2-tone Blackhawks

[ruger randy]

are there 2-tone blackhawks; the blue with lower being aluminum color or have folks just taken them apart & buffed off the blue; i bet this has been covered before but i havent seen it thanks randy

 

[Hugh]

Don't have a photo, but my blue 4-5/8" .45 has stainless grip frame. I believe it is pretty nice looking, and handles well.

 

[Firsttimegrampa]

I did mine myself

 

[Hondo44]

are there 2-tone blackhawks; the blue with lower being aluminum color or have folks just taken them apart & buffed off the blue; i bet this has been covered before but i havent seen it thanks randy

You're correct, any two tone guns are owner modified; either polished alloy parts or alloy parts/blued steel parts replaced with stainless steel. The only exception I recall was the Colorado Super Single Six NM; stainless grip, hammer and trigger from the factory.

 

[JWhitmore44]

The Colorado wasn't the only exception. This Bisley Single Six (lower) is a factory two tone. Wouldn't surprise me if there was a Blackhawk versions.

 

[Hondo44]

The Colorado wasn't the only exception. This Bisley Single Six (lower) is a factory two tone. Wouldn't surprise me if there was a Blackhawk versions.

J,
Thanks, there's always more to know. Was that a standard factory issue or an "exclusive" issue for a specific distributor?

 

[Lee Martin]

Yep, most folks just de-anodize the gripframe and ejector housing:

The finish is pretty tough, so I use a bead blaster to get down to bare aluminum. Then I polish them bright on a buffer.

 

[JWhitmore44]

The Colorado wasn't the only exception. This Bisley Single Six (lower) is a factory two tone. Wouldn't surprise me if there was a Blackhawk versions.

J,
Thanks, there's always more to know. Was that a standard factory issue or an "exclusive" issue for a specific distributor?

Now that you mention it I think I did see somewhere that they were a Williams Shooters Supply exclusive or some such.

 

[azrugershooter]

They aren't the best pics but this is my alum grip frame polished on blued BH

 

[Hondo44]

New and old model 44 flat tops:

Cut down 3 screw .22 with short SS grip from .32 Mag 'Baby' Vaquero:

 

[rugerguy]

Being the original post/question was about Blackhawks, far as we ever saw, there were none by the factory....all custom or personalized..........
Yes, the Single Six and small frame Bisley had some distributor variations/offerings..............they do look nice by the way AND with the polished off anodising OR being in stainless steel, make more sense and are more practical...........

 

[ruger randy]

thanks all; just taking it all in & buying when i can.........randy

 

[bonedale]

For those who removed the anodizing and then polished it up. How did you finish your aluminum? Won't it corrode, especially where it contacts the blue steel?

Thanks

 

[Hondo44]

Like inside an engine? No corrosion, that requires some pretty severe conditions like constant moisture, etc.
No finish required. The hand sort of keeps it burnished.

 

[Three50seven]

What is the best way to remove the finish from the grip frame and ERH? I have a shooter blackhawk that I've been considering doing this to.

 

[Hondo44]

Oven cleaner is by far the easiest. I have sanded one because most of it was gone already but never again. It's so hard to sand thru you wonder how it ever wore off in the 1st place???

It takes such rough paper to get thru it and then the rough paper leaves deep scratches in the alloy, it takes forever to get all those out with finer paper before you can polish it.

 

[Three50seven]

Ok, I didn't know if it would be better doing it chemically or mechanically. So you just rub it down with the oven cleaner and it comes off? I assume it will take a little work...

Sorry to hijack the post btw... :roll:

 

[ruger randy]

hey 357 --

no hijacking ;

i was going to ask also;

 

[JWhitmore44]

I have a wire brush wheel that is fairly soft or fine. I use it in a grinder motor to take of the finish. It doesn't leave big scratches and some what polishes as it goes. I thin finish off with a cloth will with some polish compound. I finish with Mothers Aluminum Wheel Polish. Anything I can't get with the bigger wheel I sue a dremil tool to finish.

 

[Three50seven]

I though about the soft wire brush approach, in fact that's what my Dad suggested. Good idea on the Aluminum wheel polish, makes perfect sense!

 

[Hondo44]

The advantage to the oven cleaner besides the labor savings is that it doesn't remove any aluminum or risk rounding the edges. I just followed the directions on the container as if I was cleaning an oven. Then cleaned up with 800 grit paper and carefully buffed with a hard wheel to keep edges and corners sharp with white rouge (for stainless steel).

The challenge is to not make dimensional changes so the grip still fits flush to the frame.

I'm sure there are other approaches like the wire wheel that work equally well. It's difficult to get the crevices and inside the screw holes clean mechanically.

 

[azrugershooter]

I used a can of automotive paint stripper and it came off with just a rag.

 

[Hondo44]

Now there's an excellent plan!

 

[JWhitmore44]

It's difficult to get the crevices and inside the screw holes clean mechanically.

You got that right Wish I would have thought of oven cleaner or the automotive paint stripper

 

[Three50seven]

Well I did it! I used Oven Cleaner then a soft wire brush, then finished with some aluminum wheel polish. A Bisley hammer is the next step!

 

[Hondo44]

Very nice and didn't take you long to get busy! Looks like the ER housing might still have a smidgeon of anodizing left on it. Some areas are a little darker than others but a nice two tone gun now!

 

[Three50seven]

i see what you mean about having some anodizing left, but i think thats mostly cause by my lack of photography skills! i was just using my cell phone. it didn't take me long, i did it all yesterday afternoon. might still do some more buffing at some point.

 

[JWhitmore44]

Looks good, I like it.