All I'd do with that rifle is have a gunsmith fit that butt pad properly. That rifle has a lot of 'character'. Every one of those nicks and dings tells a story.
Isn't that recoil pad, that someone along the line had installed, part of that character. Winchester used solid red recoil pads with their logo on them.
(then go get yourself a shiny new one!)
You can't. They haven't been made since 1964.
If you guys were able to aquire a 1955 corvette that had been in the family since grand pa purchaed it new.... still drives fine butthe paint was flaking off, tires were worn, windshied cracked,aftermerket grilletc... would you leave all of the "character marks" on it and stick it in the garage (gun on the wall) orrestore it to like new when grand pa bought it in 55'and drive it like grand pa did? Assuming you could afford to do so.
Either way it is one heck of a rifle to have aquired through the family. I am just saying that no matter who may have owned a given peice of property there comes a time when it must be restored, repainted, rebuilt, etc... so that others may enjoy itfor many many years to come.Grand pa's house probably doesn't have the original paint on the walls does it?