Opinions on modifying a Buckeye Blackhawk .32-20/.32 H&R

[bcelliott]

Many moons ago, I bought a new Buckeye .32, never shot it, needed money, and sold it.  I've kicked myself ever since.  Today, I finally got one in my hands again.  It appears unfired, with a slight turn line on the .32-20 cylinder, and no line on the .32 H&R cylinder.  Finish is 99+%, box has all papers, but is missing the outer cardboard cover.  Serial number is low--in the 300 range, and I got a pretty good deal...$720.  I know this Blackhawk is collectible, but I've missed for a long time the one I sold, and I got this one to shoot.  I already have an S7, a 5" GP100 half lug, and an 8-shot Blackhawk, all three in .327 Federal, so the Buckeye will be used mostly for heavy .32-20 handloads.

The trigger on this Buckeye is quite heavy, and needs to be worked on.  I'd like to ream the .32 mag cylinder to .327, and I'm aware that, done correctly, neither of these two mods should affect the value.  However, I had forgotten how narrow the Buckeye grips were across the top, even compared to my .327 Blackhawk, and it is very difficult to get a good grip on the Buckeye.  What I would like to do is send this convertible to Jack Huntington, have him ream the .32 mag cylinder (with no visible changes to the roll mark, etc.), adjust the barrel-cylinder gap to ~0.002" and install a Bisley gripframe, hammer, and trigger with an action job, and possibly add a Bowen rear sight and a proper height 2Dogs front.

My question is:  If I were to keep the original grip frame, trigger, and hammer to reinstall were it necessary, would the above modifications hurt the value of this revolver?  Ultimately, this concern is secondary to my intended usage of the gun as a shooter, but I don't intend to abuse the gun.  Frankly, I've thought about Bisley-fying my 8-shot .327 Blackhawk as well.  Am I way off base here?  Any opinions are welcome, especially from those of you who have owned one of these guns.

[leadhound]

my personal view only

any modifications done ceases all collector value to me, even if it enhances it, not factory not original. But im not a collector, more of a gatherer. How many "unturned" colts do you see for sale, damn thing could be a movie prop. Any work done will only be valued by you and whomever does the work. The next guy might value it based on who did the work. could always find a beater Bisley for cheap, new barrel and new cylinder. like I said im not a collector but anything that is not unfired/unturned/mint to me is used. But as the Buckeyes are rare birds, they will hold some value regardless of condition.

[Encore64]

Ill start off as Leadhound and say "my opinion only."

I'd fix my gun just the way I wanted it. If you want the gun fixed as a Bisley, then do it.

I'll be #%&%$!! If I'm going to have a "collectors gun" and die for someone else to enjoy.

Most of the good gunsmith's guns go for more $$ than the Buckeyes anyways. Keep you receipt in the box and have a "JRH Custom Buckeye."

[Fowler]

Well I have a Bisleyized Buckeye and it’s a fun fun to shoot. A bit heavy, but shoots very well.

First off the value above other Buckeye’s is it’s condition and that it is unfired, you’ve decided already to shoot it so we won’t worry about that. Afterwards it’s just your gun, you won’t get your money invested in parts and labor back out of it down the road as a custom piece since you won’t increasing the value so why worry about it? Make it the gun you like and shoot the heck out of it. I find mine thrives on stupidly heavy loads I’d never put in any other 32 and is virtually recoiled from the weight. It’s a great companion piece when shooting my heavy Bisleys and might need to settle down a bit from heavy recoil. Couple cylinders in it and I get back to proper trigger pulls again.

YMMV

[jgt]

I would keep the Buckeye with no modifications unless they were extra parts that could be removed to put the gun factory right again. Gunsmithing internals to enhance mechanics or tolerances should not detract from the value. Then shoot and enjoy it. Sort of the best of both worlds. A gun that is shot and taken care of is not that much less in value from one that is a true safe queen. I have rare Smith & Wesson guns that I shoot when I like and I don't care what they sell for after I am gone. I know one thing, it will be much more than I paid for them and I got to enjoy them while they resided with me.

[bradshaw]

Sept 6, 2019 7:07:17 GMT -5 Fowler said:

Well I have a Bisleyized Buckeye and it’s a fun fun to shoot. A bit heavy, but shoots very well.

First off the value above other Buckeye’s is it’s condition and that it is unfired, you’ve decided already to shoot it so we won’t worry about that. Afterwards it’s just your gun, you won’t get your money invested in parts and labor back out of it down the road as a custom piece since you won’t increasing the value so why worry about it? Make it the gun you like and shoot the heck out of it. I find mine thrives on stupidly heavy loads I’d never put in any other 32 and is virtually recoiled from the weight. It’s a great companion piece when shooting my heavy Bisleys and might need to settle down a bit from heavy recoil. Couple cylinders in it and I get back to proper trigger pulls again.

YMMV

*****

Bill raises a point about a specialty gun: it is built to fill a performance need. For Bill, an aspect of this need----and this certainly falls within the definition of necessity----to TUNE TRIGGER SQUEEZE. While a macho layman may not grasp this simple reality, a sharpshooter certainly does: meditative exercise tones nerves. Nerves control muscle. Recoil interrupts muscle memory. A revolver which tones coordinations of marksmanship brings smoothness to all shooting.

It is not necessary for a tuning firearm to mimic the feel of your cannon. That is akin to telling a dog one thing while your body language says something else. Seeing your body language, the animal reads your verbal lie. In fact, I do not want a gun to pretend what it is not. Good exercise conserves MUSCLE TONE, that is the memory to transfer.
David Bradshaw

[contender]

I'm a shooter AND a collector.
As a collector,, a complete package, (or as close as I can get) as shipped from the factory is highly desirable. As a shooter,, I like to have a clean action so that the loose nut behind the trigger, (me) is to blame when a miss happens.
If I read your post correctly,, you are wanting to have the action smoothed up, and the chamber reamed. Neither one will detract from the value.
If you then only do the parts swapping,, and keep all the original parts,, to where it can be re-converted to an "as shipped" condition,, again,, value would not suffer.
The only things I see as a possible detractor would be the adjustment of the barrel cylinder gap & the addition of the (great) 2dogs front sight. That would require a re-blue if I understand it all correctly. As such,, there goes the collector value.

When I do display shows with my Rugers,, the judges look at many things,, and originality is one of them.

You will spend a fair amount to get the work done,, then you will be reducing the value to a shooter grade gun,, and a future buyer may not want your choices of modifications. JMO!!!!!!!!

[crash87]

You already have a few 327's, why do you want another? you also state you want to keep it, more so to shoot as a 32/20. You now have a 32/20 and a 32 H&R, this, to go along with your multiple 327"s. Collector value? dang I hate that word, get a trigger job for sure, if you want a bisley gripframe? do it. Things like that can be changed back if need be, to keep, somewhat, some value to a "collector"'
BTW I do not own any collectable rugers, to me there are none. so I am of no value other than an opinion.
Enjoy your Buckeye, however configuration you decide on.
crash87

[bushog]

It's could only change the value several hundred $$......

If that's a problem....

[potatojudge]

I'd have grips made to my specifications. Gotta decide what you like best in a plow handle and give that a go.

Action work is a definite yes. Bowen rear, yes. If you're gonna tighten the BC gap and do a new front sight, I might have a new or take-off barrel fit and screw Fermin's front on. Reversion for a collector is easy then, which would help a sale.

Ream the cylinder or have a new one made. A triple cylinder gun won't make your money back, but it'd speed up a sale for the cool factor.

Were it mine, I'd do a bisley or SBH hammer but keep the current grip frame.

[taffin]

Sept 5, 2019 22:46:25 GMT -5 bcelliott said:

Many moons ago, I bought a new Buckeye .32, never shot it, needed money, and sold it.  I've kicked myself ever since.  Today, I finally got one in my hands again.  It appears unfired, with a slight turn line on the .32-20 cylinder, and no line on the .32 H&R cylinder.  Finish is 99+%, box has all papers, but is missing the outer cardboard cover.  Serial number is low--in the 300 range, and I got a pretty good deal...$720.  I know this Blackhawk is collectible, but I've missed for a long time the one I sold, and I got this one to shoot.  I already have an S7, a 5" GP100 half lug, and an 8-shot Blackhawk, all three in .327 Federal, so the Buckeye will be used mostly for heavy .32-20 handloads.

The trigger on this Buckeye is quite heavy, and needs to be worked on.  I'd like to ream the .32 mag cylinder to .327, and I'm aware that, done correctly, neither of these two mods should affect the value.  However, I had forgotten how narrow the Buckeye grips were across the top, even compared to my .327 Blackhawk, and it is very difficult to get a good grip on the Buckeye.  What I would like to do is send this convertible to Jack Huntington, have him ream the .32 mag cylinder (with no visible changes to the roll mark, etc.), adjust the barrel-cylinder gap to ~0.002" and install a Bisley gripframe, hammer, and trigger with an action job, and possibly add a Bowen rear sight and a proper height 2Dogs front.

My question is:  If I were to keep the original grip frame, trigger, and hammer to reinstall were it necessary, would the above modifications hurt the value of this revolver?  Ultimately, this concern is secondary to my intended usage of the gun as a shooter, but I don't intend to abuse the gun.  Frankly, I've thought about Bisley-fying my 8-shot .327 Blackhawk as well.  Am I way off base here?  Any opinions are welcome, especially from those of you who have owned one of these guns.

IF YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT RETAINING VALUE--SELL IT NOW! HOWEVER IF YOU KEEP IT FIX IT THE WAY YOU WANT IT INSTEAD OF WORRYING ABOUT FUTURE VALUE.

[z1r]

Sept 6, 2019 11:23:27 GMT -5 taffin said:

Sept 5, 2019 22:46:25 GMT -5 bcelliott said:

IF YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT RETAINING VALUE--SELL IT NOW! HOWEVER IF YOU KEEP IT FIX IT THE WAY YOU WANT IT INSTEAD OF WORRYING ABOUT FUTURE VALUE.

Agreed. You will get more enjoyment out of a revolver you want to shoot than you will lose in perceived "collector" value.

[bullseye]

Fix it up the way you want & enjoy it! As far as I'm concerned, any of the guns with the hideous lawyer billboard are fair game for modifications.

[z1r]

When those Buckeye's first came out I was still in college and couldn't afford one. So, I made due with my Single Six 32 H&R. Shortly after I got married a CAS buddy of mine found out I lusted after one and offered to sell me his, NIB, for a song. Unfortunately, my wife had a serious injury and we had to relocate so she could go through more than 6 months of intense PT to regain the use of her hand/arm.

So, not too long ago I came across a Blackhawk in .327 and snatched it up.

If I ever have the opportunity to acquire a Buckeye .32, .32/20, I'd be happy to leave it as is. That said, I'm a shooter, not a collector and any firearm I acquire is subject to modification if it suits me.

Keep us posted.

[eliminator]

I would follow through on your plans to make it into the revolver you envision. To me, that is truly where the value and enjoyment would lie. If it were a Picasso, I would pause, but not in this case.😁