Grip frame question

[Dan in MI]

I just sold an OM birdshead frame to a member. Come to find out now it is (edit) for a NM. Can he use it?

After he received it we had more discussion. Apparently he has an original Vaquero, but was using OM as the term for an original VQ.

 

[NikA]

Original Vaquero is NM action without pawl indexing upgrade, don't see any problems mating up to any Ruger-produced (only NM) birdshead frame.

 

[hittman]

But looks like ( to me ) he’s trying to mate an OM frame to it …..

 

[NikA]

But looks like ( to me ) he’s trying to mate an OM frame to it …..

I guess I read this as "sold GF as OM compatible, found out it is NM GF, will it mate to original Vaquero", but the "it" in the second sentence could be the sold grip frame or the intended recipient gun...

 

[Dan in MI]

Clarification. (yeah I wasn't clear in the original post)

OM brass birds head onto a NM original Vaquero

 

[G2]

Yes this is confusing.
He has a Vaquero which is a NM gun.
You sold him a;

OM frame frame, it can be accomplished but takes some work, mostly removing material for the NM Trigger Spring to work,,,
And it will need a hole drilled thru the frame to hold the Trigger Spring AND a hole to hold the cross pin to hold the legs of the trigger spring, and it will need a hole for the Cylinder Latch Spring & Plunger. All of this work takes some skill & capacity,,,, easy for some, impossible for others.


NM frame to a OM, is a bit easier only needing a OM Spring Block added,,,
OR a empty 22 case JB Welded, in lieu of the Spring Block.

I see you were providing clarification, When it comes to Brass Grip Frame, IMO it's worth doing the extra to get it to work.
However Mr DeerStalker has a NM frame for sale in the classifieds.
And I would be interested in the OM Brass Birdshead if that helps any. I was thinking about buying Deerstalkers but have a NM XR3-RED that I can cut to Birds head.
Here is pictures of that frame showing the extra holes needed and the material that needs to be removed for the Trigger Spring

 

[Ale-8(1)]

I really don't know how an OM grip frame can handle the NM trigger spring. Not saying it won't, but it will take some of G2's solutions.

You can put a NM grip frame on an OM gun with the little trigger spring adapter thingie. I have done it. No problem.

 

[G2]

Here is the NM Brass Birdshead offered currently, if you look close you can see it's the same as what I have pictured but in Birdshead.
The reason why Qualite/ MK added the amount of material in the last castings.
These are both OM but it does show the extra material added to the frame on the Left -vs- the frame on the right was the first mold/ casting,,,, way back in the day.
The BIRDSHEAD LINE on the left frame is just that,,, a tracing of a Birdshead grip panel traced. You will notice how there is a little too much material and it makes the strut saddle sit crooked, It worked but I didn’t like it now it’s fixed. thanks to a little bit of material removed.

 

[G2]

A early picture of this Single Six project where the bottom gun, a OM Magnum gun and the top gun a fixed sight NM Bisley that got the barrel cut to 3.6" and both were fitted w/ Brass Birdsheads. The NM gun was a XR3-RED that was cut to fit as mentioned above.
They are both done now, but no completed picture, sorry.
The OM gun Gripframe & Grips were bought as a package way back in the day.
I Sombrero'd the trigger guard, it ended up with a knife blade trigger, & Bisley spurred hammer.

 

[Dan in MI]

I have notified the buyer of this thread. We never really discussed OM/NM when he bought it although at one point he asked it worked and I replied it did on my OM. I'm thinking he's newer to the Ruger world and not aware of NM/OM and Vaquero original and whatever the new one is called.

I will work with him if required, or he can resell it. If he re-sells it I can furnish the history as I know it.

 

[Hondo44]

To use a grip frame made for an old model (3 screw gun), on any new model gun:

1. Grind off the trigger return spring shelf from the back of the NM trigger. And use the old model trigger return spring and plunger.

2. Drill a blind hole above the front of the trigger guard in the old model grip frame for the new model cylinder bolt return spring and plunger.

That’s it!

 

[G2]

Hondo44,,,
I never thought of that, more than one way to skin a cat,,, I LIKE IT!!!…

 

[Hondo44]

P.S. If the old model grip frame has the narrow trigger slot, it has to be widened for the new model wide trigger.