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Old October 13, 2012, 06:48 PM   #1
obamasucks760
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Old vs new style blackhawks

How do you tell the difference between an old style and a new style Ruger Blackhawk
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Old October 13, 2012, 07:09 PM   #2
savit260
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Three screws on the side of the frame for the Old Model, and two pins through the side of the frame for a New Model.

Old Models will have a 1/2 cock position... New Models won't.
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Old October 13, 2012, 07:34 PM   #3
jrothWA
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Also, the OM blackhawk...

is direct contact with primers, NM has transfer bar, (this allow full cylinder loading for NM whereas the OM MUST be loaded in FIVE chambers and carried on the EMPTY chamber of the cylinder.

Ruger DOES have a parts kit that converts the OM into a transfer bar system, it MUST be a factory install to keep timing the same.
Contact Ruger for more info. (Might have a nominal charge.)
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Old October 13, 2012, 08:00 PM   #4
Bob Wright
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If you do send in a Three Screw Ruger for the transfer bar instalation, remove all the original internal parts. Ruger says they will return the original parts, but sometimes they get "lost."

Unconverted Three Screw Rugers are far more valuable from the collector's standpoint, and most serious shooters also prefer them.

If you are a novice shooter, you are better off with a New Model, rather than converting a Three Screw Model. Converted guns usually have very rough trigger pulls, also often develop timing problems. I had one Super Blackhawk converted and never had it "right." Also bought two used Blackhawks that had been converted and they never had the right "feel" to them. Was able to un-convert them, but original parts are getting scarce, and expensive.

Unconverted Rugers, like Colts, Ubertis, Virginians, Dakotas, and Abilenes are old time single actions and require careful handling to be safe. If you are willing to learn and practice handling these single actions, there are none better for sporting use.

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Old October 13, 2012, 08:06 PM   #5
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My oldest brother dropped one of the Old Model Rugers while we were out shooting one day and it fired as it hit the ground. Still have no clue where that .357 bullet went.
But considering where we were standing and where it fell (between us), it was about 50 - 50 it could have hit one of us.
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Old October 14, 2012, 11:35 PM   #6
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That would be why you carry the three screw on an empty chamber.
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Old October 15, 2012, 05:04 AM   #7
Hal
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Quote:
Unconverted Rugers, like Colts, Ubertis, Virginians, Dakotas, and Abilenes are old time single actions and require careful handling to be safe
My Virginian Dragoon - if that's what you refer to when you say "Virginians", has an inertial firing pin.
It's perfectly safe to carry it full up 6.
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Old October 15, 2012, 07:00 AM   #8
IDAHOMIKE
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Savit covered it well. To me, the OM versions are much better handling than the average New Model. I am perfectly happy with either, however, given the choice I would always favor the unconverted Old Models.
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Old October 15, 2012, 12:17 PM   #9
Bob Wright
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Hal wrote:
Quote:
My Virginian Dragoon - if that's what you refer to when you say "Virginians", has an inertial firing pin.
It's perfectly safe to carry it full up 6.
The Virginan and the Virginian Dragoon are entirely two different revovlvers, both from Interarms. The Virginian was made in Switzerland by Hammerli, while the Dragoon was made in Alexandria, Virginia by Interarms.
The Virginian was a very close copy of the Colt Single Action, while the Dragoon was more akin to a Ruger Super Blackhawk, larger and heavier, and a very robust revovler.

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Old October 18, 2012, 09:27 AM   #10
Bob Wright
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I found a good detailed difference between the Virginian and the Virginian Dragoon. Here 'tis:

http://http://singleactions.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=sas&action=display&thread=8926

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Old October 18, 2012, 08:42 PM   #11
savit260
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Even thought the Virginian Dragoon has a frame mounted firing pin, it still needs to be carried with the hammer over an empty chamber.
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Old October 18, 2012, 08:54 PM   #12
SIGSHR
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New Model Ruger Blackhawks are clearly marked as such, also Ruger dropped the slightly smaller Blackhawk frame and standardized on the Super Blackhawk
frame. The Virginian Dragoon has two marks on either side of one of the chambers to designate it as the "empty" chamber, its safety is a notch on the cylinder pin that can be pushed back to prevent the hammer from striking the firing pin.
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