Varnish recomendations for Sterly

[setterspell]

I'd like to renew the varnish on my 1915 sw20. I dont want to sand any of the few nicks or gouges out as they are part of the gun's character. The checkering is still strong on the wrist but a little lighter on the forend from cradling I suppose. Any advice on a good authentic looking varnish? Thanks , Steve

[mike campbell]

I dont want to sand any of the few nicks or gouges out as they are part of the gun's character.

Sounds like a good candidate for some wax. Or better yet, a rub down with a drop or two (literally!) of boiled linseed oil when you can trust yourself not to touch it for 2 weeks afterwards.

You don't want a varnish. If you want to preserve the gun's "character" you want something non-invasive. If you had a nice classic car with a few sun-faded spots and maybe a couple of tiny dents, you might hit it with some polishing compound and then wax it, right? But if you decided to go so far as a new paint job (adding varnish), you wouldn't paint over the dents without filling them would you?