Bird's head frames ?

[deanodog]

Is the bird's head frame a regular production item? I would like to see some pics. if anyone wants to show them.

 

[rdf009]

No, they were taken out of Ruger's lineup in 2005. Some Single Six Birdsheads were recently produced, but only in special runs.

Here's one in .22 caliber.

 

[BlkHawk73]

Got a pair of the blued/cch finished .32's and another .32 that's awaiting it's brass birdshead to be fitted. Come to think of it, there's a 50th Ann awaiting it's birdshead to get fitted too. The style looks nice on the smaller and mid-frame guns but just out of proportion on the large framed ones.

 

[dougader]

Here's a couple Ruger 32's that came with the birdshead grips:



And here's a 45 Colt Ruger Montado that I had Alan Harton fit with a birdshead grip I bought off ebay:

 

[MOUNTAIN WILLIAM]

Here's one with a custom unfluted .45acp cylinder and Power Custom Bisley hammer kit.

Plus a stock one, also in .45 Colt.

 

[t_dickinson]

I like the looks of the Bisley hammer alot. It seems to carry the line of the grips so much better.

Kind of makes the gun look "crouched".

Mountain Willian, you have group of guns I could look at all day long. Love those unfluted cylinders on big, beefy frames!

 

[G2]

A Ruger Birdshead is just a XR3-RED Grip frame that has been Round Butted.

A Standard XR3-RED Grip, fit's right up.
One of these weekends I'm going to make a set a grips that will fill in the Missing Area,,,
Thus converting it back to a Standard Plow, for those when I want moment's. :roll:

I do like the Bisley Hammer too, the lines are just right
45 ACP too... :wink:

 

[MOUNTAIN WILLIAM]

I have a serious weakness for unfluted cylinders and dual cylinder single actions. You'll note one such cylinder in the upper left hand corner of the first pic that is earmarked for a future stainless 4 5/8" Blackawk in .45 Colt, whenever I find one that is.
Here's another pic showing some of my dual cylinder models. I'm considering an extra 410 cylinder for the 45/70 BFR.

 

[t_dickinson]

Where do you get a Bisley hammer for a Vaquero in 45 Colt? Is it drop in or does it require fitting?

I have a Birdshead on the way and would like to soften it.

*****Still looking for more Birdsheads in the range I paid ~500 Would like to have a set.

I'm not a competitor - just want to run around the house when no one's home in a pair of skivvys and a cowboy hat waving pistols in the air and telling to dog to "Reach for the sky!"

There I go, I've said too much. Time to find a new forum...AGAIN

 

[JWhitmore44]

Large frame Birds Head with Super hammer in 45 colt (need to get a picture with the acp cylinder too)

Single Six 32 mag Bird's Head I did myself before they decided to release the factory ones

 

[MOUNTAIN WILLIAM]

Where do you get a Bisley hammer for a Vaquero in 45 Colt? Is it drop in or does it require fitting?

A standard Bisley hammer won't fit properly due to the hump at the top, but Power Custom hammers are reshaped to work with non Bisley grip frames. If you only use the hammer, some work is necessary but if you use the hammer and trigger kit, things go much easier. Either kit comes with highly detailed instructions. Note that the Bisley trigger in the kit has a more pronounced curve to it than the standard Ruger trigger. Available in both blue and stainless.
http://powercustom.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=12&products_id=113
http://powercustom.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=12&products_id=174

 

[t_dickinson]

What kind of hammers are these? They don't look like the Bisleys or Vaqueros.

 

[rdf009]

What kind of hammers are these? They don't look like the Bisleys or Vaqueros.

Those are Super Blackhawk hammers, and they usually WILL be a drop-in fit (unlike the bisley hammers, which require special fitting when installed in non-bisley frames.)

 

[t_dickinson]

Any opinions on which feel better from folks who've used all three?

 

[gak]

Looks - Bisley. Practical/feel - SBH.

 

[JWhitmore44]

Looks - Bisley. Practical/feel - SBH.

+1

The bisley hammer on my single six bird's head feels almost too low. Although I think the height is close to the same. The feel of the Super Blackhawk hammer on my 45 bird's head just seems right. The Vaquero hammer is nice if you do fast draws as it allows you to hook it a little better during a draw.

 

[G2]

Not my photo

But an picture is worth a 1000 word's

 

[JWhitmore44]

Not my photo

But an picture is worth a 1000 word's

It's amazing how that small of change can feel so different

 

[MOUNTAIN WILLIAM]

Looks - Bisley. Practical/feel - SBH.

I'll second that. I have large hands and find that the Bisley is easiest to cock but it seems a little too low for me. Where as the SBH has the Goldilocks effect, it's just right.

 

[dougader]

I have a Montado and the hammer is similar to the SBH hammer. I still like the Bisley hammer best. Its just a touch lower than the SBH and Montado and it fits my hand/thumb great.

 

[t_dickinson]

I guess the SBH hammer is a good choice as a drop-in part which seems to go pretty cheap compared the full kit I'd have to buy for the Bisley. And I really favor function over form. The SBH has a little of both.

Still, on looks alone I like the Bisley and may put it on later.

 

[princeout]

t_,
You don't need a whole Bisley kit to use the Bisley hammer. All you need is a hammer (in stock this past week at Brownells), a file and some patience and you can fit the hammer nicely to the non-Bisley grip frame and use your stock trigger. A little cold blue on a blued hammer or a bit of polishing on a
stainless hammer and you are good to go.
Tim

 

[gak]

t_,
You don't need a whole Bisley kit to use the Bisley hammer. All you need is a hammer (in stock this past week at Brownells), a file and some patience and you can fit the hammer nicely to the non-Bisley grip frame and use your stock trigger. A little cold blue on a blued hammer or a bit of polishing on a
stainless hammer and you are good to go.
Tim

...I was going to say, how it's usually done--seldom a "kit" involved unless doing a thorough Bisley parts transplant on a more extensive gun rework.

 

[Spencer]

OM .357 converted to a birdshead gf with bisley hammer. I think the work was done by Dave Clements, but I dont remember. This is my horseback gun.

 

[ScratchMcCoy]

I am looking for a pair of Vaqueros with Birdshead grips but if I cannot find them I might just get a couple normal ones and a couple Birdshead frames from Midway and do the conversion myself. Love my Single Six .22 Birdshead.

 

[Wyandot Jim]

A Ruger Birdshead is just a XR3-RED Grip frame that has been Round Butted.

A Standard XR3-RED Grip, fit's right up.
One of these weekends I'm going to make a set a grips that will fill in the Missing Area,,,
Thus converting it back to a Standard Plow, for those when I want moment's. :roll:

I do like the Bisley Hammer too, the lines are just right
45 ACP too... :wink:

G2
So what brand are the grip frames you are showing? They sure are not Ruger. They look like after market Brass. They do look good. Looking at my spare Ruger XR3-RED and XRN-3RED they would NOT allow you to make them into a Birdshead like you indicate.
Jim

 

[MOUNTAIN WILLIAM]

There is something that hasn't been mentioned about the Power Custom Bisley kit and it was one of the key reasons for my using it.
Slap a Bisley hammer from Power Custom into your "full Size" Ruger and have a Colt style action or the standard Ruger action. Your choice by how you open the loading gate.
Cock the hammer until you hear two clicks and open the loading gate, when you rotate the cylinder and it clicks again, it's lined up perfectly! Don't sweat it if you go a little too far, just back it up and you're in perfect alignment again, just like a Colt.
Or you can go the Ruger way, leave the hammer down and open the gate, if you hear a click, you've gone too far and have to go all the way around again.
Good stuff Maynard!

 

[t_dickinson]

t_,
You don't need a whole Bisley kit to use the Bisley hammer. All you need is a hammer (in stock this past week at Brownells), a file and some patience and you can fit the hammer nicely to the non-Bisley grip frame and use your stock trigger. A little cold blue on a blued hammer or a bit of polishing on a
stainless hammer and you are good to go.
Tim

Could you post a link so I buy the correct Bisley hammer?

 

[G2]

G2
So what brand are the grip frames you are showing? They sure are not Ruger. They look like after market Brass. They do look good. Looking at my spare Ruger XR3-RED and XRN-3RED they would NOT allow you to make them into a Birdshead like you indicate.
Jim

Those are QPR Brass GF's the one on the left showing where to cut is the QPR Later Design, The thought was one mold 2 different frames.

This is when I figured out what a "Ruger Birdshead" really is.

Try it !!! a set of XR3-RED's fit right on, Locater Pin and all.
I'm really quite suprised we haven't seen a set of Conversion Grips (See them all the time in Smith & Wessons, RB to SQ butt)

... but hold on I'm going to make some. :wink:

 

[MOUNTAIN WILLIAM]

t_,
You don't need a whole Bisley kit to use the Bisley hammer. All you need is a hammer (in stock this past week at Brownells), a file and some patience and you can fit the hammer nicely to the non-Bisley grip frame and use your stock trigger. A little cold blue on a blued hammer or a bit of polishing on a
stainless hammer and you are good to go.
Tim

Could you post a link so I buy the correct Bisley hammer?

That's what I did to mine because I didn't want the curved Bisley trigger. I'd recommend reading the descriptions in Power Custom site before deciding which way you wish to go.

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=41782/ttver=2/Product/RUGER_BISLEY_HAMMERS
http://powercustom.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=12&products_id=172