Hylander
Single-Sixer
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
Help Support Ruger Forum:
Register to hide this ad
Robb Barnes
Hunter
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
Blackhawk
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.
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.
SOLD - Couple of Brass Grip Frames
Up for consideration are a couple of Brass Grip Frames. The one on the left is for a New Model and I could not find a maker's mark on it so I'm not sure who made it. I pulled it off of a Ruger sometime in the past and kept it thinking someday I might use it. I'm pretty sure it was on an Old...
www.rugerforum.com
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
Last edited:
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…
Last edited:
