Ruger brass grip frames

[kevin masten]

I have a question regarding the brass grip frames Ruger produced for a short time:

I have read , from several sources, that Ruger had a terrible experience producing the frames. Lots of frames scrapped due to defects , etc.

With Ruger's vast experience in casting many of their components in building their firearms what went so terribly wrong?

Did Ruger farm out the brass frames to another supplier ?

How long were the frames offered?

All answers appreciated as I am wanting to add to my knowledge base which is sorely lacking in this area

Regards

 

[G2]

The problem was porosity, a lot of the frames out there show this, mostly in the side flats.

Another reason that has been floated, was when fitting the GF to the CF the brass would bleed/blend into the CF causing problems when blued. So they had to be hand fitted, on & off, not a profitable manufacturing process.

Very few were fitted to Super Blackhawks & Blackhawks, the majority ended up on the Old Army to clear out what inventory was "good enough"

I have seen several that were offered as kits (boxed Grip Frame w/ a Super Trigger) for those that wanted to add brass to there gun. Every single one that I have seen were excellent castings showing no sign of porosity, leading me to think these were hand selected. That is pure speculation on my part.

MR-3DB was circa early 70's

 

[kevin masten]

Thanks for your great information! I heard about the casting problems but few details such as : did Ruger cast their own Frames , in house?

I had never heard about the issue of brass and steel. Dissimilar metals do have their problems. However, Colt did it for years without a lot of problems that I have ever read about. Did Ruger engineers miss something?

Answers lead to more questions

I have boxed frames with the grip locater pin not fitted and wide trigger. So I am convinced they were offered as kits , also.

Any more information welcomed

 

[street]

If anyone in interested in when Ruger first offered the Brass Frame one only has to look on page 117-118 of "Ruger Single Actions: The Second Decade 1963-73" by John C. Dougan. It show on Ruger trade price sheets dated January 4, 1965 that the S47B was offered for $116.00 and the Brass frame was offered for $20.00. This was the same price as the Steel grip frame. I have a Super Blackhawk in the 19000 range that I bought in 1965 and the instruction-parts list shows a Brass grip frame for $20.00. So 1965 looks like the first year that they offered the Brass frame and they were selling it all the way to the first or second year that the New Models came out, 1973-74. Of course they wouldn't work on the new models but they were still selling the Old Armys and they used them on those.

 

[G2]

Street comes thru with the gooood details :wink: ,,,

I had in the back of my mind that info could be found in Dougans book,,, however...

I got one of his books at the NRA Show (Phoenix, AZ) personalized & signed by him to me. I was helping clean up and load the RCA booth at the end of the show, my book got packed up in all the hustle, I keep thinking it will show up but it has been several years and no show. :shock: guess I just need to get me another.

Reason my thinking was it was circa early 70's, and now I recall the reason they were on the Old Army was, Ruger's last OM and best opportunity to clear out the inventory. IIRC estimated 1200 Old Army's fitted w/ the Brass.

Kevin, the Dougan book has some excellent info. Money well spent.

 

[7LBRONCO]

The Old Army that I got for my 18th birthday, in May 1975, had the brass grip frame. Very clear in my memory, due to the time spent polishing the brass. Wish I still owned that gun.