Technical question. Ruger Old Army vs. Blackhawk cylinders

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Tallbald

Buckeye
Joined
Jan 29, 2009
Messages
1,750
Location
Southern KY
OK so I've always wondered this. Bill Ruger and his engineers never did something without consideration if I can believe what I read. I don't have a camera right now so I'll have to describe the cylinder details I'm wondering about. Without familiarity with both guns, one may not understand my question.
Remove the cylinder from your Blackhawk and look at the rear end of it. You'll see radially spaced flats that project from the rear of the cylinder with which the pawl engages and pushes to rotate the cylinder when the hammer is cocked.
Now remove and look at the rear of the Old Army cylinder and you'll see drilled holes into which the pawl actually inserts to rotate the cylinder when the hammer is cocked.
Can someone explain just why Bill Ruger and his team decided that when both the Old Army and the Blackhawk are single action revolvers, the Old Army had to have holes instead of protruding flats to engage the pawl and rotate the cylinder when the hammer is cocked? I myself like the holes of the Old Army cylinder because it would seem less prone to damage if dropped when out of the gun.
I've pondered on the differences, and the only thing I can think of is that the Blackhawk style flats are needed to allow the cylinder to be machined shorter so the cartridge rims will fit between the recoil plate of the frame and cylinder. But then a longer cylinder with holes for pawl engagement could I think be used in the Blackhawk if the cartridge holes were recessed for the rims.
Yes I'm such a Ruger revolver fanatic that I notice differences like I'm asking about. I'm just hoping to learn more about my favorite guns.
Don
 

Jim Puke

Hunter
Joined
Jul 9, 2013
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3,088
Location
South Georgia
I am not sure if Ruger decided anything about the old Army, but he did decide that the Blackhawk would be fine with a different design...and, I would contend that he was right.
 

contender

Ruger Guru
Joined
Sep 18, 2002
Messages
25,150
Location
Lake Lure NC USA
Two thoughts come to my mind about this.
One, Bill used the Remington BP Army revolver as his pattern. I don't have one of those to see how it was done, but maybe it's the same so Bill used the same design?
Two; The guys who were there during development & such may all be gone or retired to where we may never know the "why?"
 

flatgate

Hawkeye
Joined
Jun 18, 2001
Messages
6,784
Location
Star Valley, WY
My guess is that "fouling" of the lockwork generated the design that would constantly clean out the ratchet mechanism and not let the revolver "bind up" during extended shooting sessions.

I dunno, I don't shoot them Black Powder guns. I only look at 'em.......... :D

102016401.jpg


flatgate
 

Tallbald

Buckeye
Joined
Jan 29, 2009
Messages
1,750
Location
Southern KY
I've enjoyed the posts in answer here and I thank those who responded. I guess it may always just be speculation as to "why". Don
 
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