Grip frame materials

[KWYJIBO]

So, if I understand correctly...

- Stainless steel Blackhawks all come with stainless steel grips (brushed finish).

- Stainless steel Vaqueros all come with stainless steel grips (polished).

- Blued Blackhawks (except Supers, and the 50th anniversary models) come with aluminum alloy grips--originally anodized, later coated with some kind of paint finish.

- Blued Super Blackhawks have blued steel grips.

... and little lambs eat ivy.

My question for you who know: what about the Vaqueros (not New ones) with blued barrel and cylinder, simulated case hardened cylinder frame? Did they get steel grip frames, or aluminum? I thought all Vaqueros were all-steel construction; can anyone verify that for me?

 

[Hondo44]

The original blue/CCH Vaqueros all had blued steel grip frames but the early production were not all steel construction. They had alloy ejector rod housings until 1999 when they were changed to steel between s/n 57-23967 and 36066.

Ruger refers to Chrome Molybdenum (Chromoly) as alloy steel in their catalogs, meaning blued steel as opposed to Alum alloy or stainless steel. See below for complete application details of all models.

Which Blue Models use Steel Alloy or Alum Alloy GFs and/or ERHs (old & new models):

Blue steel GFs* on the following:
All New Model Blackhawk flat top and New Vaquero mid-size main frames, XR3 size (also cut for indexing pawl system, no extensions into main frame & only 7/16” thick).
All Super BHs (exc. Hunter models); XR3-RED size on short brl. lengths; dragoon size on 7 1/2" & 10" barrels.
All original full-size Vaqueros
All SHORT grip .32 Mag Vaq. style single sixes & 500 .32 Mag Vaq. style single sixes with the XR3-RED size GFs.
All Bisleys.
Old Army beginning 1985.

Aluminum alloy grip frames on the following:
All blue single sixes 22 and 32 (except the 32 Mag Vaq. style and Bisley 22s & 32s).
All full size cyl frame NON-flat top Blackhawks, XR3-RED size (not including Bisley Blackhawks).
All Old Models, XR3 GF, pre 1963.
All Old Models including Hawkeye, XR3-RED GF, pre 1973 (except Super BH).
Old Army pre 1985.
Blue Bearcats: The 1st generation are alum alloy with steel ERHs until c. 1962. The all "Super" Bearcat old models introduced in 1971, have steel frames but alum alloy ERHs. All new model Bearcats are the same and were introduced in 1993.

Steel ERH* on the following:
All New Model Blackhawk flat tops
All New Vaqueros
All Super BHs in all barrel lengths (including 5” ERH on 44 & 357 Max 10” barrel) from the recent past c. 10 years.
All original full-size main frame Vaqueros except the 1st few years.
All old models including Bearcats prior to c. 1962.

Alloy ERH* on the following:
Guns with alloy grip frames usually have alloy ejector rod housings except early old models which had steel until c. 1962.
Also, except for recent years, NM Super BHs and early original full size Vaqueros had alloy ERHs until 1999.
The earlier stainless Bearcats have alloy silver anodized ERHs, only recently changed to Stainless ERHs.

*NOTE: There are several dealer exclusive model exceptions to the above such as the Buckeye Blackhawk convertibles that have steel GFs, etc.

 

[KWYJIBO]

Hondo, thank you for the very complete answer. That is exactly the information I was looking for.

 

[Bob Wright]

So, if I understand correctly...

- Stainless steel Blackhawks all come with stainless steel grips (brushed finish).

- Stainless steel Vaqueros all come with stainless steel grips (polished).

- Blued Blackhawks (except Supers, and the 50th anniversary models) come with aluminum alloy grips--originally anodized, later coated with some kind of paint finish.

- Blued Super Blackhawks have blued steel grips.

... and little lambs eat ivy.

My question for you who know: what about the Vaqueros (not New ones) with blued barrel and cylinder, simulated case hardened cylinder frame? Did they get steel grip frames, or aluminum? I thought all Vaqueros were all-steel construction; can anyone verify that for me?

Actually, they all come with either plastic or wood grips.

Bob Wright

 

[gramps]

KWYJIBO wrote: "... and little lambs eat ivy." Their mothers do too- poison ivy! Be careful shearing!
gramps