Hugh said:
I'm glad, I don't want to start out on the wrong foot around here!
To add to the discussion, I have an old three screw Blackhawk (not a flat top) that I bought as my first center fire handgun nearly a quarter century ago. I already had a Ruger MK II Government Target Model I bought in Oakland during a factory display day at a gun shop. Bill Ruger's son was there, and I still have a signed Ruger catalog from the same day I bought the Mark II. I also managed to hang on to the Mark II as well, and I shoot it every week.
I was at a gun show at the Cow Palace in San Francisco with my father (that tells you how long it has been), and was looking for a Browning HiPower and was having trouble finding one I wanted. A year or two later, I managed to find a HiPower Silver Chrome at Western Sports Shop and finally got my HiPower.
When I was at the Cow Palace a Blackhawk wasn't even on my radar. Towards the end of the day, I stumbled across two unconverted three screw Blackhawks, a 4 5/8" and a 5 1/5" one. I was torn between the two, but I liked the handling and aestetics of the 4 5/8" better. The dealer was trying to steal the deal (or trying to be nice to a young kid) and threw in a black Hunter Hollywood style drop holster rig with 25 cartridge loops.
It fit my 14 year old waist well, and I wore that rig for many years while deer hunting and hiking in the Emmigrant Wilderness area of Califorina. I am sure I shocked many urbanites and a couple of Game Wardens when they encountered a young 'gunslinger' out in the trail and loaded for bear. I probably looked like an extra in a John Wayne flick.
Over the years my waistline grew and the holster belt didn't, but I never got rid of it. I lost a bunch of weight a few years back, and 'rediscovered' the holster rig while going through some old stuff. It is in perfect shape and fits like a glove! I may have to reprise my role as a B-western extra on the trail!
In any event, that's how I got started on Ruger single actions.