Wot Darryl said, I know its not ours to tell you what to do & I with my history of altering mine, but I only did so because the barrel was pitted both in & out, otherwise I'd have never touched it. Yours looks so tidy & original that IMHO it would be a shame to alter it, but I guess if it was done sympathetically it might be OK

We'll want pics though, mind.

Steve