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Old October 17, 2012, 08:52 PM   #1
Bob Wright
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Evolution of a revolver...

A few years ago a man advertised two Ruger .357 Magnum Blackhawks for sale at $200 each, I bought both. Here one is as bought, with the transfer bar retrofit:



Then I removed the transfer bar system and put it back like it was, fitted a steel Old Army grip frame, and sent it to Dave Clements for conversion to .44 Special, case coloring, and reblue. Walnuts grips by CaryC.




For the past two years it has been my "American Express (Don't leave home without it) Gun." Here, in my Bob Mernickle PS-6SA holster:



The other gun is a 6 1/2", waiting for a transformtion.

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Old October 17, 2012, 10:46 PM   #2
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beautiful rig Bob, is the conversion a new barrel & cylinder or does it get punched? sorry didnt know this process could be done but i sure like it.
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Old October 17, 2012, 11:32 PM   #3
Bill DeShivs
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Very nice!
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Old October 18, 2012, 07:23 AM   #4
vba
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Bob, I enjoy your posts and you have good taste...
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Old October 18, 2012, 09:16 AM   #5
Bob Wright
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Thank ya'll for your comments.

The conversion to .44 Special included reboring both the cylinder and barrel. The cylinder was bored then chambered for .44 Special. The barrel was bored then rifled and re-crowned.

Some 'smiths use take-off .44 Magnum barrels turned down to the smaller frame, but mine kept all original parts.

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Old October 18, 2012, 09:20 AM   #6
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thank you kind sir!!! awesome
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Old October 18, 2012, 09:32 AM   #7
Bob Wright
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One of the nice things about the single action is what you can do with one. Ruger Single Sixes can be altered from rimfire to centerfire. They can be made from six shot to five shot revolvers. Long barrels can be shortened, short barrels can be replaced with longer barrels. Hamilton Bowen even makes a multiple ejecting single action.

Plus, as is, they're just great guns!

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Old October 18, 2012, 09:58 AM   #8
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once the transfer bar was removed do you now have to once again carry on an empty cylinder?
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Old October 18, 2012, 02:23 PM   #9
Bob Wright
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Bluetip wrote:
Quote:
once the transfer bar was removed do you now have to once again carry on an empty cylinder?
Yes, it puts it back as the original three screw configuration, same as the Colts and current replicas.

The transfer bar installation, the retro fit, is an afterthought, and is not nearly so smooth as the original, or the later New Models which were designed for the transfer bar.

As for carrying an empty chamber under the hammer, that is so ingrained in me that it is a natural thing.

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Old October 18, 2012, 03:26 PM   #10
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thanks again Bob
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Old October 18, 2012, 04:18 PM   #11
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Why remove the transfer bar? Is there some functional reason or just because?
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Old October 18, 2012, 04:27 PM   #12
Venom1956
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OMG! the OLD ARMY STEEL frame can FIT the OM Blackhawk?! Why haven't I heard of this before!?
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Old October 18, 2012, 04:46 PM   #13
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Nice lookin' rig, Bob...I've wanted one of those 3-screw conversions ever since Skelton was writing about them back in the 70's...thank God, Ruger brought out the Flat Tops a cpl years ago...I can afford them now. How's the conversion shoot? I'd expect sterling results from a 'smith of that caliber. Best Regards, Rod
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Old October 18, 2012, 04:58 PM   #14
Bob Wright
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Grumpa72 wrote:
Quote:
Why remove the transfer bar? Is there some functional reason or just because?
The retro fit has an unpleasant feel to it, to me. Sort of a ratchety-clack sound and never seems to have as good a trigger pull. Plus its unsightly.

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Old October 18, 2012, 05:02 PM   #15
Bob Wright
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rodfc asks:

Quote:
How's the conversion shoot? I'd expect sterling results from a 'smith of that caliber.
Like this:



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Old October 18, 2012, 08:09 PM   #16
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You have excellent taste and a seemingly endless collection of nice revolvers. I always enjoy your pictures and your commentary.
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Old October 19, 2012, 03:38 PM   #17
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Nice Ruger.
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