Brass frames

[bezoar]

The normal debate on brass frames is either historical accuracy or about the striength of the brass frames.
What i would like to know is if anyone else feels that brass frames are a fashion fetish? Looked at Taylor and Cos website, and finally saw brass frames of the 1849 pocket and the 62 pocket police. even had a brassed framed 1849 in .44 caliber if i read it right.

 

[MikeChapin]

Don't know about a fashion statement but the Griswald & Gunnison's (I think that was the model, working from memory here) were made with brass frames because the Confederacy had a shortage of steel but had a lot of brass church bells. Can't remember where I read this but it was a long time ago.

 

[Zonie]

About all of the Confederate revolvers were brass framed .36 caliber guns (Dance Brothers being a notable exception).

IMO, almost all of the brass framed guns on the market now are only there because they are cheap to produce. There is little or no attempt to recreate history.

To the best of my knowledge, a brass framed 1849 or 1862 never existed. No brass framed .44 caliber pistols ever existed (except perhaps for pre-production guns).

The large brass framed Remingtons never existed.
(The Remington .31 caliber New Model Pocket Pistol was originally made in both brass and steel framed versions).

I think these brass framed guns sell well to folks who are not familure with their weaknesses and to those who aren't interested in shooting but want a pretty looking gun for decoration. ("OK Warren, you can have your dumb pistol for a paperweight, but only if you get the pretty brass one.") :grin:

 

[MikeChapin]

I'll go along with Zonie. When I bought my .44 brass frame, I did it out of ignorance. Except for a CVA Colonial kit I hadn't put together yet, it was the first BP arm I aquired. The other two brass frames were picked up as kits on special. I thought it would be fun to finish and tune them myself. They were also fun for hunting the ferocious north american cottontail and jackrabbit.

When I did pick a revolver to really use, I got a Ruger Old Army. Great revolver, strong and accurate.

My fasination with revolvers slowly wained and all except the Ruger went to wall decorations. If I use a pistol now, it's usually one of the single shots.