Dave, I started shooting SASS in the mid 80s as well (SASS 1188) and shot original Colt Bisleys (still do). The Italian guns can be fine, heck they use better steel than Colt did back in the day. They just need tuning up. Still, there is nothing like a Colt. I too restore guns (the gun shown below was a gray 2nd gen that
was missing half the trigger guard when I got it). I looked hard at this gun to see if it was worth the effort. It could be done, assuming you could get the plating off, but the math is not right. It would need a new proper cylinder and maybe a new barrel. There might be some welding to build up rounded edges as well. Lots of work.
As for different times, and Bannerman, that was done a long time ago when they had no value. It’s a shame, but no one at that time new the value of a surplus gun better than Bannerman. If he couldn’t sell it, it couldn’t be sold. The work on this gun is much more recent and less forgivable. But worst of all, it’s really bad work.