OT SAA Brass grip frame

[haterock 2]

I`m in the market for a SAA 1873 in 45 Colt. Looking through the web-sites of some of Italian makers, I can see, that some of the revolvers are made with brass grip frames. I think, that it looks quite handsome, but: Back then, were they ever made with brass frames, or is this a replica thing ?

Regards

[2ndovc]

Very much a replica thing. But I agree they are nice looking revolvers.

Reminds me of the westerns of the 60's, Sergio Leone and Clint Eastwood type stuff.

jb

[J Miller]

I never could get to liking the brass grip frame on a cartridge revolver. I like them on cap and ball guns though.
I guess that's why I did this to IJ:

From Brass:

IJ Brass grip.JPG

To Steel:

IJ Steel grip.JPG

Looks much better with steel. At least to me.

Joe

[M. M. Wright]

You used to see a SAA once in a while that had the Army grip frame. You know, from a cap and ball gun. They are about 3/8 inch longer than the Navy grip which the SAA has and are brass. Civilian guns had the back strap silver plated but this wore off quickly. With so much interest in the SAAs collectors have changed out the grip frames to make them look less "messed with". I've had several clones with the brass grip frame and they were serviceable weapons. The Mitchel Arms in .44 Mag even came with the army grip frame.

[awp101]

You used to see a SAA once in a while that had the Army grip frame.

I did that with a .44-40 Uberti Cattleman. It felt better than the SAA style grip but didn't feel as well balanced.

[Terry Murbach]

I CANNOT STAND THE SIGHT OF AN SAA STYLE PISTOL WITH A BRASS GRIPFRAME !!!
THEY'RE UGLIER THAN A MANURE SANDWICH.
THEY LOOK CHEAP ON A C&B REVOLVER TOO.
AND THE WORST OF ALL---OF ALL !!!---WERE THE RUGER BLACKHAWKS WITH BRASS GRIPFRAMES.
ALSO, PLEASE NOTE THIS; I WAS TOLD ON GOOD AUTHORITY THAT THE EYETALLION SIXGUNS WITH BRASS FRAMES WERE THE ELCHEAPO GRADE GUNS, GUNS THAT COULD NOT MAKE IT THROUGH THE TOP GRADE GUN'S INSPECTIONS.
TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT A UBERTI BRASS FRAME GUN BESIDE ONE OF THEIR STEEL FRAME GUNS. SOMETIMES THE DIFFERENCE IS STARTLING.
ON THE OTHER HAND I LOVE RUGER ALUMINUM GRIPFRAMES WHEN THEY'RE POLISHED BRIGHT.
AND SO IT GOES...

[Chas.]

If you have an opinion, Terry, speak up.

[buckeyeshooter]

I CANNOT STAND THE SIGHT OF AN SAA STYLE PISTOL WITH A BRASS GRIPFRAME !!!
THEY'RE UGLIER THAN A MANURE SANDWICH.
THEY LOOK CHEAP ON A C&B REVOLVER TOO.
AND THE WORST OF ALL---OF ALL !!!---WERE THE RUGER BLACKHAWKS WITH BRASS GRIPFRAMES.
ALSO, PLEASE NOTE THIS; I WAS TOLD ON GOOD AUTHORITY THAT THE EYETALLION SIXGUNS WITH BRASS FRAMES WERE THE ELCHEAPO GRADE GUNS, GUNS THAT COULD NOT MAKE IT THROUGH THE TOP GRADE GUN'S INSPECTIONS.
TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT A UBERTI BRASS FRAME GUN BESIDE ONE OF THEIR STEEL FRAME GUNS. SOMETIMES THE DIFFERENCE IS STARTLING.
ON THE OTHER HAND I LOVE RUGER ALUMINUM GRIPFRAMES WHEN THEY'RE POLISHED BRIGHT.
AND SO IT GOES...

Gotta disagree on the uberti. I bought a brass frame colt knockoff. the action and trigger pull are smoother than anyother single action I own. Its shoots better than I can see too. bought it on sale for $239.00 + tax. Will buy a second if they run the sale again.

[pokey]

If you have an opinion, Terry, speak up.

yeah, don't hold back on us now.

[COSteve]

Deleted

[Terry Murbach]

When I got my SA Cavalry model, I had a heck of a time finding one in stock without the brass frame but I ultimately prevailed. To my mind, the steel framed version, a good copy of the actual Colt, is the better choice.

SEE GUYS, YOU SHOW ME ONE OF THOSE BRASS SUMBISCUITS THAT LOOKS LIKE STEVE'S PISTOL HERE !!!

[Ysabel Kid]

I never could get to liking the brass grip frame on a cartridge revolver. I like them on cap and ball guns though.

+1 - that is exactly how I feel too Joe!

[Mutt]

I say steel also. Looks closer to the real thing ....


,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Mutt

[Griff]

While the brass grip frame is perfectly serviceable, I gotta agree with Terry. I have an old Jager made SAA in .357 with a brass frame. After my wife & son used it in CAS for about 12 years, it's still in very good shape... internally! It has some real holster wear, and the grips show the dents and dings of being dropped on tables and banged up against props and other hard surfaces in use by them and sometimes by a new shooter that didn't have the guns or enough, or as a backup to someone else's broken gun! The first gun my wife bought for herself.

Oh yeah, this is the "good" side! The other side has even more dings along with a notch from my son's first win of his category @ EOT in 1990! @ 12 years old!


So, while I may despise the look of a brass grip frame, I gotta say that they're handy, durable, and just a couple ounces heavier than a steel one.

The best looking and pointing revolver Sam Colt ever made was the 1851 Navy, whose proper name is Colt's Belt Model of 1851, not "Navy". The first gen guns were made with a square back trigger guard, with it and the backstrap silver plated.


Other than the London produced ones, all 2nd & 3rd model 1851s had round trigger guards, those and the backstrap were made of brass.

Prior to and following the 1851 all Colt's grip frames were either steel or brass until the 1872, or "Open Top".

So, brass grip frames were not a replica invention... just as they've always done, they've mixed and matched materials and styles to produce something "like" the originals.

[Old Savage]

It is a matter of taste. And, as noted they are the real deal from the past and if you like them that is the important thing. GO for it.

[haterock 2]

Thanks for all the qualified anwers so far. They haven´t made it easier to deside
But I only live once, so I will order one with a brass grip-frame

Regards

T.Christiansen

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

Well Terry, you probably won't like these at all.


They were done to go with this carbine.

[Old Savage]

Well from one of Danish descent I am with you and you know what - if you don't like it you can get rid of it for something else.

[Terry Murbach]

Well Terry, you probably won't like these at all.


They were done to go with this carbine.

OH NO, YOU'D BE WRONG THINKING THAT, STEVE !!! I'VE ALWAYS LOVED NICKLED PISTOLS AND A SET OF CISCO KID GUNS IN A BLACK AND SILVER CONCHOED BELT HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN MY PLANS. THE PEARL STOCKS DO NOT BOTHER ME ONE BIT EITHER EXCEPTING IVORY IS A GOODLY BIT TOUGHER.
MATTER OF FACT, JUST YESTERDAY MORNING AFTER BREAKFAST WE WERE IN THE GUNSTORE LOOKING AT A BRAND NEW SAA CC/BLUE 4 3/4" 45 WITH PEARL STOCKS. IF I DID NOT HAVE TWO NEW ONES ON ORDER [ SINCE NOVEMBER ] I'D HAVE BOUGHT IT ON THE SPOT.
I DO LIKE THAT '92 CARBINE TOO....HO BOY AND YESSIRREE !!!

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

Thanks Terry,
These were built for a CAS customer about 10 years ago. Just like the colts these are aren't, (they're Uberti's) the Pearl grips are Faux Pearl from Ajax. They certainly don't chip as easy as the real Pearls.

The reason I like the brass grip frame or stainless for that matter is it allows for an easy fit of the grips. Bolt them on, rough sand then buff both the grip frame and the grips and your done.





Steel grip frames require extra time and care or a reblue of the grip frame.