Hondo44
Hawkeye
The owner of this OM originally with a 6 1/2" barrel, wanted to pair it with his OM SBH. The 7 1/2" barrel came from my shorty ss project elsewhere on this forum which was a 9 1/2".
I cut and installed that barrel. It tightened right up with address centered atop the barrel and ERH screw hole properly aligned. A NM single six ramp front site replaces the early SS 'hook' style front sight. When I drilled and tapped the barrel and attached the sight I contoured it to a SBH sight profile when I lowered it to the original sight height to shoot to point of aim. The SBH grip, wide trigger and hammer were installed. A SBH hammer normally looks way out of proportion on the small frame. This one has been recontoured and shortened in both length and height to improve its proportion.
This was a 1st variation Lightweight in filthy, sorry shape with virtually no finish left when found and won on Gunbroker for $195. It had been retrofitted with a transfer bar and the original Martin Hardcoat alloy cylinder apparently replaced with a steel cylinder when it was converted by Ruger. The bottom of the main frame is stamped with an 'R' under the grip frame. It was converted back with OM action parts. It took me extensive flat polishing to realign seams and remove dings.
The vintage Premier loading gate replacement for the flatgate that it came with has been retained until a flat gate is found and a more practical dimpled ER has been added. Screws, gate, front and rear sights, the trigger, ER and cylinder pin are blued. A new set of New Model .44 Spl Flat top grip panels were installed with a stainless screw and redrilled locating pin holes to fit the original XR3 grip frame pin.
I cut and installed that barrel. It tightened right up with address centered atop the barrel and ERH screw hole properly aligned. A NM single six ramp front site replaces the early SS 'hook' style front sight. When I drilled and tapped the barrel and attached the sight I contoured it to a SBH sight profile when I lowered it to the original sight height to shoot to point of aim. The SBH grip, wide trigger and hammer were installed. A SBH hammer normally looks way out of proportion on the small frame. This one has been recontoured and shortened in both length and height to improve its proportion.
This was a 1st variation Lightweight in filthy, sorry shape with virtually no finish left when found and won on Gunbroker for $195. It had been retrofitted with a transfer bar and the original Martin Hardcoat alloy cylinder apparently replaced with a steel cylinder when it was converted by Ruger. The bottom of the main frame is stamped with an 'R' under the grip frame. It was converted back with OM action parts. It took me extensive flat polishing to realign seams and remove dings.
The vintage Premier loading gate replacement for the flatgate that it came with has been retained until a flat gate is found and a more practical dimpled ER has been added. Screws, gate, front and rear sights, the trigger, ER and cylinder pin are blued. A new set of New Model .44 Spl Flat top grip panels were installed with a stainless screw and redrilled locating pin holes to fit the original XR3 grip frame pin.