Old Model Blackhawk, a Sharps40 project or restore?

So I picked up this old model Blackhawk .357 for a reasonable price. It came with a Qualite brass birdshead grip frame that is for a New Model (no it is not for sale..)

Anyway I was struggling with what to do with the project. One part of me wants to build something custom like what we have seen from Sharps40 ....the other side of me says restore the gun

It is a 1972 vintage




Here is what it looked like when I got it, rusty, but not too heavily pitted

Here is what makes the decision tough....I already have a factory aluminum grip frame in excellent condition:



as well as a brass grip frame from an 1860 Colt copy (bought it for $24)



http://tincanbandit.blogspot.com/2015/02/ruger-old-model-blackhawk-project-part-2.html

See post on a other site........make it weiner proof-full custom

Birdshead ain't a bad way to go.

Which would you rather have when you get done, just another like new OM you might be afraid to shoot much or a custom built to your tastes that will be more fun to shoot and showoff?

I doubt the screw pattern on the 1860 Army grip frame will match the Ruger screw pattern. Have you tried it?

The birdshead can easily be adapted to the OM frame several ways. The easiest is using an empty 22 LR case to house the OM trigger return plunger and spring. You'll need the NM trigger spring retaining pin to hold the 22 case/spring in place.

Sharps40 said:

See post on a other site........make it weiner proof-full custom

Click to expand...

Do you have a link or which section is it in?

Is it weiner proof or whiner proof?

Hondo44 said:

Which would you rather have when you get done, just another like new OM you might be afraid to shoot much or a custom built to your tastes that will be more fun to shoot and showoff?

I doubt the screw pattern on the 1860 Army grip frame will match the Ruger screw pattern. Have you tried it?

Click to expand...

No I haven't, but Sharps40 has!

The birds head is going on my .357 original Vaquero, along with some other cool upgrades

Weiner proof. Weiners buy guns and are so afraid to use em they stays locked up untouched and unused. For example...my merkel k3 is weinerproof, its gorgeous and scratched an accounts for deer each year and regular monthly practice...weiners hate me cause I use my tool!

Hondo44 said:

Which would you rather have when you get done, just another like new OM you might be afraid to shoot much or a custom built to your tastes that will be more fun to shoot and showoff?

I doubt the screw pattern on the 1860 Army grip frame will match the Ruger screw pattern. Have you tried it?

The birdshead can easily be adapted to the OM frame several ways. The easiest is using an empty 22 LR case to house the OM trigger return plunger and spring. You'll need the NM trigger spring retaining pin to hold the 22 case/spring in place.

Click to expand...

See my 1860 Army Blackhawk thread for how to put the most pointable and perfect for normal size hands saa grip ever invented on to a blackhawk

I guess if I'm going to talk about a BH grip I should show it.... :?

OK I'll get this thread started....I decided to restore the gun. I had a near mint condition original alcoa aluminum grip frame to use and the pitting was only superficial, nothing I could not handle.

1st step was to figure out what parts I had and what parts I needed



I was able to trade a stainless new model base pin for a hammer strut, main spring along with the trigger spring and plunger.

The bag of screws was not complete, it was actually two sets of new model grip frame screws, since the I had two sets I was A-OK, I just ended up with two pivot lock screws (for a new model)



I needed a few more items, I found an old model ejector rod & spring on ebay



I also found these Ruger Old Army frame screws, they also fit the old model



Numrich Arms (Gun Parts Corp) supplied some other misc parts

blog posts with more detail

http://tincanbandit.blogspot.com/2015/01/ruger-old-model-blackhawk-project-part-1.html

http://tincanbandit.blogspot.com/2015/02/ruger-old-model-blackhawk-project-part-2.html

http://tincanbandit.blogspot.com/2015/04/ruger-old-model-blackhawk-project-part-3.html

The process of collecting the parts taught me a lot about what parts interchange between the old model, New Models and the Old Army guns


A quick assembly to make sure the gun functions



I used some Speer practice ammo to test her out



Everything worked like it should...1st hurdle overcome

I tried to restore this aluminum ejector rod housing using the B-C Aluminum Black and it didn't work, maybe the solution was old or I did something wrong? I have never had much luck with this stuff

I stripped the old bluing and rust off with some B-C rust & bluing remover



I started with the top strap



A little file work and sanding and it looks like new



same for the sides of the frame

Then I started on the cylinder, I used Sharps40's technique.....I mounted the cylinder to a 1/4" bolt so I could chuck it up in my drill press



220 grit finish



and a finish polish with Krokus cloth

I polished some of the internal and small parts



I scored a mint condition steel Ejector Rod Housing on ebay (along with the screw and another ejector)



and fitted it to the frame, I had to remove some metal from the hole that the ERH fits into

Now that the metal was smooth and shiny it was time to start the bluing.....1st step is to clean and degrease the metal, every nook and cranny must be clean and free of oil and dirt




I am trying out Mark Lee's Express Blue #1, it has some great reviews and it uses heat to speed up the rusting process taking hours instead of days to blue a gun. The stuff looks like racoon piss

I warmed the parts (150 degrees is recommended) using an electric heat gun



I then swabbed on the solution per the instructions, we got some good rusting right away




Then boiling for 10 minutes and carding the loose black oxide with de-greased 0000 steel wool