OM XR3 Brass Frame

I took this off an early 3 digit FT I purchased earlier this year. I put the FT back to original and put the brassie on an original RSS4x (missing the barrel - long story). Anyone have a 4 5/8" barrel for sale - let me know. I've never seen another XR3 Brass Frame. Anyone else seen one or know who the maker might be? Nothing marked on the inside.



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I bought one with factory stags from a fellow in Calif. He said it was one of a kind.......appears that way and is a tough fit on the cylinder frame. Is also crude in it's innards........ :roll:

Not an early Qualite perhaps?

First I've ever heard of!! Neat!!!!
Terry

I've ONLY seen the one Splitz has and, as he mentioned, it was a bit crude.

Cool, Gee Dub!

flatgate

Awesome!

When I found this Grip Frame I sure thought it was a XR3, it has the dead straight back-strap, Got it home and grabbed a original XR3 Grip panel and nope it's not, I think it is a XR3-RED that has had the back-strap straightened.



Qualite grip frames all have the more squared up trigger guards when I see grip frames like jussbad's,,, with the more rounded trigger guards,, I think these come from Pony Express Guns.
I really like the more rounded loop looking trigger gaurd.



Might it look like this under the grip panels?? I sure would like to see a picture of it naked.



IF not maybe a colt product or a one-off ??
I'm working on a one-off right now myself, pictures to follow soon.

Excellent, G2! I'd totally forgotten about the Pony Express revolvers!

Boy, oh, boy, that mainspring assembly sure looks familiar for some odd reason........

flatgate

Dougan mentions Erl Svendsen and his Pony Express on pg 252: "Svendsen was making a close copy of thje Single-Six in .22LR calber with a onepiece brass grip frame...".

The Ruger XR3 and Pony Express grips are mirror images of each other but mate up differently to the guns frame. If the XR3 grips are angled to the rear they will sit on the Pony Express brass grip frame nicely except for a gap at the cylinder frame. Mated correctly to the cylinder frame leaving no gaps they look like the pics below.

XR3 grips on a Pony Express

Chance, what a brilliant set of photos! Thanks! 8)

Wonderful! I'm not certain I've actually seen one of the Pony Express revolvers except in digital/paper format!

flatgate

Gary
I have a collection of Brass grip frames and show them in my display, "Class of Brass". The collection includes two XR3 factory frames. One is a shiny "Gold" color and the other is a dull (burnished) brass color.
I also have a XR3-red frame in brass color. These frames are made from Aluminum and only carry the color of brass. I believe these grip frames were used as samples and never made in full production. Sort of a test for the final brass frame that has the square back trigger guard.
Good luck finding a proper barrel for your RSS4X project gun.
Brass Frame/Lee

OK, it's been way too long..........

How about a pic of the grip frame sans grips?



flatgate

flatgate said:

OK, it's been way too long..........

How about a pic of the grip frame sans grips?



flatgate

Click to expand...

Rather "crude" but still a neat grip frame.

Thanks! My curiosity was running amok!

It might be a 1 of 1 kinda deal.....

flatgate

flatgate said:

Thanks! My curiosity was running amok!
flatgate

Click to expand...

Your CURIOSITY, Mine TOO!! :shock:

Thanks Jussbad, I find these Brass Grip Frames real interesting.

BRASS FRAME... Any chance seeing pictures of your XR3 Brass Grip Frames??

G2 said:

BRASS FRAME... Any chance seeing pictures of your XR3 Brass Grip Frames??

Click to expand...

I recall seeing one on display at the NRA show in Phoenix back in the early '90's. Bill Hamm displayed his Super Blackhawks (which were really, really nice) and a glass case was out in front with some "related goodies". A gold anodized XR-3 grip frame was exhibited as being a "Factory test piece".

I might have a 35mm slide image somewhere....... :roll:

flatgate

The picture sans barrel is a nice look ... I wonder how it shoots? Impressive piece though, all the same!