Ditto on the comments above; both look like original finishes to me. I have the 44 with SN about 1000 earlier than this one and it looks just like your pictures. I wouldn't take less than $1500 for mine; not that it is for sale. I bought an Outdoorsman this past year which is also a little earlier than yours but is not in nearly as good condition and thought I got a good deal at $600. Yours ought to be worth around $1000.