Blackhawk grip interchangeability question....

[sharkman]

I just purchased an old 3-screw Blackhawk, in .41 Mag, at an auction, this past weekend. It is mostly in very good shape, but the front bottom corner of the right grip panel is broken off. They appear to be either mahogany, or in-ornate walnut, without the Ruger logo crest, inlaid in the grip.
I see lots of grips available for New Model Blackhawk and New Model Super Blackhawk, but nothing for the 3 screw. Since it is nearly impossible to find a selection of grips at a gun store (darned few left in L.A. County) where I can actually fit them to my gun, buying from an internet retailer, seems to be the only option. Prices are fine, but if they are the wrong grips, returns can get expensive.

So, before I buy, I want to make sure those grips are interchangeable, with my 3-Screw Blackhawk.

Any help is greatly appreciated!!! If anyone can recommend a maker, or two or three, of stag type grips for it, that would be a bonus answer. Thanks.

 

[eric conrad]

Welcome. For stags go to the auction section here and in the stickeys look for Sack Peterson. For grip frame you have (XR3red) and grips by the master grip maker Caryc look here www.clccustomgrips.com on the home page click on grip frames. Other guys here make grips also. Pvt. Schultz and Magnum41 I know of. Good luck.
Eric

 

[sharkman]

I appreciate the help. Many thanks.

 

[flatgate]

Click Here for a very informative article on Ruger Grip Frames and Grips.

Hosted by GunBlast.com and written by Bill Hamm.

flatgate

 

[sharkman]

I really appreciate the help. That article at GunBlast really explained a lot about it. I guess I am not the total dummy about it, that I thought I was. Or, at least, I am not alone in being a dummy.
I have always admired the Blackhawk revolvers, but for some reason, I never had much affinity for SA revolvers. But, while I have always been more of a fan of Colt, than any other manufacturer of handguns, it was mostly because of the Pythons and 1911's.
I am now at a point in my collecting, that I have most all of the DA revolvers and most of the semi-auto pistols and calibers I have lusted to have, and have recently opened my eyes to the SA revolver scene (though one NEVER has enough guns). While I wasn't actively looking for a Blackhawk, at the auction I attended, the two pistols I did hope to bid on, went for more than I was willing to pay, so I was sitting there, with money to spend, and the Blackhawk came up. In .41 mag, it was right up my alley, as I am a HUGE .41mag/10mm/.40cal fan. I always thought my first SA revolver would be in .45 Colt, but .41 mag was a caliber I have reloading capabilities for, already. While I paid about $50-$75 more than I think I should have, it seems to be in line with what I would have paid in a gun shop, for a similar gun, so all is good. I just might have trouble finding a nice western styled rifle/carbine, to go with it, also in .41 Mag. But, I'll keep looking.
If I can figure out how to post pictures, I will do so. It's in nice shape, with a "goodly" amount of wear on the bluing, but cylinder lockup is tight, as is the rest of the gun. One large mar, on the fore end of the ejector housing, and a bit of the right grip panel being cracked off, are the only real issues with it, cosmetically. SInce it has the squared trigger housing, brass frame, I might like to find a brass ejector housing, and hope for it to develop a nice "patina", to more closely resemble the grip frame. But, heck, I don't even know if they are made in brass. But, with the stock one being black anodized aluminum, a brass one seems a natural fit for a gun with a brass grip frame.

 

[flatgate]

I really appreciate the help.
If I can figure out how to post pictures, I will do so.

Surf over to Ruger Forum's Gallery section. A tutorial is "near the top" and it will tell you all about pics.



flatgate

 

[sharkman]

 

[sharkman]

Okay, I got it done. There are the only two pics I have, until I pick it up from the dealer handling the DROS and 10 day PRK waiting period.

 

[EDK]

If the grip frame is a RUGER product...marked MR3-DB...it is worth over $300 in most current auctions.

There were brass ejector rod housings available at one time...not RUGER factory items. You can obtain replacement housings in anodized aluminum or blued steel or stainless steel...the steel will add a small amount of weight and help mitigate recoil....I'd go for blued steel to match the main frame.

You got a nice gun...hopefully at a good price.

 

[sharkman]

I wasn't sure there were blued ones available, when I posted that, but have since found some, while searching for the brass ones.
My thought has been that getting something that matches the wear of the bluing on the gun, will be near impossible, so rather than going back to the black anodized type, I thought one in brass, to match the brass grip frame, might look good, but I have been unable to locate any, in the past day or two. I guess it will be something I need to wait and see. Maybe someone who has one, which they might be willing to part with, will read this thread, and reply. Otherwise, I guess the blued one would be nicer, and yes, the extra weight would be nice, with a 4 5/8" barrel .41 magnum.

 

[sharkman]

If the grip frame is a RUGER product...marked MR3-DB...it is worth over $300 in most current auctions.

There were brass ejector rod housings available at one time...not RUGER factory items. You can obtain replacement housings in anodized aluminum or blued steel or stainless steel...the steel will add a small amount of weight and help mitigate recoil....I'd go for blued steel to match the main frame.

You got a nice gun...hopefully at a good price.

I'll have to check for that, when I actually take possession of it. Unfortunately, my 10 day wait, didn't begin, until Yesterday at 1pm, so it will be June 2, at 1 pm before I can pick it up.

 

[sharkman]

OK, here's the latest. The letter is on it's way, and my Blackhawk was originally shipped with the standard grip frame, not the brass one, in .41 magnum with a 4 5/8" barrel. So, when I take possession, I need to inspect this one, to see if the grip frame is Ruger, or aftermarket. And, I still need to figure out what I wish to do, about the ejector rod housing. A new, black anodized aluminum one, and the new blue steel one, will not match the wear on the bluing, so I need to figure out what I want to do about that.

But, at least now, I know the answers to most of the questions y'all have been asking.

I just have to wait on my PRK waiting period, and then wait for my Sack's to be made and delivered. I am anxious, but not anxious enough to rush him. I KNOW they will be beautiful.

 

[Hondo44]

And, I still need to figure out what I wish to do, about the ejector rod housing. A new, black anodized aluminum one, and the new blue steel one, will not match the wear on the bluing, so I need to figure out what I want to do about that.

sharkman,

I would go with the steel and here are the three reasons for you to consider:

1. The extra weight on a magnum gun is an advantage to decrease the recoil and muzzle flip, not a cure all by any means but noticeable for sure. (If you decide to take off the brass GF, I would recommend a steel grip frame for the same reason. You can get a stainless one for the SS Old Army or get a carbon steel GF for the blue OA; both will work with your 3 screw gun and be the same size as the original. Either are available new from Brownell's. And if your gun has a wide trigger, both GFs have a wide trigger slot for it.

2. You can age the bluing on the steel ERH (and blue grip frame) to match the gun's wear. Or better yet, find a used worn one that will be cheaper than a new one.

3. You can get a steel ERH brass plated anywhere that does plating cheap.

Or you might have Ruger reblue the gun; they are reasonable, it'll be a quality job and it will look like new. And they will fit your steel ERH and GF to the gun as well.

Here's my OM 357 flattop (converted to 44 Spl) with those mods:

 

[sharkman]

And, I still need to figure out what I wish to do, about the ejector rod housing. A new, black anodized aluminum one, and the new blue steel one, will not match the wear on the bluing, so I need to figure out what I want to do about that.

sharkman,

I would go with the steel and here are the three reasons for you to consider:

1. The extra weight on a magnum gun is an advantage to decrease the recoil and muzzle flip, not a cure all by any means but noticeable for sure. (If you decide to take off the brass GF, I would recommend a steel grip frame for the same reason. You can get a stainless one for the SS Old Army or get a carbon steel GF for the blue OA; both will work with your 3 screw gun and be the same size as the original. Either are available new from Brownell's. And if your gun has a wide trigger, both GFs have a wide trigger slot for it.

2. You can age the bluing on the steel ERH (and blue grip frame) to match the gun's wear. Or better yet, find a used worn one that will be cheaper than a new one.

3. You can get a steel ERH brass plated anywhere that does plating cheap.

Or you might have Ruger reblue the gun; they are reasonable, it'll be a quality job and it will look like new. And they will fit your steel ERH and GF to the gun as well.


Thanks. It all sounds like good advise. I am leaning towards the steel ERH, and I want to find out, when I get possession of the gun, if the GF is Ruger, or aftermarket. If aftermarket, it will likely stay, if Ruger, I will have to consider if it might be best to replace it with a different GF, and hold on to it, for addition to a future purchase, or just for the sake of holding on to it. My best guess is that it's aftermarket, and this is all a moot point. I LIKE the look of the brass GF, and I like the look of a well worn revolver. They have "character" that way.

I'm not prone to buying, with the intent of letting value go up, for later sale. I buy what I like, and hold on to them, unless I figure out later, that I really don't like it, after all. And, that has NEVER been true of any Ruger, Colt or big name import. I've never owned a Colt or Ruger that I didn't like. S&W's are typically replaceable, for the most part, though I can't ever see myself selling my 6", blued, K-22 Masterpiece, ever.

Thanks for the good advice. I have no doubt, I will like settle on some version, of your advice.

 

[sharkman]

Okay, I just got it home, and of course, the first thing I had to do, based on the comments here, was to remove the grip panels, and see if the frame was Ruger, or aftermarket.
Well, the news is this. The brass grip frame is marked, on the lower right, rear of the flange inside the rear of the frame, MR-3DB. I guess this one was a real SCORE.
Woo-Hoo, I am now a real happy camper!!!

 

[Hondo44]

That's great! You must have been holding your tongue just right! Now you just need to find a used steel ERH with wear or to brass plate just by posting a wanted ad here on this forum.