So----I got a nice new 2nd Model SS. The grips are perfect---nice shiny black on the outside. On the inside, they're pig filthy----right along with the inside of the gun. It appears someone lubricated the gun by cocking the hammer, and pouring oil into the hole until it overflowed. Given that, every piece of schmuta and gradu that came along stayed----stuck in the oil---while it solidified. The good news is there is no rust anywhere inside.

It comes apart and goes into the solvent tank to soak. The grips go into a glass jar filled with a solution of Dawn dish washing detergent and water to soak. The gun bits come out all squeaky clean---and the grips come out nice and clean------and brown----pretty much like we see every now and again when black hard rubber grips get too much sun----or whatever fades them to brown---except they're mottled here and there---on the smooth (uncheckered) areas. As is the case with grips which have faded to brown, the insides of the grips are still black.

Sitting and staring---and picking at these mottled areas reveals some sort of very thin coating that seems like it could almost be peeled off or otherwise removed---almost as though someone, somewhere, once upon a time, applied a coating of black stuff to "fix" faded grips.

At this point, I can do nothing----or try to remove the remnants of this mystery coating, restoring the grips to their faded brown-----or apply yet another coating of "black stuff"---restoring the grips to their shiny black glory.

So---------anybody know/have any idea what sort of magic elixir one applies to once black now faded hard rubber grips to return them to their shiny black glory? As an alternative (removing whatever was ostensibly applied previously), what sort of solvents will do no harm to hard rubber?

Many thanks!!

Ralph Tremaine