Orginal S&W wood grips. To refinish or not??

[Rule3]

I tried this post in the Lounge but perhaps it is better here.

I actually scored a really nice 624, 44 Spl 6" barrel
(Pics to follow)

The grips on this gun are what I would call "service" grips, the small kind. Not the larger target grips like on my 686.
Why it has these grips I don't know. Anyway, the wood grips have a few dings and scratches. Nothing major. Is it better to just leave them alone or do a touch up refinish? I know wood and am pretty good at working with it. I have refinished several stocks.

The only think I am not sure of is what the original finish was on S&W wood grips.

Was it a varnish, lacquer or a polyurethane??

On all my other grips they were in fine condition, so I just cleaned them and hit them with some Old English lemon oil.

Thanks for any suggestions

PS: I would like these grips but in Walnut, anyone know where to find them??

Product: N/G Square Butt Rosewood Checkered Target Grip w/S&W Medallions

 

[WOB]

It's perfectly acceptable to refinish them. I don't know what S&W used originally. It was solvent resistant so was likely an alkyd varnish in the old days and is now a probably a catalyzed polyurethane for fast drying and additional durability. I've refinished them using an oil type finish until I discovered Min-Wax Wipe-On Poly(oil based) It is far superior to any of the older oil based finishes and is great for gun stocks as well.

WOB