...and then there was two...3-Screws

[rjm52]

1957 Flat Top...seller said it came in large collection that had been in storage for a long time. No clue who shortened the barrel but was just what I was looking for. Other than a couple of dings to the ERH it barely looks shot.. Came with the original very nicely figured walnut stocks. These are a set that were on a .357 Flat Top I purchased a couple of years ago..














1972 Super Blackhawk...was a one owner gun. Seller said the guy was 94 years old. Gun came in the original box with the original 7.5" barrel. The barrel crown on both barrels looks the same as does front sight placement. VERY deep bright blue.. Unfortunately the dealer would not contact the original owner to find out how the shorted barrel got on it...again, just what I would have liked to do to a SBH...











...no collector value but great Packin' Pistols....

[1horseman]

Very nice indeed. Living in the middle of nowhere is nice for peace and quiet, but I can never run into something like this. I'd love to have one of these.

[rjm52]

GunBroker is your friend... Both these came off that site...

Looking at local shops...better luck buying lotto tickets...

[contender]

Nice pair!!!!!!!!!

I'd say that FT .44 was most likely a 6-1/2" barrel originally.

[rjm52]

...probably was... According to the books I have the 7.5", while a "stock" item, was actually produced in less numbers than the 10"... The same reference book said that no known FT or Super Blackhawk .44s ever left the factory with a 4 5/8" barrel.

About 15 years ago I found a 6.5" in a local shop that was worn smooth to the touch...50+% of the bluing was gone...but looked like it had never been fired. Locked up tight as a Freedom Arms... My guess was it had been a Maine guides gun. Three years ago I bought a very blue worn S&W 6" Model 57 1964 first year of production...was in the original presentation case and the factory Coke grips were PERFECT. The shop said a 90 year old Maine bear guide sold it to them. He had bought it brand new and put Pachmayer grips on it storing the case and grips away... Gun spent most of it's life in a holster and had only been fired a few times...

Bob

[contender]

If you give me the serial number,, I can tell you a little more about the FT. I can see it's a 4-digit. The 7-1/2" (BKH-47) & the 10" (BKH-40) didn't come out until they were into a 5-digit serial number. They built about 1500 each of the 7-1/2's & 10" ones. Or about 10% of the total .44 FT production. Total production was 29860 guns.

[rjm52]

5600...

Says 1957 in the book I have.

#2 EJECTOR ROD HOUSING AND BUTTON IIRC

[drycreek]

Good finds ! I like the grip panels on both, but especially the Flat Top. 

[contender]

You are correct,, 1957.
A Type 2 BKH-46. Should have a large concave ER button, an offset ERH, (which it has according to the picture,) Early Blackhawk narrow band base pin,, (which it also appears to have,) so it looks very good.

Enjoy shooting it!

[rjm52]

Just been too cold and windy to go and enjoy first shots from the gun...

Have two loads:
MP Mold 260 Keith 10.0 Unique/1120
Accurate Mold 230 WFP 8.0 Unique/930

Haven't really shot .44 in a LONG time... Picked up a NIB (unfired) S&W 629-5 Classic (2001 pre-IL) last summer and have been so busy with other things it never made it to the range either.

...so a .44 Day is coming...

[bobwright]

Feb 14, 2024 22:02:09 GMT -5 contender said:

Nice pair!!!!!!!!!

I'd say that FT .44 was most likely a 6-1/2" barrel originally.

More than likely. But the Stoeger catalong did list barrels of 7 1/2" and 10 1/2" lengths.

And, correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't the Flat Top .44 Magnums and Super Blackhawks offered concurrently for a brief time? Seems I remember both being displayed in the Shooter's Bible.


Bob Wright

[rjm52]

Several years...1959 to 63 maybe... Friend has my book so I am going from memory...

[contender]

Yes Bob,, Ruger did offer barrels in 7-1/2" & 10". But well AFTER his 4-digit gun shown.

And yes,, the FT Blackhawk in .44 was still in production when the Super Blackhawk was introduced.
The last FT .44's were done in 1962, and the first Supers were done in 1959.

[rjm52]

Got to shoot the BH and SBH side by side yesterday...and the BH won.... Same barrel length, about the same trigger pull, main difference was the grips/gripframe...and I've always loved the SBH and disliked the XR-3...

Well with the fatter custom stocks it fit the hand just fine and for whatever reason when I fired the SBH the inside of the triggerguard bruised the trigger finger joint... One of my friends has been wanting the SBH and as I only "need" one SA .44 it will be going to him...

The 10.0 grains of UNIQUE with a 260 Keith at 1120 was just perfect for the gun...not at all unpleasant to shoot and plenty of power for what I need...

[contender]

I often tell folks that a set of properly fitting grips can make a big difference. Apparently,, the XR3 with the different grips fit you!!

And that's with the XR3 g/f!!

The SBH,, luckily,, they aren't a problem in my hands,, so that wouldn't be a reason to sell one. As for "need" I don't NEED any more guns,, but there are several I want! Need NEVER makes me sell a gun!

That way,, I don't have any "seller remorse" when it come to any guns I now own!