My thoughts................

Next year will mark my seventy years as a handgunner. I bought my first real sure enough revolver in September of 1954. Shortly after my first dismal experience at shooting the one-hand gun, I determined to learn all I could about the handgun, and to refine my skills at shooting the thing. Over the years I've owned and shot many different types and calibers . I've competed in bull's eye matches, and shot on two Army pistol teams. One Army team was a rimfire league, and I believe we got some of the very first Ruger Mk. I target pistols the Army bought, this in 1957, Also was on a ,45 team later using stock M1911A1s. I've hunted both small game and deer sized game. I've shot or owned double action revolvers, Single Action revolvers, autoloaders (both Browning type and the Borchardt/Luger design) and single shot pistols. Single shots include the bolt action as well as the Thompson Contender. And I've had a brief encounter with black powder at tikmes, both cap-and-ball and cartridge.

After all this, my pick of the handgun variety is the Single Action, namely the Ruger. As to looks, I've always thought the Colt New Frontier was the best looking of the lot. So, here is my idea of the ideal Single Action Revolver:



This is a Three Screw Super Blackhawk in .44 Magnum. I have come to prefer the Dragoon grip style, blue and case hardened finish, smooth wood grips, and high narrow hammer spur. Using such a revolver has provided me some of my best field shots with the Magnum.

This New Model Super Blackhawk comes in a mighty close second:



For a little more personal for a daily companion, I've chosen the .45 Colt. And, just because, it's a New Model:



As to my druthers, I prefer elk stag or good solid hard wood grips. I want no aluminum nor plastic parts on my hand guns. Nor do I want scopes, red dots nor any other obstruction atop my gun of choice.

So, I'm a cantankerous old timer "sot in my ways."

Bob Wright

Nice post Bob.
I too have been involved in shooting & handguns for a long time. (Not as long as you! )

I started with a .22 single-shot rifle,, but bought my first handgun almost 50 years ago. An Iver Johnson .22. Over the decades, I spent a fair amount of the first few with both a rifle and a handgun. I've owned a pretty good variety myself.
And while I still enjoy a few others often,, my love settled in upon the SA design long ago. I own more SA handguns than anything else.
But,, I just will not try & pick a favorite.

But your pictures show some very nice SA handguns!

Bob, that is a very good post for anyone to read. Your pictures are great, wish I could do that good.

Although I am a double action Ruger user/collector, I do also like and own some Ruger single actions (ok guys don't be grabbing your heart ). I have mentioned my collection of .357 Mag Blackhawks (that I need to complete) and I also have a few of the others, some old (1956 Single Six Flatgate .22lr and a 1960 Single Six .22 Mag) and some new (New Model .45 Colt). I'm up to 18 and need to add some more. I do have a few guns that are not Ruger (ie, 1948 Winchester Model 94 .30 WCF - was my dads', now mine and hopefully it will stay in the family) and some military guns.

But all my guns mean something to me that really can't be explained in words but I am sure is understood by any/all long time gun owners.

Informative post and some great pictures, only 67 so I am still trying to pick a favorite, but I favor Ruger Blackhawks or Vaqueros with 4 5/8" to 5 1/2 barrels in either .44 spl or .45 colt. Also in the mix are double action revolvers with 4 1/2" barrel in .357 . And the final one in the struggle is a Colt Government Model 1911 in .45 acp.

While not quite a senior as Bob, I came to a similar epiphany more than a few years ago. While I love my 1911's I find myself carrying this more and more.

And generally OWB like Bob, but usually crossdraw. Somethings just seem right. And I assure you my first shot time is as fast with the Blackhawk as it is with anything else. In addition, my first shot hit probability is higher as the Blackhawk just fits right in my hand.

I don't know if I could pick a favorite. If it shoots at t time I am shooting then its my favorite.

Very nice revolvers and enjoyed the dialog.

I am few years behind you (not quite 60), but the SA is 'the' type of firearm I most enjoy shooting and carrying. Ever since I was a kid. Never really cottoned to DAs or slab sided semi-autos. They have their purpose, just not for me.

I have found my favorite set of shooting irons though. All three of them tuned blued 5 1/2" blued medium frame NM flattops in .357, .44 Special, and .45 Colt. Only step up would be to have them case-colored. Of course the .44 Mag 50th flattop, .45 Colt blued New Vaquero and Single Six .22 would like to join the group, but don't quite measure up, nor any of the others I have. That's that for smokeless six-guns. For Cap and Ball shooting a blued standard 7 1/2" ROA is 'the' goto revolver.

Having been 'raised' during the (50's) Cowboy era on TV, I'm naturally drawn to single actions (preferably without safety enhancements). I like Colt, Ruger, USFA, Uberti, Freedom Arms just to name a few....




BUT.... I will admit having been let astray by more than one sexy young'un:



p.s. Fabulous photos Mr. Wright..
J

Thank you. Yours are no slouch, either.

Bob Wright

Sweet all of them , one of these days I need to get a Flat Top

Very nice post Bob.. although I don't carry a SA revolver daily, I carry a K frame mod 66-8 2.75" as my preferred carry, as I love revolvers in the magnum flavor. I have on occasion carried my Redhawk 5.5" with .44 Spl 240-gr SWC loads.

One of the first guns I ever bought, along about '65 IIRC, was a 3 screw Super Blackhawk. Didn't know any better, and sometimes carried it out in the Arizona desert fully loaded. Fortunately never had any ugly incidents with it. Later I had two 7 1/2" SBH New Models cut to just over 5". Wanted to do 4 5/8", but settled for just over 5" so as not to cut through the warning on the barrel. Afterwards, my .44s became S&W Model 29s. I may replace one of those short barrel SBHs one of these days. That Ruger #0876 Bisley distributor special 4 5/8" SBH is tempting...

My first centerfire Ruger was this BH .357 purchased new in 1968. It is now owned by my son who was born in that same year.
I missed it so much that this NM BH had to fill its place last fall.

Bob Wright said:

Next year will mark my seventy years as a handgunner. I bought my first real sure enough revolver in September of 1954. Shortly after my first dismal experience at shooting the one-hand gun, I determined to learn all I could about the handgun, and to refine my skills at shooting the thing. Over the years I've owned and shot many different types and calibers .

Bob Wright

Click to expand...

When your Wright your Right!

My first handgun at 12 was a Blackhawk 357.

I got away from the single actions for quite a while, favoring 1911's and double actions. But I am fully back where I started and accumulating them quickly. 22's to 500's and having a blast.

I love a good Ruger thumb buster

Simple and Rugged is better. You just load them and shoot them. There's not a lot that can go wrong with a Ruger SA. I honestly haven't cleaned this one in over 1,000 rounds. Sorry OCD clean freaks I cleaned it tonight

I'm a little more eclectic, I have them in all flavors from bone stock Vaqueros with wood grips , everything you need and nothing you don't.......

to guns like this Blackhawk with the 9mm cylinder that I use as pretty much a range fun shooter. The Pachmayrs may be uggo but they feel great , and they give me a good grip for a day of popping off sometimes as many as 500 rounds of 9 , enjoying a range day. I put 200 through it today , just having fun which is what it's all about, really

Today I fired an SP101, a S&W 5946 and this Blackhawk and the Blackhawk was the one I wished I had more ammo for when I was out