OT-POLL: IJ; which look do you prefer?

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Wed May 27, 2009 5:13 pm

OK, I thought we had buttons here where we could do a real poll, but I don't see them.

So, I'll do it this way.

Look at these two pictures of IJ. Then tell me which you prefer, brass or steel.

Brass:

Steel:

I have my own conflicting thoughts that I'll elaborate on later.

Joe

.45 · Post by **.45** » Wed May 27, 2009 5:16 pm

Steel, never have cared for the brass look.

gamekeeper · Post by **gamekeeper** » Wed May 27, 2009 5:34 pm

Steel for me, brass looks good on a cap n ball though.

hocbj23 · Post by **hocbj23** » Wed May 27, 2009 5:39 pm

"pretty gun" to show off-brass.gun to carry in the field-steel.bj

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Wed May 27, 2009 5:45 pm

*waffle* SOME brass looks good, but not that application....Steel on that one, please.

rangerider7 · Post by **rangerider7** » Wed May 27, 2009 6:11 pm

Steel!

mikld · Post by **mikld** » Wed May 27, 2009 6:12 pm

Me too; steel

Post by **Hobie** » Wed May 27, 2009 6:14 pm

Steel on cartridge guns... That said I would NEVER throw the gun away...

marlinman93 · Post by **marlinman93** » Wed May 27, 2009 6:21 pm

I like them both, but the edge goes to the steel for me.

madman4570 · Post by **madman4570** » Wed May 27, 2009 6:25 pm

Usually steel but that gun really looks good, so for those two pics I kinda like the brass guy. Heck of a nice job!

RIHMFIRE · Post by **RIHMFIRE** » Wed May 27, 2009 6:27 pm

STEEL....BUT I LIKE THE COLOR OF THE GRIPS ON THE BRASS GUN

mescalero1 · Post by **mescalero1** » Wed May 27, 2009 6:40 pm

I like the steel Joe, I really like the salvage job you did on that gun, good on you.

winchester1886 · Post by **winchester1886** » Wed May 27, 2009 6:40 pm

Steel.

kimwcook · Post by **kimwcook** » Wed May 27, 2009 6:51 pm

Steel. Not a brass frame kind of guy.

jdad · Post by **jdad** » Wed May 27, 2009 6:52 pm

STEEL!

Tycer · Post by **Tycer** » Wed May 27, 2009 7:14 pm

Steel.

rjohns94 · Post by **rjohns94** » Wed May 27, 2009 7:19 pm

steel

JReed · Post by **JReed** » Wed May 27, 2009 7:39 pm

Steel. Brass belongs on CB revolvers.

Jayhawker · Post by **Jayhawker** » Wed May 27, 2009 7:48 pm

Steel.

NonPCnraRN · Post by **NonPCnraRN** » Wed May 27, 2009 7:49 pm

I would like to see what brass with ivory or white micarta grip panels would look like, but with the wood panels I would have to say steel.

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Wed May 27, 2009 7:56 pm

steel! Steel!! STEEL!!! Cold-blue-steel! British Steel! Kruppstahl! Steely Dan! Wait, got carried away there...

Buck Elliott · Post by **Buck Elliott** » Wed May 27, 2009 8:06 pm

On the IJ versions, it's pretty much a toss-up... I've had both, abd the steel always looked more at-home, and because of slight dimensional differences, FELT better in my hand.

The main objection I have to the IJs is the squared-off topstrap, fore and aft. I somehow managed to recontour the topstraps on any IJ SA I ever owned...

JustaJeepGuy · Post by **JustaJeepGuy** » Wed May 27, 2009 8:32 pm

BUH-RASS

C. Cash · Post by **C. Cash** » Wed May 27, 2009 8:32 pm

game keeper wrote:Steel for me, brass looks good on a cap n ball though.

That's pretty much how I feel as well. Great on an 1851 Navy but not on a SAA or Ruger.

AJMD429 · Post by **AJMD429** » Wed May 27, 2009 8:35 pm

madman4570 wrote:Usually steel but that gun really looks good, so for those two pics I kinda like the brass guy. Heck of a nice job!

Yep - that setup looks GOOD in brass...!

(Normally, I'm a 'utilitarian' and want everything either stainless steel, or if it has to be 'dark', parkerized...)

KirkD · Post by **KirkD** » Wed May 27, 2009 8:39 pm

I'd lean toward the steel, but if the brass were aged, it would make for a real nice looking gun.

Pete44ru · Post by **Pete44ru** » Wed May 27, 2009 9:01 pm

Steel - + 1,527 1/2

.

20cows · Post by **20cows** » Wed May 27, 2009 9:06 pm

Don'y have a problem with the brass, but prefer steel/

Post by **Ysabel Kid** » Wed May 27, 2009 9:41 pm

Steel. Seems we all have similar tastes...

pokey · Post by **pokey** » Wed May 27, 2009 10:43 pm

the way you have them set up, steel. buuttt....
the best reason for brass grip frames is corrosion resistance,
where your hand touches most, and what sticks out of a holster.
so blacken that brass and have the best of both worlds.
i also like the wood on the brass frame better.

CEMENTHEAD · Post by **CEMENTHEAD** » Wed May 27, 2009 11:08 pm

Most definately Steel. Thanks for not ash canning it Joe

Good save! Tom

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Thu May 28, 2009 10:30 am

Well, I guess most of us feel the same about single action cartridge revolvers.

30 votes:

Steel = 25
Brass = 3
Waffle = 2+1 (me)

Here is my situation, look real close at the trigger guards in both pics:

The hammer is down in both, the trigger at rest. Look how much larger the trigger guard is on the steel frame. The brass trigger guard is not only a bit smaller, the rear curve of it starts out of the frame further forward. Compare the back of the trigger guards to the screw holes.

The steel BS/TG LOOKS better to me, I'm not a fan of brass on a cartridge gun. But the brass BS/TG FEELS better. There is much more room for my fingers behind the trigger guard and so it's just right for shooting.
So my hands and my eyes are conflicting.

Part of me says put the brass back on it's more comfortable to shoot. The other part says leave the steel, it's more Colt like and matches the grip frame shapes on all my Rugers.

Arrrrgghhhhhh ..............

Joe

Joe

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Thu May 28, 2009 10:36 am

mescalero1 wrote:I like the steel Joe, I really like the salvage job you did on that gun, good on you.

CEMENTHEAD wrote: Most definately Steel. Thanks for not ash canning it Joe Good save! Tom

Thanks. It took me a long time to salvage it. And LOTS of money. I could have bought a complete new Cimmaron and had NKJ slick it up for what I've got in it. But you just don't see Iver Johnson's Cattleman Single Actions any more.

Joe

mescalero1 · Post by **mescalero1** » Thu May 28, 2009 6:22 pm

Now that you mention it , I see the difference, go with the brass if it feels better, like someone said you can " make " it black.

mescalero1 · Post by **mescalero1** » Thu May 28, 2009 6:35 pm

Joe,
Clue me in on the cost factor, I have a single action FIE .45 Colt with case hardened frame I would like to rehab.

Idiot · Post by **Idiot** » Thu May 28, 2009 6:44 pm

The brass one looks kinda, well, ah, gay. But if it lightens your loafers, go for it.

Travis Morgan · Post by **Travis Morgan** » Thu May 28, 2009 9:08 pm

The brass will look better, once it tarnishes.

Old Time Hunter · Post by **Old Time Hunter** » Thu May 28, 2009 9:23 pm

Steel, by a bugger.

C. Cash · Post by **C. Cash** » Thu May 28, 2009 9:36 pm

mescalero1 wrote:Now that you mention it , I see the difference, go with the brass if it feels better, like someone said you can " make " it black.

Have to agree with Mescalero....now that we know this is also about how it fits your hand, go with what feels good. I voted steel first but there is nothing wrong with having something a little different either. The brass will look fine and will feel good which is what's more important. Brass.

pokey · Post by **pokey** » Thu May 28, 2009 9:45 pm

pokey wrote: so blacken that brass and have the best of both worlds.
i also like the wood on the brass frame better.

but, i repeat myself.

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Thu May 28, 2009 9:48 pm

pokey wrote:
pokey wrote: so blacken that brass and have the best of both worlds.
i also like the wood on the brass frame better.

but, i repeat myself.

So then pokey, how does one blacken brass so it will stay black?

Joe

JustaJeepGuy · Post by **JustaJeepGuy** » Fri May 29, 2009 1:42 am

I have a new perspective for you: does the piece shoot any differently with the different grip frames? If it does, I'd say use the one that helps you shoot best, and forget the "look".

BTW, I once had an IJ Cattleman in .44 Mag. It had the tightest cylinder lockup of any revolver I ever handled. I hate myself for selling it.

O.S.O.K. · Post by **O.S.O.K.** » Fri May 29, 2009 9:00 am

No contest to my eye - steel.

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Fri May 29, 2009 9:20 am

JustaJeepGuy wrote:I have a new perspective for you: does the piece shoot any differently with the different grip frames? If it does, I'd say use the one that helps you shoot best, and forget the "look".

BTW, I once had an IJ Cattleman in .44 Mag. It had the tightest cylinder lockup of any revolver I ever handled. I hate myself for selling it.

I don't know yet. I put around 300 rounds through it with the brass and then had an opportunity to buy the steel grip frame. Since then I haven't shot it. This grip frame actually feels almost exactly like the the XR3 grip frames I have on my Old Model Rugers. So I don't think I'll be surprised by how it feels when I do get to the range.
Your thought about using the one that helps me shoot the best is quite valid though, and I will remember it.

This is actually my third IJ Cattleman SA. The first was sold to a neighbor who wanted it pretty bad, the second was traded off for something, and this one was bought as a wreck for the action to fix the second one before it went away. I'm rather peeved at myself for trading off the others too.

Joe

2ndovc · Post by **2ndovc** » Fri May 29, 2009 4:18 pm

I like the brass frame. Reminds me of the old Italian Westerns I love so much!!!

jb

mescalero1 · Post by **mescalero1** » Fri May 29, 2009 4:53 pm

I always called them spaghetti westerns.
I liked them because thier bad guys were really bad.

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Fri May 29, 2009 5:45 pm

Yeah, I just dug the brass frame and grips out and held them in my hand and said: Ahhhhhhhh that feels soooo nice.

But I must stand tall and resist the urge. After all I spend mucho dinero for the steel frame and grippy stock handles, so I must leave them on at least till I shoot it again.
Me be strong, me be oak tree.

J

e

mescalero1 · Post by **mescalero1** » Fri May 29, 2009 5:52 pm

You are going to fold like a house of cards, start writing the ad for the classifieds.

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Fri May 29, 2009 6:00 pm

mescalero1 wrote:You are going to fold like a house of cards, start writing the ad for the classifieds.

L

L Me be laughing, big time. You're probably right.

Joe

mescalero1 · Post by **mescalero1** » Fri May 29, 2009 6:04 pm

Oh well, someone will buy it.