Bisley or SBH hammer?

[ScottZ]

I want to swap out the hammer in my .45 Blackhawk, mainly for something that looks better. Any opinions on which to go with? I understand the Bisley will require more fitting.

 

[CBH44]

SBH should pretty much drop in. Bisley will require significant material removal to fit. Ron Powers (thru Brownell) has a modified Bisley hammer that should work but expensive.

 

[ScottZ]

I guess I should have worded the question better, I'm familiar with the difference in installing the hammers, and I'm looking for opinions on how the differences between then in use.

 

[flatgate]

I think a Bisley Hammer is the "bee's knees" with the Super Blackhawk style being a close second.

50th Anniv. Ruger .44 with a modified Super Blackhawk grip frame and a Bisley style hammer.
flatgate

 

[flatgate]

I want to swap out the hammer in my .45 Blackhawk, mainly for something that looks better. Any opinions on which to go with? I understand the Bisley will require more fitting.

Yes, definitely more labor required to fit the Bisley hammer instead of the Super Blackhawk design.

Here's a "Hunter" hammer fitted to a .45 Cal. Blackhawk

Installing the Hunter Hammer required more "fitting" to make things "look right" but the
"Feel" is Right-On!

JMHO,
flatgate

 

[Hondo44]

flatgate,

Looks great!
In what way did the Hunter/SBH hammer require more fitting to look right?

 

[Tensaw]

ScottZ, thanks for this post. I am not trying to hijack your post but I also am considering a hammer change for my .45 Blackhawk (new model). I would like one that gives me a little less "reach" with the thumb. Any comments are appreciated.

 

[Hondo44]

Spur shapes and relative heights:

Montado not shown but same as SBH, just checkered instead of grooved.

 

[Lee Martin]

Assuming your 45 Blackhawk has an XR3-RED gripframe, here's the Super hammer combination...

 

[flatgate]

The "profile" of the semi-circular portion of the hammer and the "profile" of the grip frame, at the "ears", will often take some "matching up" to make things look like it was professionally fitted. In addition, the way the grips fit can, on some occasions, require metal removal to make things fit "just right".

It just depends how "picky" one is....... :roll:

flatgate

 

[Hondo44]

Ah yes, the ears and hammer base need matching to have a nice flush fit that Colt was famous for and Rugers are not in some cases. And width of slot between the ears so there's no hammer drag. I was thinking hammer functional fit with transfer bar for proper ignition which is usually a non-issue.

 

[ScottZ]

Looks like my choice will come down to which one I can find. Not a lot available at the moment.

 

[Hondo44]

Blue gun or stainless steel?

 

[ScottZ]

Blued, but I'm not picky which I use.

 

[jamesellik]

FYI, I've had two S.S. SBH hammers on backorder through Midway for months, they just shipped this week. Might check to see if they have any left.....

 

[Tensaw]

FYI, I've had two S.S. SBH hammers on backorder through Midway for months, they just shipped this week. Might check to see if they have any left.....

Thanks! I will.

 

[Hondo44]

Tensaw,
If you don't find one, I have one.

 

[Tensaw]

Tensaw,
If you don't find one, I have one.

PM sent.

 

[Calthrop]

Scott,
Is your gun blue or SS? The very cool thing to do is change out the GF also to a Super. If your gun is blue I have a complete kit that the trigger guard was made round and re-blued.

Is your gun a LC?
Calthrop

 

[ScottZ]

It's a .45 Colt, if that is what you are asking. Sorry, I have no interest in a Super Blackhawk grip frame, I've already installed a birdshead on it. Thanks for thinking of me though.

 

[Calthrop]

Scott,
I should have asked about the barrel length too. The birdshead will make the draw easier than a Bisley GF. If I were you I would go with the Bisley hammer and a standard trigger. The birdshead will lower you grip at the draw in my experience. Therefore a lower longer hammer spur will be an advantage. Also the birdshead GF seems to "fall away" during the draw and will give greater clearance to the hammer spur and more control.