First single action: 1958 flattop Blackhawk

B

Balog

New member
My "new" Ruger Blackhawk 3 screw flattop. Some good honest holster wear and a solid turn ring but it locks up tight and has a nice smooth trigger pull. Not as crisp as the SA pull on an old competition tuned Dan Wesson 19 I used to own, but quite nice. Guy said it was 50's vintage. Looks like 1956-58, per this as it has a concave ejector button.

http://www.gunblast.com/Hamm_357-Flattop.htm

Serial is 128XX, no transfer bar, marked Southport Conn and has an Allen head screw in the rear sight to adjust and the rear sight is stamped "Micro" in cursive script. Holster is SD Myers El Paso Texas, and in the same "solid shape thats obviously been well used" condition. Sorry for the ugly pics, quickie cell phone deal.


http://i.imgur.com/0SjA2ji.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/oGrjXKw.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/HOcqSIc.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/D3WAcBh.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/EPYq8xJ.jpg

Edit: looked up the S/N and it's definitely a 1958.
 
Nice. Nothing wrong with a well used revolver that still functions well.

That's one you should enjoy shooting for years without worrying about hurting collectability.

I'm guessing (could be wrong) that the barrel may have been cut down as it's my understanding that most of the earlier 44 flat tops had 6 1/2" barrels.

Nice mod IMO, as I like the look and handling of the shorter barrel.

Nice score on the holster as well.
 
Actually it's the .357 not the .44 so I think the barrel may be original length. Although I am intrigued by the .45LC conversions that one can apparently do to these.
 
Just to implant an itch, here's my ex-.357 Three Screw Blackhawk converted to .44 Special by Dave Clements. Grip frame is steel from an Old Army, walnut grips by Cary Chapman.




And, my own .357 Flat Top, bought new May of 1958:



Mesquite grips by Cary Chapman.

Just to help you get the "urge."

Incidentally, steel grip frames for Three Screw guns are getting hard to come by. Dave Clements sells a trigger that allows New Model grip frames to be adapted to Three Screw guns.

Bob Wright
 
When I wore the original cylinder out on my first Blackhawk, I used the 9mm. one that it came with to convert it to .44 spec. Wouldn't part with it for 3 times what it's worth.
 
I have been looking for a 357 mag Blackhawk recently, and I am kind of shocked at how expensive they have become.
Even a used Blackhawk showing finish wear seems to be around $400, and MSRP on a new one is $600.
I am old enough to remember when the Blackhawk was touted as an economical magnum alternative...What the heck happened???
 
My conversion was on a Three Screw Blackhawk .357 Magnum, a medium sized frome. The .357 Magnum cylinder is rebored and chambered for the larger cartridge, .44 Special or .45 Colt. My original barrel was rebored to .429" dia. Dave Clements buffs off the original caliber marking and marks the correct cartridge.

These old Rugers have the same barel threads as a Colt, not sure which vintage and Colt barrels of the same caliber may be fitted. Also, New Model barrels of correct caliber for the conversion may be turned down for the mid-sized frame. It all depends on what is available and which way you and your gunsmith want to go.

As to my Ruger, a steel Old Army grip frame was fitted and blued as well as sending the gun to Doug Turnbull for case coloring.

So, to answer the question, it can be fairly simple or very involved, dependoing on your wants.

Bob Wright
 
Great choice for a first single action! The old flat-top .357's are perhaps the best platform for that cartridge.....among others.

Although I don't think that's the right holster for your sixgun. It's a great old piece as well, probably for a 4" DA.

These are wonderful guns to convert to other chamberings like .41Spl, .41Mag, .38-40, 10mm, .44Spl, .44-40, .45ACP and .45Colt. The .44Spl is particularly popular and probably the best of the bunch. It's much more efficient and is able to stretch its legs nicely, right up to the 1200fps Keith load. The .45Colt being hamstrung with a cavernous case capacity but 22,000psi pressure ceiling.

Personally, I wouldn't do much farting around with take-off or Colt barrels or even reboring for that matter. A new barrel made from premium stock costs little more than any of those options and is a better result. They shoot much more consistently than factory barrels and you're not waiting on 3rd party lead time as you are with rebores. Colt 3rd generation barrels have the same thread pitch but New Frontier barrels are scarce (relatively common for the coarser 2nd generation pitch) and expensive. Plus they have Colt markings and I really don't care for the NF front sight.
 
Caliber conversions are pretty expensive, Clements standard job is $850.

I think I could be content with a Flattop reissue in .44 Spl or .45/.45 and a trigger job.
 
Welcome DaveErdley!

Feel free to start your own thread...this one was from Aug 2013 and there's a lot of baggage associated with it.

I'd say start a new thread with a picture of your new purchase.
 
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