I'm used to seeing Goncalo Alves target grips on classic N frames. So used to it, it throws me a little when I see walnut. GC for targets, walnut for magnas. Was there any rhyme or reason to the distribution of the two woods on -2 and -3 guns? Were walnut targets put on certain models and not others; anything like that? I'm restocking a 29-3 and I know GC is a safe bet, but there are also walnut targets out there.

I’d bet a dollar your 29-3 originally had goncalo alves targets. From the early 1970s on I only remember walnut targets on 28s and smaller frames.

Yeah, I know the 29-3 probably did. That's funny you mention the 28, because now that I think of it, when the 28 wasn't wearing magnas, it was wearing walnut targets. Good memory.

Top of the line revolvers got the more expensive goncalo alves while lower priced revolvers got walnut.

The only N frame guns that I have seen come with Walnut since the early 80's were two model 25-2's that I bought in 79 and 1982. Both were new in the box and P.Case. Jeff

While we are at it, what about rosewood? I remember rosewood targets as an expensive option, but they looked pretty much the same as GA to my untrained eye.

These are Rosewood.