Robsauto said:
I am somewhat familiar with the safety parts they install, I actually have some of the hammers. I have not taken that option off the table. I believe I have all the parts now to get it running, except the barrel, cylinder and gate. I'll matte blue it once I get the barrel and cyl worked out. Any idea what they do in regsrds tonthe wrong grip frame installed if you send it in? Also, just to clarify. I'm no gunsmith but I've built many guns and do this as a hobby. 100% correct etc is not the goal, just another fun shooter is. I could go buy any Ruger I wanted but enjoy building as much as shooting.
The safety parts are known for a hard trigger pull. But not hard to tune up and make a nice action, I've done a few. The advantage is being able to carry all 6 rounds safely. The standard action should never be carried with a 6th round under the hammer.
You may not like the prices but you may want to look at these new made Power Custom hammers:
Bisley hammer for OM full size frame: (must remove hump for standard grip frame): http://powercustom.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=12&sort=20a&page=3
You can grind a little off the top so it's not too tall to use on the OM 357 mid size frames. Model: PC-3SH
Montado hammer large frame, blue or SS: http://powercustom.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=12&products_id=1125
Power Custom Ruger Montado hammer has the loading half cock notch needed for an old model. Just need to grind off the upper flat on the hammer face and slightly enlarge the pivot pin hole to fit the old model hammer screw. There's no safety notch but that's useless as a safety anyway. This would be a simple swap. You can grind a little off the top so it's not too tall to use on the OM 357 mid size frames. It's $130.
GRIP FRAME:
Ruger won't have any OM grip frames to replace it with so they may just leave it. If it's polished alloy and you don't want it powder coated, just send instructions not to refinish it.
I understand where you're coming from about working on guns. I too enjoy doing that as much as shooting them. Here's one of many examples I've done:
I picked up this old boat anchor for $200 to rescue and also make some modifications that I wouldn't do to a nice one in good conscience. It's a 1967 vintage 3 screw Super single six that came out of Florida and was apparently a coup de gras gun on a fishing boat. But the action was original and mechanically sound. These Rugers are truly almost indestructible.
My objective:
Make a .22 all steel flat top with matching proportion to my OM Flat top 357 to 44 conversion. I never liked the fact that a 4 5/8" barrel on a single six frame does not have as good proportion as a 4 5/8" barrel on the mid frame or balance as well in the hand. This one ended up 4 1/8"
Modifications:
Cut the barrel: mathematically 4 7/16" is equal to the proportion of the mid frame with a 4 5/8". But that would be a cut right thru the ERH screw. So I resorted to 4 1/8".
Also pulled the barrel and turned it ¼ turn so the rollmark is on the side to match the OM FT. This had two more advantages: it keeps the relocated front sight from covering the rollmark and it allowed me to clean up the course machine tool marks on the front face of the frame so typical on OM Rugers. That in turn allowed the extra ¼ turn of the barrel after cutting the barrel from the front end.
Install the NM single six ramp style front sight which with its shorter base improved proportion.
Turn down a steel ERH to match the barrel length.
Adapt NM steel XR3 size grip frame with by-passed lock using a Bearcat mainspring seat to bridge the lock gap and install a Dave Clements adapter wide Bisley trigger. Super SSs weren't made until after the original Colt size XR3 grip frame was eliminated but the XR3s feel perfect on the small frame.
Adapt a NM Bisley hammer by silver soldering on the 3 notches cut from the OM hammer and filing off the nose for the transfer bar. But I have since put the Bisley hammer in another old model project and went back to the standard hammer. But I just obtained and installed a custom hammer with SBH wide spur and that's the best for me.
Flatten the top strap and install an original Ruger steel rear Micro sight.
File out all dings, rust pits and polish the steel frame.
About 3/4 done:
Almost done, just needed a sight screw:
Finished with sectioned SBH Hammer: