Originally Posted by
onespeedbiker
It's interesting to note that on several web sites they describe the old Campagnolo Super Record and Victory brake levers as being drilled for weight. The levers were not drilled but manufactured that way, so in reality both levers weighed more than the available none drilled levers (Record and Triomphe); the Campagnolo reason was to keep ones hands dry so they wouldn't slip on the smooth levers.
This was quite common then, and not restricted to high-end stuff. The mid-level Dia-Compe brake levers on my Fuji are made this way. I remember the bike shop guy making a big deal of the weight savings, but you're right. It's for traction.