On a gun show a few weeks ago there was a guy that brought an old Winchester lever gun in to be appraised. It was a beautiful rifle with amazing case hardened finish. It was determined the rifle had been professionally refinished and whoever did it did a beautiful job on it. The appraiser said in its original finish the rifle would have been worth $50,000.00! As it sat, it appraised at $8000.00. Still a healthy chunk but nowhere near what the original finish would have brought.

I agree with Dave, try and your buddy out of it.