Evolution of a revolver...

B

Bob Wright

New member
A few years ago a man advertised two Ruger .357 Magnum Blackhawks for sale at $200 each, I bought both. Here one is as bought, with the transfer bar retrofit:

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Then I removed the transfer bar system and put it back like it was, fitted a steel Old Army grip frame, and sent it to Dave Clements for conversion to .44 Special, case coloring, and reblue. Walnuts grips by CaryC.

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For the past two years it has been my "American Express (Don't leave home without it) Gun." Here, in my Bob Mernickle PS-6SA holster:

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The other gun is a 6 1/2", waiting for a transformtion.

Bob Wright
 
beautiful rig Bob, is the conversion a new barrel & cylinder or does it get punched? sorry didnt know this process could be done but i sure like it.
 
Thank ya'll for your comments.

The conversion to .44 Special included reboring both the cylinder and barrel. The cylinder was bored then chambered for .44 Special. The barrel was bored then rifled and re-crowned.

Some 'smiths use take-off .44 Magnum barrels turned down to the smaller frame, but mine kept all original parts.

Bob Wright
 
One of the nice things about the single action is what you can do with one. Ruger Single Sixes can be altered from rimfire to centerfire. They can be made from six shot to five shot revolvers. Long barrels can be shortened, short barrels can be replaced with longer barrels. Hamilton Bowen even makes a multiple ejecting single action.

Plus, as is, they're just great guns!

Bob Wright
 
Bluetip wrote:
once the transfer bar was removed do you now have to once again carry on an empty cylinder?
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Yes, it puts it back as the original three screw configuration, same as the Colts and current replicas.

The transfer bar installation, the retro fit, is an afterthought, and is not nearly so smooth as the original, or the later New Models which were designed for the transfer bar.

As for carrying an empty chamber under the hammer, that is so ingrained in me that it is a natural thing.

Bob Wright
 
Nice lookin' rig, Bob...I've wanted one of those 3-screw conversions ever since Skelton was writing about them back in the 70's...thank God, Ruger brought out the Flat Tops a cpl years ago...I can afford them now. How's the conversion shoot? I'd expect sterling results from a 'smith of that caliber. Best Regards, Rod
 
Grumpa72 wrote:
Why remove the transfer bar? Is there some functional reason or just because?
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The retro fit has an unpleasant feel to it, to me. Sort of a ratchety-clack sound and never seems to have as good a trigger pull. Plus its unsightly.

Bob Wright
 
You have excellent taste and a seemingly endless collection of nice revolvers. I always enjoy your pictures and your commentary.
 
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