:hatsoff:
Thats really cool, wow, and to think if what the gents said of its history , it may have been to afrika, killed lions or gazelles...Wow.
If you didnt want to strip it "and thus destroy the historical value of it" you could always get some breakfree a phosphor bronze bore brush, scrub the bore , and scrub the lock with the break free with a toothbrush.
My 2 cents
Oh yeah did I say its cool!
Rob