.44 mag 3 screw Blackhawk (bh) vs. Super Blackhawk (sbh)

[gnappi]

Today I cleaned my BH and decided to measure the cylinder dimensions and all four measurements (cylinder width / length, front and rear of each chamber) and they're identical to within .001".

So other than the dragoon grip frame what exactly made Ruger re-name the BH to SBH? Was it a steel gripframe?

 

[Cholo]

Steel dragoon grip frame and an unfluted cylinder are the differences I know of.

 

[G2]

What he said /\/\/\

AND,

Hammer Spur & Wide Trigger vs standard trigger.

 

[BULL'S-EYE]

The all steel construction, and that blasted square back trigger guard that even Colt wisely abandoned 100+ years prior.
I've read that Elmer Keith is the one responsible for talking Bill Ruger into putting the long obsolete, knuckle busting Dragoon style grip on the Super Blackhawk revolver.
You either love it, or hate it...I'm in the latter camp, and I have scars to prove why.
YMMV...

 

[Johnnu2]

The original OM 44MAG BH (flattop) had an aluminum XR3 grip frame.... mine does.

J.

 

[contender]

The original Blackhawk in .44 mag was built with a Flattop,, an alloy grip frame, a standard trigger, a normal hammer, and a fluted cylinder. And mostly in 6-1/2" barrel lengths. (Yes,, there are some in different barrel lengths,, but mostly in 6-1/2")

The Super Blackhawk was introduced with the "protected ears" rear sight assy, the wide hammer spur, the wide trigger, and the steel Dragoon grip frame. And the standard barrel length was set at 7-1/2".

 

[thinckley]

I have both and will shoot the SBH all day long with the square guard vs. the Flattop. Much easier on the hands.

 

[bstrongTO]

Sorry for the ignorance, is that the difference between the sph and bh?
The sph has trigger far wider with ridges
New model 44 also has a square guard as well.
What's a dragoon grip?
The new models also has 33-xxxxx 46-xxxxx 84- xxxxx etc. vs. just numbers?

 

[thinckley]

What's a dragoon grip?

The square trigger guard indicates the dragoon grip.

The new models also has 33-xxxxx 46-xxxxx 84- xxxxx etc. vs. just numbers?

The prefix was added in 1969 when the law requiring unique serial numbers was enacted. New Models began in 1974, so there is a 5-year overlap of Old Models and prefixes, in fact the OM .45LC was only released for 3 years, '71, '72, '73.

The OM Blackhawk in .44 was only produces from '56-'62.

 

[gnappi]

Before joining this site I knew nothing about the history or stepping levels of Ruger revolvers. I just plodded along liking what I liked, shooting what I had, with only preferences for stainless and the Dragoon or Bisley grip frames.

I guess I'm still pretty much in the dark about all of the history on them but the knowledge presented here astounds and is well received by me. Thanks all.

 

[bstrongTO]

The square trigger guard indicates the dragoon grip.


The prefix was added in 1969 when the law requiring unique serial numbers was enacted. New Models began in 1974, so there is a 5-year overlap of Old Models and prefixes, in fact the OM .45LC was only released for 3 years, '71, '72, '73.

The OM Blackhawk in .44 was only produces from '56-'62.

Thanks for the input. We had a few books about Rugers, unfortunately someone took them home with them

 

[Johnnu2]

It appears to me that your .44 Flattop has a 7 1/2" barrel.... If my assumption is correct, that barrel length makes is a VERY RARE variation and worth considerable $$$ to Ruger Collectors. That's the extent of my knowledge, but there has been a lot of commentary concerning that variation here on the Forum in the recent past. Referring to the second gun from the bottom in Pic.#1.

J.

 

[gnappi]

Johnnu no its a 6 1/2" for sure. If it were 7 1/2" I would not have bought it. Really

 

[contender]

I can also tell it's not a 7-1/2" version.

 

[Johnnu2]

Yeah, me too..... I was just testing his eyesight

J.

 

[gnappi]

Yeah, me too..... I was just testing his eyesight

J.

I used a tape measure that I've used in the past to measure fingers (too short to play piano) my foot and various other body parts and the tape measure alas never lies

 

[bstrongTO]

Sorry for the illusions on length, it must be the 10in.
The SBH are the 7 1/2.

 

[Johnnu2]

I was referring to bstrongTO's picture re: the flattop appearing to be 7 1/2"....(second gun from bottom)... looks 7 1/2" to me (?)View attachment 67399

 

[moparclan]

The original OM 44MAG BH (flattop) had an aluminum XR3 grip frame.... mine does.

J.

My 1957 .44 mag has the aluminum grip frame also.

 

[71shooter]

Brian Pearce says early Flattop Blackhawks are not as strong as SB's:

https://singleactions.proboards.com/thread/42492/brian-pearce-weaker-strength-flattop