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This sale is for an original Colt factory pair of Fleur De Lis walnut grips for the New Service Target. There is no screw included. While I think the correct date range is 1912 to 1928, the inward facing brass medallions may narrow that down to 1924 or 1925. However, I am not a Colt historian so I apologize if my dates aren\'t entirely accurate. This is just what my best effort research indicates.
Let me start by explaining the photos as I\'ve tried to capture every possible detail. The first nine photos are in direct morning sun. The next 10 photos are in a decently lit room under a warm LED bulb lamp. The final photo is with a flash under that lamp. The background is off white packing paper like newspaper.
I haven\'t attempted any cleaning whatsoever due to a fear of causing damage or removing patina. I have no idea how good these grip panels are capable of looking if properly cleaned. While my old eyes don\'t see gunk packed into checkering or any obvious soiling that needs removed, I\'m sure there is plenty there.
There are no cracks in either panel. Both panel backs have clean and round holes for the brass medallions and the screw. It appears the pin holes are ever so slightly elongated and not perfectly round. There is evidence of pencil marking on the backs, but nothing legible to me. The bottom outer edges, around their curved perimeter, both have dings and possibly even a couple of tiny chips with actual wood loss but I\'m not sure. The right panel has a 3/8\" long horizontal scrape in the checkering 1/2\" above the bottom. Everything else is standard signs of use but not really anything to classify as damage, just dings and rubs. I think everything I just mentioned and more is clearly visible in the photos.
Here is my personal impression. When I consider they are at least 100 years old, I want to call them excellent. However, if you placed them on a true mint condition flawless revolver...they\'d look out of place. For the vast majority of New Service revolvers from that period in circulation, these grips would hold up very well condition wise. They are likely in superior condition to most of the revolvers you\'d run across. The mating surface edges are sharp and crisp with only a couple of tiny dings. The checkering is very nice. The finish still exhibits some gloss on the flats, especially up around the medallions. These were likely on a very well kept revolver for decades and decades and were pulled off for either preservation or perhaps for ivory or something. Then, an owner passed away and they unfortunately became separated from that New Service.
I list almost everything with best offer enabled, but I probably won\'t consider price reductions until these have been up for awhile. I\'m in no hurry to move them along. These will ship properly packed in a sturdy cardboard box.
