[azshot]

Indeed, don't try to clean or restore it, just oil it and occasionally wipe the oil off with a soft cloth, adding new oil. That will stop any active rust. It's a historic gun, but only as is. Like a Tiffany lamp, you don't want to polish or replate it, or you lose all the history AND the value.

 

[azshot]

That's a good point. I'd perhaps research the oil aspect. I don't have any poor condition nickel guns. But I've oiled lots of other nickel antiques with no problem. The nickel to iron is fused to be merged together into a solid piece in a normal situation. I'd want to stop any active rust, all that gun's problems started with rust.