess we have is the wood was factory refinished in the early 1960's. That was also Walt Synder's opinion when he saw the pics. The gun is currently sitting in a dark dusty corner of a shop in a small country town. Owner is not a shooter and he has a very inflated idea of its value. Perhaps someday. Gun is mechanically perfect and does not show much use.

When an old man dies a library burns to the ground. (Old African proverb)