I think you misunderstood my intention here. I don't want to replace the rifle. I'm not upset that it has a few scratches and dings. I just want to keep the rifle is as close to the same condition as my Dad gave it to me as possible. That's why I was considering a synthetic stock. I'd hate to slip on a scree slope and take off a side of the stock or something like that. It's not a matter of wanting to replace the rifle because I don't WANT to hunt with it, it's a matter of FEAR of possibly ruining a heirloom. Other than dogging bears (where the rifle got all the dings - and the reason my Dad never put an expensive scope on it), it's been a tree stand whitetail rifle. I could still use it for such pursuits and use another rifle for chasing elk through canyons.