Every hunting gun no matter what will have dings and marks on it. No matter how hard you try it will happen. But thats the history of the gun and when you hand it down to your kids a part of you will always be with the gun. I have a .450 marlin I got new and hunted with it for over ten years. Almost looks new with the walnut stock. Has a few marks but thats just part of the gun. Also I have a M1 that has only one mark on it and I will never get rid of it. My uncle did it when he was helping me take it apart for the first time. Let the gun get a few marks. Build up the history.