FYI, There is a fellow in Houston making posts over on the singleaction.com forum about making old and new model Ruger single action grip frames in Bisley, Keith #5, etc., in Brass, aluminum, and beryllium. Looks like they can be had with varying trigger guard shapes as well.

Try Power Custom

quote:

Originally posted by twobobbwana:
Try Power Custom

Power custom makes a steel and stainless two piece colt SAA style grip frame and a steel two piece Keith number 5 grip frame. No bisley and no Aluminum. I like power custom’s offerings, but they are somewhat limited. I asked them to make me an aluminum #5 a couple years ago, and Randall told me that I would have to pay $5k to have a whole run of them made up.

Beryllium?!?
I don't think this is a good idea as machining Beryllium is a dangerous and difficult proposition. Inhaling any of the dust-like chips it produces causes a disease similar to silicosis in your lungs and you very slowly suffocate. The govt did it at Rocky Flats as part of making nuclear bombs and the machinists had to wear isolation suits with air hoses to the helmet to supply clean air for them to breathe.
Maybe you mean magnesium - which has it's own dangers of catching fire but is much easier to work with.

quote:

Originally posted by CMcDermott:
Beryllium?!?
I don't think this is a good idea as machining Beryllium is a dangerous and difficult proposition. Inhaling any of the dust-like chips it produces causes a disease similar to silicosis in your lungs and you very slowly suffocate. The govt did it at Rocky Flats as part of making nuclear bombs and the machinists had to wear isolation suits with air hoses to the helmet to supply clean air for them to breathe.
Maybe you mean magnesium - which has it's own dangers of catching fire but is much easier to work with.

I should have been more clear. Beryllium-copper alloy. Looks a lot like old tarnished bronze, or a worn copper penny. Yes, pure beryllium can be very toxic to machine if proper precautions are not taken. I was thinking that Albemet AM162 would make a good strong and lightweight gripframe material. It is 38% aluminum and 68% beryllium. However, the machining and fitting processes would cause the same health/safety problems as pure beryllium. Beryllium-copper alloys typically have up to 3% beryllium content. I don’t know how toxic such alloys are to work with. I recall many years ago, Ping Eye 2 golf irons were available in beryllium-copper.

Barry Wood did a signature folder in BC.

quote:

Originally posted by richj:
Barry Wood did a signature folder in BC.

That went over my head for a minute. Beryllium-copper folding knife. I’m a doofus!