Down here the consesus is if has already been bubba'd do what you want, otherwise leave it original. I wanted a sporter and found a really beautiful model 46 Husky in 9.3x57( gives me another cartridge to play with)
I had a friend over in La. who had a varmiter built on a 96 action, finished in cameo. It was so well done I could not tell what it might be until I closed the bolt then asked.
I have 4 of the full length mod 96, and one of the shorter mod 38's which is an interesting model. I picked it up at a gun show in Tyler, Tx a couple of years ago. It is a 1900 model by Mauser Orbendorf, with a two digit serial number, which indicates a replacement receiver to what was originally a Carl GUstaf model, numbered to match the original. All numbers match. Stock is all walnut with a bit of tiger stripe but has more dents and character marks than I like, but it basically remains original. I did steam out most of the worst dents then just rubbed it down with some turpentine/boiled linseed oil and wiped down. I like the shorter length for carrying better than the long model and it is also much easier to carry than my Swiss K-31's which I also like.