Telling a brass frame from steel...easy as it seems?

[shootfromthehip]

I know it sounds dim, but i am looking at a pietta .44 cal traditions revolver and wish to drop a conversion cylinder in it. i chose this gun beacuse i found one locally very cheap, but wanna make sure its a steel frame. I can see theres a seperate brass piece that makes up the trigger guard and goes in to the grip. it is not magnetic howerd the brass looking piece that is behind the cylinder is magnetic. Did these guns come brass plated steel or is it steel components that are attracting the magnet?

Thanks, Shoot.

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

A photo would come in handy, but I've never heard of a brass plated steel frame.  

I think you made the correct assumption.  It is highly likely that it has a brass frame, and is NOT RECOMMENDED FOR A CONVERSION CYLINDER!

[rickk]

Brass is not magnetic at all. That's why they make fancy compasses on all the fashionable pirate ships out of brass (well, not the only reason, but brass is non-magnetic anyway).

Does your magnet stick to the "brass" part just as well as it sticks to the obviously steel part?

[shootfromthehip]

Well ill be. The trigger guard is def brass and not magnetic. This is the run of the mill and i believe it is brass framed. Oh well still may be fun to mess around with if nothing else. What is a good 1851 navy pattern pistol that is steel?

[Professor Marvel]

My Dear Monsiuer Hip -

If you will look at the photos from the SCORRS page here:
http://www.scorrs.org/articles/1858disassembly.htm

you can clearly see an example of a Steel Framed Remmy 1858 with a brass trigger guard being disassembled.
The trigger guard only is brass, and the blue frame is steel.

This is a typical steel framed Remmy :-)

in this photo of Wolfgang's revolver you clearly see 3 Brass framed Remmies and 3 Blue-Steel Frames :

http://www.drburkholter.com/sitebuilder/images/Lots_of_58s_cropped_b-771x654.jpg

perhaps this will help -
yhs
prof

[shootfromthehip]

Thank you sir. I reckon ole gun is indeed brass. I think i may pass on it, is $125 too much for a gently used, but never shot still in the box brass 1851?

[St. George]

Yes.

Best to buy a steel-framed one.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[ZVP]

 When you buy a Nickled framed or backstrapped Revolver, is the base metal usually Brass or Steel?
I have seen several ad's for short barreled, nickled Sherrifs model Colts and I was wondering about them? Some had Nickled frames and Gold plated cylinders, really fancy...
A nickled steel frame on such a revolver would make for a nice shooter/collector!
  Here on the Forum we have been advised to shy away from Brass frames and to buy steel for longitivity.
Thanks,
ZVP