And when you're done with the steel wool, enjoy the process of removing it all. Compressed air or carb cleaner, or both. (This is with the stock removed of course.)

It's SOOOO tempting to starting messing with the woodwork, and it's almost always a mistake, and one you cannot correct. As with antiques of any kind, patina takes decades if not centuries to produce and can be ruined in a few hours.