Inlay patterns were not absolute. Usually, the RB3 had Leaves and Bows, and the RB4 had Flying Eagle. Usually. The RB3 was also made with the Wreath pattern, the RB4 could be found with Hearts and Flowers, the Granada could have Flying Eagle or Hearts and Flowers.
I used to think the inlay patterns were what specified the model. After the internet was invented and I could research things more easily, I found out that wasn't the case. Anything with Gibson was a suggestion, nothing was absolute.

I give Gibson credit for making an effort to put out at least "some" of variant inlay patterns used on 3s, 4s, 75s, etc.

I wanted to ask this question too. I thought a style 4 was walnut with FE inlay but I saw Turtle Hill had a 1926? Style 4 but it looked mahogany with HF inlay . Did the style 4 change ? What was and what is considered a style 4 .

2 piece flange 4s were mahogany 1920s. 1 piece flange 4s we’re walnut 1930s.(late 1929)

Thank you Mark .

The earlier Style 4s in mahogany came ONLY with hearts and flowers inlay.

The later Style 4s in walnut came in both hearts and flowers AND flying eagles.

Earlier Style 4s were mostly but not all nickel plated. At least 4 FON batches of mahogany 4s had chrome plate. Trial production probably. Later style 4s in walnut were all chrome plated, except the usual Gibson exceptions that may have taken place.

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Originally posted by markdonc

2 piece flange 4s were mahogany 1920s. 1 piece flange 4s we’re walnut 1930s.(late 1929)

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On a similar note, Style 3 banjos in the 1920s were made of straight-grained maple. In the 1930s, they were made of mahogany.

Style 3s were nickel plated, no matter when they were made. Style 4s were nickel plated in the 1920s, and chrome plated in the 1930s. As Dick Bowden mentioned, there were some exceptions. Some 1920s model Style 4s slipped out the door chrome plated. A few 1930s model Style 4s got nickel plated. The late Billy Edwards had a nickel plated RB4 from the 1930s.