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Post by Grumpybuzzard on Mar 30, 2024 19:56:08 GMT -5
New here and thanks for having me. Bob
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Newbie
Mar 30, 2024 21:06:04 GMT -5
Post by harveylogan on Mar 30, 2024 21:06:04 GMT -5
Welcome,
I think you’re referring to the Medallion? Picture would help… eah?
The Old Model 45 Blackhawk, the early guns, very few, had what is referred to as BlackBirds , the bird is a painted black bird. The later guns had what is referred to as Squashed Birds, this is where the bird is a bright silver bird that looks flat or “squashed” with a “SR” in the bird. The squashed was the first variation of a Silver bird with black background, until the SR was dropped to just the R, that we have currently.
The escutcheons should be blue along with a blue screw & Walnut panels. If either escutcheons or screw is “silver” in color, they are most likely later grips, and who knows why or when the grips were changed out,,, but it happens. As for where the split in the style of the medallion is way above my enthusiast class knowledge, we’re going to have to get a “Collector” for that detailed info…🙄
It should be noted that the 45 & 45/45acp Old Model Blackhawk was made for only 3 years.
Manufactured from 1971 to 1973 45 Colt Serial Year 45-00001 1971 45-13201 1972 45-21804 1973
PS,,, we like pictures of old 45’s…😁
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Newbie
Mar 30, 2024 21:18:39 GMT -5
Post by contender on Mar 30, 2024 21:18:39 GMT -5
"Welcome knuckcrazy!"
harveylogan,, not sure of why you added this info to his post.
But since you've brought up the various medallion changes in the OM .45's,, I can help a bit. Yes,, during the early 1970's,, as Ruger decided to change the medallions from a recessed black eagle to a raised silver eagle you can get a cross over of them. Why? Well, it was whatever was in the parts bins as they assembled them. So an overlapping occurred, and not a defining way to say exactly when the "last" black, recessed eagles were used, and the new raised silver eagles came about. And yes,, the early silver raised eagles did have an appearance of being "squashed" and are commonly called "Squashed chickens." And yes,, the grip screw escutcheons & screws did change as well. Again, a parts bin change as Bill decided to change them.
And since we are discussing the OM .45's,, there were (6) variations during the 3 years of production. BKH-44 BKH-45 BKH-44X BKH-45X BKH-44B BKH-45B.
And as for production years to clarify a bit,, as it sometimes confuses folks who use the Ruger website info. 1971 Serial number 45-00001 to 45-13200 1972 Serial number 45-13201 to 45-21803 1973 Serial number 45-21804 to 45-23031.
And to add a little more. There are fewer OM .45 Rugers than the OM Flattop .44 mags.
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Newbie
Mar 30, 2024 21:29:54 GMT -5
Post by Grumpybuzzard on Mar 30, 2024 21:29:54 GMT -5
I asked a question and ended up erasing it some how, sorry. My .45's are all "72" models for some reason. I have multiple Revolvers with one or the other and I was wondering if real or aftermarket. I was wondering about the logos (Medalions) Attachments:
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Post by x101airborne on Mar 31, 2024 5:07:09 GMT -5
Welcome to the finest sight for firearm enthusiasts.
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Post by 45MAN on Mar 31, 2024 7:18:52 GMT -5
gb: WELCOME AND PLEASE SHARE SUCH HARD EARNED GUN EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE YOU MAY HAVE.
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Post by drycreek on Mar 31, 2024 10:07:10 GMT -5
Welcome Sir !
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Post by harveylogan on Mar 31, 2024 10:12:14 GMT -5
Top one appears to be “Squashed” as the “SR” appears to be faint, or filled in, sort of, very typical of this Medallion. The Bottom is definitely the early Blackbird. Both would be factory, and Correct. The Bottom set of grips appear to be light in tone, maybe refinished. Contender provided some good info as the the change over, I don’t think there is a known break point and as mentioned I have seen both on various guns, But the early SN# guns tend to have the Blackbird. With that said, AND you having one of each, if it were me, I would have the Blackbird grips on the earlier of the two. It makes no sense to me WHY?… the BIRD,,, is called Eagle or especially a Chicken… ? Sturm Ruger never made anything called Eagle or Chicken, lots of various Hawks,,, never made a OLD MODEL Vaquero either…🙄 But we all know better … eah? ,,, me just being CRANKY.
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Newbie
Mar 31, 2024 10:13:48 GMT -5
Post by contender on Mar 31, 2024 10:13:48 GMT -5
Ok,, NOW I know why the response seemed to be unusual! No worries!!! I'm a bit of a collector of Rugers,, and one of my favorite models is the OM .45's. I've done a few displays of the 6 variations. And even among us picky & detail orientated collectors,, we don't consider a difference in the grip medallions as a variation. All because we know that sometimes a simple part like that can show up on a much later variation due to it being in the bottom of a parts bin,, and newer parts getting put in on top of older ones. They interchange, and the factory wasn't concerned about such minor things. Now,, the top photo of your grip with the raised silver eagle is not of the "squashed chickens" version. It is a later variation, and likely has been swapped onto that gun. It is a set of factory grips,, but just a bit later vintage of medallion than 1972.
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Post by harveylogan on Mar 31, 2024 10:27:40 GMT -5
Close up of a Squashed… These 2 are both Squashed and the faint “red” (bottom set) is reflection of the shirt I was wearing…🙄
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Post by harveylogan on Mar 31, 2024 10:40:12 GMT -5
This Medallion is IN MY OPINION the best of the best, early very thin wings, thin neck, detailed head and good eye. These are in an early set of contoured 44 flattop grips. Here is a set of later New Model era medallions, also notice the the silver escutcheons & screw.
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Newbie
Mar 31, 2024 10:57:46 GMT -5
Post by Grumpybuzzard on Mar 31, 2024 10:57:46 GMT -5
Thanks all, It's all in the details. I will investigate further and try to get the correct grips sorted out on the correct Revolvers. I am fairly knowledgeable on my other hobby (vintage Harleys) but am a green horn on Ruger's. I just know what I fell in love with and that was .45LC 3 screw 4 5/8" barrel Ruger Revolver. So I have a posting question, how do you post those large pictures, I read help topics but didn't see anything.
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Post by harveylogan on Mar 31, 2024 11:19:42 GMT -5
Picture size is in you camera settings your taking ~ 200x200, The smallest I use is 600x800 sometime bigge4 when detail is important. As for Old Model 45 Colt, I can’t leave good stuff alone and like to make them mine. The Extra Fancy Walnuts were from Lett circa 2007. FWIW; This gun has a lot more wear than this particular picture shows.
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Post by zeus on Mar 31, 2024 11:58:33 GMT -5
Picture size is in you camera settings your taking ~ 200x200, The smallest I use is 600x800 sometime bigge4 when detail is important. As for Old Model 45 Colt, I can’t leave good stuff alone and like to make them mine. The Extra Fancy Walnuts were from Lett circa 2007. FWIW; This gun has a lot more wear than this particular picture shows. That gun looks really familiar. Did you fit that frame to that gun or was it like that when you got it? Looks like one of my old guns from about 2006 or so
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Post by harveylogan on Mar 31, 2024 12:07:01 GMT -5
Zeus, That gun did come from you, ~2007. came with the Clement’s Hammer/Trigger. I did refit and flatten out the Brass Grip frame, fit the panels and added a Micro rear sight, Steel ERH and dimpled ERB.
You can attest to the blueing wear, it’s just the way I like em. Still one of my favorites, GREAT SHOOTER!!
That’s CrAzY you still remember 16+ years … 😀 That particular picture is ~14 years right after I finished it up, now the brass has some of the best patina.
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