What Gary is getting at is that the picture seems to show only the brass of the medallions. In this period (1910 to 1920) the medallions were made of brass with a thin wash of gold over them. Appearances indicate the gold has been removed (scrubbed off), leaving only the underlying brass.
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I admit that I'm quick to grab Flitz and a rag, but in this case, it won't me.
You notice I did NOT call it a "Pre Model 10." I said that's what it was marked as at the LGS. The guy behind the counter said he didn't know who made the tag, but it wasn't him. He knew it was a M&P. It's just neither one of us was sure exactly WHICH M&P it was. I told him not to worry about it. If most people saw it tagged as a M&P they'd tell him it was wrong because a M&P is a semi-auto.
I'm afraid you'll have to explain that one to me. I'm a little slow at times.
Nothing wrong with those stocks, as they look to be in great shape. I can tell from the color, and from experience, that the gold wash was so thin that you can not even clean them. I learned this early in my collecting days when I received a gun with worn stocks and dark medallions. I set about cleaning them with a Q-tip and Brasso. When done, they were as shinny as a new penney, but almost look sliver. There was a brief time when they looked like gold as the brass oxidized, then returned to dull color over time.
I took your picture and edited it to bring out where the brass was and where the gold remains. Look for the light silvery brass color on most of the left side, and the same color just on the raised portion on the right stock. I also added a new-old-stock set that our expert stock/grip restorer, Curtis, did that show the true color of unpolished original gold medallions. Hope this helps.
