Not a lot of red donors around here. All I have at the moment is a brownie. I could watch for a cheap black parts kettle. It would fit the color scheme and be easier to find. How do you break the welds?
Beat up parts kettles are real easy to separate the handle strap since the welds are already rusting. Just wiggle back and forth until it comes off.
Black and Red color scheme is what I am also going for. The main reason I replaced the fire place handle strap I had earlier. I may even replace Zav wood handles to keep that color scheme going.
What you had in mind to have one fabricated and painted high temp paint is cool too. I did think of Red handle strap counter sinking holes and using countersunk bolts painted red. Then, it would look exactly like the welded handle strap. I may still try this with my Red.