Kenn,
There is no inherent loss of use-ability (is that a word?) due to the age of wood. Just look at some 100+ year old houses. What does have an effect is how it was stored for 45 years. Always dry? Low humidity? Even temperature? No little critters? These things can have a detrimental effect.
But with an original Taurus kit, personally I would agree w/ Cees to preserve it and re-cut the pieces. Of course, you could always get a Primus kit.
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