The gun is late 1911 / early 1912, and I agree that factory pearls would have had
gold medallions. The gun looks original, from the pin ends on the left side of
the frame.

The black on the front of the cylinder is the typical burn marking that shows
up on nickel finish. That can be removed with a careful cleaning using BRASSO,
for example. Then clean it will with some solvent, and then apply some oil.

The best advice I can offer is to write that story down, very carefully and with
as much detail as possible, including names, etc.

Later, Mike Priwer