Handrail on porch steps - need suggestions

[Thomas McCurnin]

I'd use a Cedar 4x4 planted in the ground in concrete and lagged into the masonry steps somehow, with two Cedar 2x4s routed into the 4x4, and a shallow dado on the 2x4s (like 1x1) to accept the stiles and fill in the spaces with a 1x1 spacer.

[Cameron Wood]

This probably doesn't directly apply, but I've used SS commercial grab bars for short exterior hand rails several times with good success.

Not totally aesthetic, but very practical.