Blackhawk / super blackhawk

[gsp7]

Been trying to find out the specific difference between a basic super BH and a standard BH looking at several old ruger catalogs .

Other than some supers have the square back trigger guard:

1. Is a SBH frame and top strap thicker/heavyer than a BH? Or is the cylinder itself just beefyer?

I see the SBH weights more with same barrel length as BH

2. Are "all" the SBH models Grip Frames longer than a BH?

Thanks

[AxeHandle]

Not as cut and dried as it once was... Traditionally the SBH was a 44 Mag with a unfluted cylinder, a 7.5 inch barrel, and a steel dragoon style grip frame.. This has been somewhat muddied with fluted cylinders, 4 5/8, 5.5, and 6.5 inch barrels, and Bisley and a steel XR3-RED grip frame... Additionally in the Hunter series there are 41 mag, 44 mag and 45 Colt revolvers marked as Super Blackhawks with Bisley and a grip frame the size of the original SBH dragoon but without the squared off trigger guard... Bottom line is the cylinder frames are the same for the BH and SBH....

[gsp7]

Is the round trigger guard model a short grip just like a standard BH or SAA?

And the square back trigger guard a Longer grip , long like a bisley length?

[carl]

Aug 8, 2010 13:59:34 GMT -5 gsp7 said:

Is the round trigger guard model a short grip just like a standard BH or SAA?

And the square back trigger guard a Longer grip, long like a bisley length?

The Super Blackhawks in 4-5/8" and 5-1/2" barrel versions have a steel (or stainless steel) Blackhawk/Single-Six sized grip frame. (This discussion will NOT include the recent, since 2005, introduction of the New Vaquero and Flattops.) The blued steel Blackhawks and Single-Sixes have cast aluminum grip frames of the same size/shape as the two shorter barreled Super Blackhawks.

The "square back" trigger guard grip frame is indeed longer than the Blackhawk/Single-Six grip frames. It was introduced in 1959 in conjunction with the release of the Super Blackhawk. In mid '62 the Blackhawks and Single-Sixes received a grip frame "up-grade" when the original was slightly redesigned. The original Single-Six grip frame was depicted on drawing number XR-3 and was thusly marked. In mid '62 the upgraded grip frame was named the XR3-RED with RED meaning redesigned. One fact that many shooters don't know is the XR3-RED is simply a "truncated" version of the square back trigger guard Super Blackhawk grip frame.

The Ruger Bisley grip frames weren't introduced until the early 1980's and are more like Keith's Number 5 grip frame than they are to the Colt Bisley design. The Bisley and the square backed Super Blackhawk styles are definitely larger than the traditional "plow handle" styles.

www.gunblast.com hosts a very informative article, including images, about Ruger Grip Frames. Authored by Mr. Bill Hamm, with assistance from Boge Quinn, it can be found in the Collectors' Corner section of the web site.

Carl

PS All the facts and pictures in the world won't truthfully describe the differences. You NEED to find a big gun shop or a big gun show so you can handle the myriad of sizes and shapes.......

[AxeHandle]

Unless you have a Hunter SBH... Your best bet is to read this:

www.gunblast.com/Hamm_Ruger-SA-GripFrames.htm

[gsp7]

Thanks guys

I was searching gunbroker, etc for blackhawk 4 5/8" 45 colt with a bisley grip. I dont think it was ever produced

I saw a 4 5/8" bisley blackhawk in 44 sp though

So blackhawks have a aluminum grip frame unless its a bisley(steel) sound like...

[Boge Quinn]

Aug 8, 2010 14:38:40 GMT -5 AxeHandle said:

Unless you have a Hunter SBH... Your best bet is to read this:

www.gunblast.com/Hamm_Ruger-SA-GripFrames.htm

Thanks, Axe!

[caryc]

Aug 8, 2010 13:59:34 GMT -5 gsp7 said:

Is the round trigger guard model a short grip just like a standard BH or SAA?

And the square back trigger guard a Longer grip , long like a bisley length?

The Super Blackhawk Dragoon style square back trigger guard frames are 1/4" longer than the XR3-RED Blackhawk frames.

4 5/8 & 5 ½ short barrel supers have same grips frame as the Vaq / Blackhawk original models. This would be the XR3-RED in the drawings.

Long barrel 7 ½ & 10 ½ supers have the dragoon style grip frame with the square back trigger guard.

Hunter model has same type grip frame as the dragoon but with the round trigger guard.

[caryc]

Here is another drawing comparing the Super Blackhawk grip to the Bisley grip.

[AxeHandle]

BH = Steel GF? Yes and no... Stainless BHs have a stainless steel GF. The Buckeye Sports convertibles have steel GFs.. The anniversary FTs and all the FT 44 Specials have steel GFs...

[bisleyfan41]

Aug 8, 2010 15:06:29 GMT -5 gsp7 said:

I was searching gunbroker, etc for blackhawk 4 5/8" 45 colt with a bisley grip.

The quickest road to the gun you want is to buy a 7.5" 45 Bisley and have the barrel cut to length.

[gsp7]

Aug 9, 2010 14:06:55 GMT -5 bisleyfan41 said:

The quickest road to the gun you want is to buy a 7.5" 45 Bisley and have the barrel cut to length.

Yea , I was thinking that also , looking at the price of a bisley grip frame

Is the Ruger front sight silver soldered or screwed


.

[bisleyfan41]

It's silver soldered on. Your gunsmith can install a new base by either method post-shortening. Perhaps even one with removeable blades. Not prohibitively expensive, either. John Gallagher lists a price of $150 for the cut/crown and installation of the front sight.

[CraigC]

Yep, it costs only about half as much to shorten a barrel compared to $300 for a Bisley conversion, plus grips.