Refinish Brass Grip Frame

[bonedale]

I just inherited a NM Blackhawk 357 from my dad. It is a 200th year model that he picked up in the 80s used. Long story short, the grip frame is a really bright, almost plastic looking brass. Really ugly. I have seen on this site and others, other Ruger brass frames that are not as shiny and look more muted, like an aged brass.

So my question is, can I do anything about it? Can I get it to a more of a firearm looking brass. Or, is it possible this finish was simply painted on by the original owner? If I pull the grips, would the grip number let you know the answer?

If I can't do anything about the brass finish, I may just end up getting a steel frame from Brownells or something and fitting that.

Thanks

 

[Hugh]

Welcome to the Ruger Forum.

Maybe it has been a safe queen all of these years, and never used. Maybe somebody kept after it with Brasso. Or, maybe someone put a finishing coat on that preserved it. If it has been used a lot there would be signs of wear and use on the exposed brass. You might take the grip panels off and have a look at what's inside. If it is truly brass I'm guessing you will find some sign of casting, and if it is painted on that will show as well.

If it is truly brass and just pampered, then regular use will change the appearance to something that you may expect.

 

[americal]

I would not be quick to pass judgement on the frame --if it is brass and just coated you can get that off and it will get dull in color with age---brass grips are not cheap and look good--take your time--a picture would help

 

[bonedale]

I know it's bad form to not post pictures of the gun in question :wink:

So attached is the Ruger. And yes, you can see where the original owner buggered up the frame trying to screw it back together. This tells me the grip frame is a modified part, but that is all I know at this point.

It also came with fake marble grips and antler grips that have yellowed over the years. They are nice and thick compared to the stock grips, but slick.

This isn't going to reside in a safe much. I hope to shoot it as much as possible. I am thinking of packing it with me next mullie season. I just want the "bling" to go away. Not my style. Thanks

 

[MOUNTAIN WILLIAM]

It looks like anodizing to me, note where the finish has been scraped off around the grip screw holes.

 

[JWhitmore44]

I'm not sure that is a brass grip frame. Looks like a painted or coated grip frame. Think the brass grip frames were MR- something. Might check and see if that isn't the aluminum grip frame. The one screw hole looks silver. I'd would say you may have a couple choices, if it's the aluminum grip frame you can remove the finish and leave it silver (looks like stainless) or have it re-anodized in black. If it is the steel grip frame you can polish and then re-blue it.

 

[Robb Barnes]

The brass frames Ruger supplied were for old model guns and they were labeled MR3-BD which was cast into the inside of the gripframe. That sure appears to be a stock new model Ruger XR3-RED gripframe with a brass or gold coating of some sort. You could probably pick up a black finished gripframe for pretty cheap and have an all "blued" gun or like the guys said, strip that finish off and leave it looking like stainless without the weight.

 

[Hugh]

Clearly labeled XRN-3RED Grip Frame. Like the others I don't believe it is brass, but rather alloy with a brass-like color finish; applied by somebody other than the manufacturer.

I don't believe it is steel, but just to make sure you might touch a magnet to it. A refrigerator magnet will do. My blue steel grip frame is not home right now and I don't remember how it is marked inside.

 

[Ale-8(1)]

Yep, not brass. Almost certainly aluminum.

Could have been polished and bright-anodized, or otherwise plated.

 

[wavehopr]

I would ask for a letter from Ruger on it and if it was shipped with something unusual, I'd keep it and just buy a regular XRN-3RED frame to go on it.

 

[bonedale]

I knew you guys could help!

Now that I look at it, it does look anodized. You can even see where they dipped the screw as well in the open frame pic. See what I mean by ugly!

So I will spend some time looking at photos on the web and see where I want to take this Ruger. Ideally I would like something contrasting, but dull in finish. Either like the "real" brass frames, or a silver steel that is not polished. Both of these I see here. I am leaning to steel since the hammer is steel and that would look nice. How/where are the best sources for these?

I see Florida Gun Works has a brass frame which looks nice. Is that the best place for brass frames?

Where can I find a good steel frame since Brownells seems out of stock?

 

[Ale-8(1)]

You could order a new "blue" aluminum one direct from Ruger, but chances are that it might not fit the main frame perfectly. The mating area of the main frame right around the hammer was subtly revised when the Bisley models came out, and the current grip frames are made to fit that. With some luck, however, you might find one of the same approximate vintage as your gun that would likely fit pretty well.

Try our classified section, perhaps?

 

[G2]

I see Florida Gun Works has a brass frame which looks nice. Is that the best place for brass frames?

Where can I find a good steel frame since Brownells seems out of stock?

Nope on Florida Gun Works, They are a big bad dead end. Google is not your friend here.

Currently there are no manufactures of Brass Grip Frames, They are still out there and now usually run in the ~$250 range, the Ruger OM Brass Grip Frames run in the ~$350 range.

I might have one that I would part with if interested.

Steel Grip Frames have been hit and miss as of late, try Brownells, Midway, Numrich. ~$125

 

[Hugh]

I knew you guys could help!

Now that I look at it, it does look anodized. You can even see where they dipped the screw as well in the open frame pic. See what I mean by ugly!

So I will spend some time looking at photos on the web and see where I want to take this Ruger. Ideally I would like something contrasting, but dull in finish. Either like the "real" brass frames, or a silver steel that is not polished. Both of these I see here. I am leaning to steel since the hammer is steel and that would look nice. How/where are the best sources for these?

I see Florida Gun Works has a brass frame which looks nice. Is that the best place for brass frames?

Where can I find a good steel frame since Brownells seems out of stock?

If you want to remove the finish that is on it you could explore that.

Numrich is out of Blue and Blue Steel grip frames for the New Model Blackhawk. They do have Stainless Steel for $127.90 plus shipping. Just checked Midway and didn't find any. Maybe I didn't look hard enough.

The "ears" will be a little high, but otherwise the fit is fine. If you have the tools you can file down and polish the ears to fit. Otherwise a Smith can do it, probably another $65 or so. I have stainless on my 4-5/8" NM Blackhawk .45. Looks and feels great. I also put on a blue steel ejector rod housing.

Check the classifieds here if you are interested in a replacement grip frame. Call it Want to Buy NM Blackhawk grip frame, or something like that, and in the text describe your need. Be sure to say where you are located. It might be helpful to say what year your shooter was manufactured as well.

 

[Hondo44]

The very easiest and cheapest thing to do is to get your alloy grip frame real brass plated. Tell them not to spray it with clear lacquer and it will age just like you want it to look! I did one years ago and it still looks like brass. The only way to tell it isn't solid brass is that it doesn't weigh as much.

Next best thing is get the real McCoy from G2. Be prepared to do some filing and fitting.

Next choice if you want contrast is get a stainless steel grip frame or even plain steel and polish off the blue, preferably used that's already been on a gun to eliminate 90% of the fitting work. Advertise for it on this forum's classifieds as Hugh said above.

Plain steel polished:

Let us know what you decide to do,

 

[bonedale]

So I have decided to see if I can "save" the aluminum grip frame by removing the anodizing. Plan is to remove, and polish, and try to make it look like steel.

So last night I tried the oven cleaner method. First 10min, then 20min, then an hour soaking. I was working my way up so I can see if the aluminum was in danger of getting pitted. No damage, but really no effect either. I scrubbed off some of the finish but this isn't a solution, since I wouldn't be able to get into all the nooks and sharp corners, and I don't want to remove any more aluminum than needed.

So my question is, does anyone have experience with other ways to remove anodizing? Drain cleaner with Lye is the same active ingredient, so that is a no go. Or maybe not, if the concentration is higher?

 

[J Miller]

I removed the anodizing from a Ruger grip frame with pure Simple Green. Started foaming up like an Alka Seltzer tablet.

The second one was painted on and I had to use the Aviation Paint Remover I bought at the local auto parts place.

That brass color does not look like anodizing to me. I could be wrong but anodizing doesn't take on steel that I know of. Both the spring pin and grip locater pin are brass colored. It might already be a thin brass plating or even a paint of some kind.

Joe

 

[Hondo44]

J. Miller: By the way you're right, you can not anodize steel, only aluminum alloy. Thanks for the Simple Green solution to get anodizing off. That stuff must not be too simple!

bonedale:Thanks for the update!

No, if the oven cleaner didn't remove it, then it wasn't anodizing. It must have been a thin gold colored plating (real gold 'flashing' perhaps?). Sounds like it was pretty thin to come off with Brasso. My brass plated grip was exactly like solid brass.

Good luck with your polishing.

 

[bonedale]

That is a good catch Miller. I think you're right it may be brass plating. If I could see signs of paint, like thin area recessed, I would have Simple Green'd it.

So I just took some Brasso and elbow greased it off. It looks great! I'm so happy to see the gold gone, well, that is where it shows on the outside. Taking off the grips will be a reminder of its past.

Now I just need to work on the screws tonight and this will be finished.

Edit - done for now

The only bummer about this blackhawk is it has been drilled for a scope. I have the mount and scope, a bushnell 1.3x but I don't have plans on using it, just the top has a hole drilled completely through. So I am thinking of just blueing the threading so it hides it a bit. But I am happy how it looks, and how it shoots, and with the hole in the top, it is anything but a safe queen.

Thanks for everyone's help.