ruger single action

1chig

New member
Ok Guys, what is the difference between the blackhawk, super blackhawk and vaquero as compared to the new model of the same. as far as grip fitment?
 
The Blackhawk and the "old" Vaquero take the same grips.

The New Vaquero takes somewhat smaller grips similar to the ones
on the original very early Blackhawk, which dimensionally were nearly the
same as a Colt SAA.

The Super Blackhawk grips are totally a different fit and longer altogether.

That's if my memory hasn't gone completely haywire.
 
The grips are the same for comparable Old Model/New Model and Vaqueros.

EXCEPT: The original Ruger Single Actions had the XR-3 grip frames, and were similar in size and profile to the Colt Single Actions. Around 1963 the grip frame was changed to the XR-3RED, and this size was continued into the New Model series as well as the Vaquero.

The New Vaquero and Fiftieth Anniversary Models reverted to nearly the same as the XR-3, but grips are not interchangable due to different locations of the locating pin.

A few Single Six guns in .32 H&R Magnum had smaller grip frames than the standard XR-3RED.

The Super Blackhawk has remained pretty well unchanged except for some very early ones that were about 1/4" longer.

And now we have to contend with Birdhead grip frames.


See?


Bob Wright
 
The Super Blackhawk comes with the Dragoon frame and longer grips on the 7.5" and 10.5" models the 4.62" and 5.5" use the standard Blackhawk frame and grips.

Dana
 
My NMBH Flat Tops, one 44 Special and one 6 1/2" 41 Magnum, use the same size grip as my New Vaquero. The XR3 off my Single Seven didn't fit. My NMBH 41 Mag in 4 5/8 (not flat top) uses the XR3.
 
I've been confused about sizes myself.

All I know for certain is that my long 90's "old" Ruger Vaquero has the same grip frame, cylinder size, and frame as a Ruger Superblackhawk. As far as I can tell it is exactly like a Ruger Superblackhawk from the 90's except without flattop frame and adjustable sights. My buddy's new vaquero is smaller in both grip frame, cylinder, and frame.
 
One small point: the Super Blackhawk was never a Flat Top. It has the ribbed top strap, and in fact, introduced that feature.

Bob Wright
 
New Vaquero .357 (made in February)
OM Blackhawk .357 (bought it new in 1968)

The NV grip is slimmer that the BH:

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One more thing... All the New Model Blackhawks, Super Blackhawks, and original Vaqueros share the same cylinder frame and cylinder. Called the large frame. Grip frames and hammers are interchangeable on the frame. The .44Mag 50th Anniversary flattop is also on this frame (think there is a .41 Mag out there floating around too). Any .44Mag that is floating around out there is on the large frame. No exceptions.

The there is the medium frame which is used for the New Vaquero and a few of the new 'flattops'. For example I just got a new 5 1/2" .357/9mm flattop from Lipseys. And the catalogued .44 Special BH flattop. Lipseys also made a run or two of .45 Colt/45 ACP flattops. The OM (three screw) .357s were all medium frames too.

Then there are the small frame, for the .22 Single Six, .17, .327 Single Seven, and .32 H&R mag Single Six.

Note that most all (if not all) the GRIP frames can be interchanged on all of the above frames. That is NM grip frames to NM frames.


Finally, the Bearcat .22 which has the smallest frame all to itself.
 
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The XR3 off my Single Seven didn't fit. My NMBH 41 Mag in 4 5/8 (not flat top) uses the XR3.
jackmoser65 - Negative, both guns use the XR3-RED pattern.

Negative. That's out of context. The Single Seven grip did not fit my Flat Top 44 Special.

I don't know about -RED. The grips are marked either XR3 or NVB.
 
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Negative. That's out of context. The Single Seven grip did not fit my Flat Top 44 Special.

I don't know about -RED. The grips are marked either XR3 or NVB.
What???

The Single Seven and NMBH .41mag use the same grip frame and the same grips. It is the XR3-RED pattern regardless of what is stamped on it.

ALL New Model "flat top" Blackhawk and New Vaquero models use the same grips. The grips from which will not fit the Single Seven or NMBH .41 (non flat top).
 
Negative. That's out of context. The Single Seven grip did not fit my Flat Top 44 Special.

I don't know about -RED. The grips are marked either XR3 or NVB.
What???

The Single Seven and NMBH .41mag use the same grip frame and the same grips. It is the XR3-RED pattern regardless of what is stamped on it.

ALL New Model "flat top" Blackhawk and New Vaquero models use the same grips. The grips from which will not fit the Single Seven or NMBH .41 (non flat top).

Nothing there that disagrees. Restate it as you wish.
 
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