Hylander
Blackhawk
Are there Brass grip frames available for the NM SBH?
Mine is a 1977
I really like the look of a brass grip frame.
Mine is a 1977
I really like the look of a brass grip frame.
SBH Brass Grip Frame?
- Thread starter Hylander
- Start date
There were some aftermarket NM brass grip frames or you could buy one from Ronnie Wells at RW gripframes.
contender
Ruger Guru
If you find another out of production brass g/f,, it'll cost you $200-$300. Ronnie's grip frames are MUCH better quality. Many of the other out of production brass g/f's can have casting flaws. Ronnie machines his.
twriggen
Buckeye
An OM will fit but you will need the trigger spring kit for it to work on a NM. The last OM Brass frame I sold was $325 and I'm pretty sure I let it go too cheap.
contender
Ruger Guru
A NM grip frame can be easily used under an OM gun. It just takes a simply made adapter for the trigger return spring. However,, an OM g/f isn't as easily adapted to a NM gun because of the return spring used in a NM won't fit an OM return spring assy.
twriggin had a OM/ $325 & NM/$150 a few months back.
IMO the deal was,,, the NM frame @$150. The OM @$325 is right in there. Keep in mind the Factory OM frames have porosity, some not so bad, but most all of them have it. This used to really bug me, but now I kinda think of it as part of the patina.
Some good pictures here on twriggin's for sold thread.
https://www.rugerforum.com/threads/couple-of-brass-grip-frames.319544/
This picture is a NM Frame, on a 30 carbine. While they are nice castings, they take some patience & massage to get them to fit.
Same frame as purchased, before fitting/finishing.
This gun is a 50th 44 flattop (2006) it came with a steel XR3, way too small for me with 44 magnum.
Changed out for a RW/ Hunter,,, Same Size as the Super Blackhawk, BUT has the rounded trigger guard. I went with this because the Dragoon trigger guard likes to smack you knuckle, especially in 44 magnum.
RW Gripframes are by far the easiest to fit & finish, very accurate part. More money but well worth it. Buy once, cry once.
I like the look of the Dragoon but on less recoil calibers. 30 carbine, 9.5" Single Six, Old Army.
Old Army
IMO the deal was,,, the NM frame @$150. The OM @$325 is right in there. Keep in mind the Factory OM frames have porosity, some not so bad, but most all of them have it. This used to really bug me, but now I kinda think of it as part of the patina.
Some good pictures here on twriggin's for sold thread.
https://www.rugerforum.com/threads/couple-of-brass-grip-frames.319544/
This picture is a NM Frame, on a 30 carbine. While they are nice castings, they take some patience & massage to get them to fit.
Same frame as purchased, before fitting/finishing.
This gun is a 50th 44 flattop (2006) it came with a steel XR3, way too small for me with 44 magnum.
Changed out for a RW/ Hunter,,, Same Size as the Super Blackhawk, BUT has the rounded trigger guard. I went with this because the Dragoon trigger guard likes to smack you knuckle, especially in 44 magnum.
RW Gripframes are by far the easiest to fit & finish, very accurate part. More money but well worth it. Buy once, cry once.
I like the look of the Dragoon but on less recoil calibers. 30 carbine, 9.5" Single Six, Old Army.
Old Army
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Ruger only made the a few thousand MR3-DB Brass Grip Frames (Old Model) in the early 1970's.
Some were installed on the OM SBH & Blackhawks in various calibers,
MOST, went on the Old Army's, and that was to clean out the inventory.
Some were sold as an accessory kit (frame & wide SBH trigger) so that one could "Brass Frame" their gun.
A lot were scrapped, mostly because of porosity.
BGF's were not easily fitted to the Cylinder Frame in the production process. In fitting to the cylinder frame, brass would contaminate the "in the white" steel cylinder frame and show up in the bluing process.
Even today I have seen guns that have been fitted with a BGF get screwed up.
Brass tarnishes, some like it shiny & bright, they go to polishing and end up taking of blueing…
I prefer to fit & finish the BGF to as near perfect as it can be,,, ONCE,,, take a picture, and let the patina/ tarnishing begin, never polishing again. IMO it only gets better with time.
RUGER has never manufactured a New Model BGF.
There have been several Manufacturers of New Model BGF's in most if not all styles, ie SBH, XR3, XR3-RED & Bisley, to name a few.
RW Gripframes is the ONLY current manufacturer of BGF's, (and aluminum) making ALL sorts of styles & fitment (OM,NM)
As before mentioned the Quality is Outstanding & Exceptional.
FWIW:
Most in the past Manufactures of BGF's, sold in the $100-150 range, NOW when those show up on the secondary market bring ~$200 +/-50.
Power Custom in their final days of BGF mfg., were ~$275.
Just like hunting & fishing, every now & then you get lucky, right place & time and find a GOOD deal…
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Great. Explains history of brass frames-Thank You!
Hondo44
Hawkeye
OLD Model grip frames adapted to NEW Model guns could not be simpler!
1. Drill a hole in the OM grip frame above the trigger guard for the New Model cyl bolt plunger & return spring. Replicate the location of the hole from your NM grip frame.
2. Grind off the spring shelf web on the back of the NM trigger and use an OM trigger return spring and plunger.
Note: the ears around the base of the hammer on OM grip frames are too short for post 1997 New Models. You have to build up the ears of the brass grip frame ears on a SBH brass grip frame a little by brazing.
BRASS PLATING: I have had a few alloy and steel grip frames brass plated. They look exactly like the solid brass Ruger grip frame for a LOT LESS money AND TROUBLE. AFTER 20 YEARS THE PLATING HAS NOT WORN THRU EVEN WITH NUMEROUS POLISHINGS.
1. Drill a hole in the OM grip frame above the trigger guard for the New Model cyl bolt plunger & return spring. Replicate the location of the hole from your NM grip frame.
2. Grind off the spring shelf web on the back of the NM trigger and use an OM trigger return spring and plunger.
Note: the ears around the base of the hammer on OM grip frames are too short for post 1997 New Models. You have to build up the ears of the brass grip frame ears on a SBH brass grip frame a little by brazing.
BRASS PLATING: I have had a few alloy and steel grip frames brass plated. They look exactly like the solid brass Ruger grip frame for a LOT LESS money AND TROUBLE. AFTER 20 YEARS THE PLATING HAS NOT WORN THRU EVEN WITH NUMEROUS POLISHINGS.
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I have always liked them and ran across one, i could not pass up. Should be here by Friday. It is a Ruger made brass SBH, frame only. Pretty excited to get it. Along with the correct trigger - thanks to folks from this site!
Hondo44
Hawkeye
Do you have something you might put it on?
Just got home last night . Visiting my son and caught in Wisconsin.
Well I have SBH but it has a 7 3/4 barrel and I want 4 5/8
I will have it Friday- not sure what I will do
Well I have SBH but it has a 7 3/4 barrel and I want 4 5/8
I will have it Friday- not sure what I will do
Did Ruger make a rounded trigger brass frame?
Hondo44
Hawkeye
No. Only the NM stainless SBH Hunter shown here on my SBH with Bisley trigger:
Well this brass frame has now become part of 1960 Flat Top ‘44. I think the ‘44 BKH never had a chance to wear much brass. Bigger grip feels great. As far as brass frame value there is one one GB now at $385.
Thanks
Thanks
Thank you - it all came together pretty quick.
Hondo44
Hawkeye
One thing about brass; it's very easy braze. It's pretty easy to convert a square back trigger guard to a round guard. There's enough material in the square guard to cut out the corner, heat and bend the remaining ends into the round shape and braze together. I've seen a few nicely done.
Also brazing works like a charm to fill any porous spots!
Also brazing works like a charm to fill any porous spots!
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Good to think about. Actually I really like the feel for the heavier 44. Larger grip feels great and perhaps a tad lighter than a SBH/44.
Those original Ruger brass grip frames are over 50 years old. There were not very many then and they keep getting fewer all the time. Plus its on a nice flat top 44 BKH. I like it just the way it is. I like the round ones but I would never permanently modify an old one.
Chinook3
Those original Ruger brass grip frames are over 50 years old. There were not very many then and they keep getting fewer all the time. Plus its on a nice flat top 44 BKH. I like it just the way it is. I like the round ones but I would never permanently modify an old one.
Chinook3
I agree with @Chinook3, If you want a round trigger guard brass frame, buy an aftermarket, don't destroy a factory.
IF anyone decides to buy the brass frame off GB, I bought one of my 41 mags from him. Good seller.
https://www.gunbroker.com/Item/1166795812
And for anyone who wants a brass grip frame just for the sake of having brass and not for collectors purposes- Ronnie Wells makes amazing brass…and can put any triggeguard style you want on any frame style. He can even make a Super Blackhawk gripframe that’s .300 longer. So please don’t cut up a rare original brass frame…
https://rwgripframes-com.3dcartstores.com/
Here’s one of his “Dealer” styles in brass…
https://rwgripframes-com.3dcartstores.com/
Here’s one of his “Dealer” styles in brass…
Hondo44
Hawkeye
As I recall, what you call "scaling", the wrinkling has to do with the pour temp of the molten brass and/or cooling rate in the casting mould. It's not uncommon on the Ruger frames and doesn't cause any problems.
Unfortunately I didn’t know what to call it as “wrinkling” is not allowed to be said in the house by my wife’s rules. So we say our clothes are scailing, the brass is scaling etc.
So this frame came from a SBH, since we don’t have letters from Ruger, such a major mistake, there is no way to identify if they are originals? Or Shipped with the gun?
Are there s/n that would have been shipped with these?
So this frame came from a SBH, since we don’t have letters from Ruger, such a major mistake, there is no way to identify if they are originals? Or Shipped with the gun?
Are there s/n that would have been shipped with these?
There are, but with so many shipping as an accessory after purchase it's likely that it won't "letter".Unfortunately I didn’t know what to call it as “wrinkling” is not allowed to be said in the house by my wife’s rules. So we say our clothes are scailing, the brass is scaling etc.
So this frame came from a SBH, since we don’t have letters from Ruger, such a major mistake, there is no way to identify if they are originals? Or Shipped with the gun?
Are there s/n that would have been shipped with these?
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