I'd have it cleaned up and restored. I've got a 22 lr pump that my grandfather bought the day before pearl harbor was bombed and its still dropping squirrels. I still have my main 22 lr though because I really don't like putting more than 10 or 15 shots through this thing in one year. So my advice is clean it up and keep it but to also consider get the boy a nice little ruger or marlin or if looking for something smaller it think they still make those little single shot bolt action in a 22 lr. I've still got mine and I'll start my son on it. Hope that helped.