Grip frame replace on 3 screw

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That begs the question... if you did buy a magnum SA revolver without a grip frame would you seek out another aluminum frame or get something more substantial (IMO) like brass/bronze stainless or blued steel for it?

Be honest not a purist.
 
That begs the question... if you did buy a magnum SA revolver without a grip frame would you seek out another aluminum frame or get something more substantial (IMO) like brass/bronze stainless or blued steel for it?

Be honest not a purist.
If we are talking Blackhawk 3 screw, it would depend on the condition of the piece. Pristine or close, I would have to say purist. For a restoration or rebuild, I would say brass. Love the look of a nicely blued revolver with brass hardware. Original Colt, S&W and others had brass options, and Ruger made Blackhawks with brass gf's.
A friend recently sold me a 3 screw .357, in great shape. When I told him I was putting a ss gf on my .357, I didn't say my NM. He got a bit upset, said it would ruin the value of the gun.
 
RW is your answer with what ever you want to use,,, Gripframes, Triggers, Hammers, he now has ALL the bases covered and you know the quality!
Here is a NM configured Bisley Grip Frame, made by Qualite, ONLY in NM configuration and no longer available but,,, RW can get you one very similar and way better accurate manufacture…. with a Super/ Bisley hump Hammer in OM configuration, with a OM Trigger using a NM a Trigger Return Spring,,,, and this gun has never been as smooth/ crisp, a pleasure to operate.
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I really like this,,, a OM Bisley, well curved, wide fully fill the trigger window of a NM Bisley GF, with the spur to be able to use a NM Trigger Return Spring. Really well manufactured and finished. The Trigger used in the gun pictured.
View attachment 61925
G2, do you own any ugly guns? Love this one!
 
That begs the question... if you did buy a magnum SA revolver without a grip frame would you seek out another aluminum frame or get something more substantial (IMO) like brass/bronze stainless or blued steel for it?

Be honest not a purist.
I guess it depends. I rescued an OM FT 44 from a "tactical" gun shop a few years ago (did a whole spread on the restore here on the forum). It had a Super Black Hawk grip frame, and had been converted to the transfer bar "safety" mechanism. I found the correct aluminum XR-3 grip frame and already had the OM parts.... It's "all better now". For ME, grip frames are actually irrelevant. No matter the size, or shape, I shoot'em and never notice the difference. I'm NOT one who notices details.... my mantra has always been "striving for mediocrity" so, I don't 'pay attention'. I do acknowledge that most folk have preferences, and I would never judge or even comment on personal preferences. My original question "why aluminum" was just that: a question that I was curious about.
Now that I think about it, in my younger years hunting in the San Juans, I did prefer my aluminum grip framed Blackhawk 45.... The long days hiking at that altitude kept me very aware of "weight"....beyond that, it doesn't make any difference to me. And now, in old age, I "download" everything and don't shoot that many rounds in any one range session to hurt me... so weight-to-caliber is "meh".



J.
 
"That begs the question... if you did buy a magnum SA revolver without a grip frame would you seek out another aluminum frame or get something more substantial (IMO) like brass/bronze stainless or blued steel for it?

Be honest not a purist."

Joey has it right.
A lot depends upon condition of the gun. A minty gun deserves a minty original g/f, and proper grips.
A shooter can be whatever the owner desires.

In my case,, I'd likely use a shooter grade original type g/f & be happy. Of course,, I can shoot all the Ruger g/f's w/o issues.
 
When I finally found an OM .41 4-5/8..the FIRST thing I did was install a Brass Gripframe i'd been saving for just such a project..problem is now I have the empty box the gripframe came in...LOL
(I couldn't afford the price of admission for a Factory Shipped version, they kinda pricey).
 
A good while back I bought a OM .41Mag in terrible condition. Rusty and all the Al parts were dinged and scratched like it had been carried loose in a tool box. I sent it to Ruger for the conversion and had them install an Old Army grip frame and steel ejector housing and re blue the gun. I then unconverted it when I got it back. I am happy with the results. However, I think I would have been happier with one of the Williams steel framed .41 mags I ran into later. Wish I had bought one of those too.

I guess if you do that now you need to hold on the the proper parts while sending in the gun.
 
Hang on, if you send an OM in for upgrad it can be stripped b4 u send it?
Yes, you would have to buy the NM "upgrade" parts, and probably have a gunsmith do it, Parts are available on ebay and some of the other part place on line. Ruger used to do it and send the parts back, don't know if they still return them.
 
You can remove the original OM parts,, send in the gun,, to Ruger,, and they will install the NM type parts. All for free. I know they say they return parts,, but occasionally, I've heard of a few times they didn't return parts saying they were "unserviceable"!

If I have to return an OM,, I'd pull the hammer, the trigger, the base pin at a minimum. Then let Ruger do it's part,, and when I got it back,, I'd return it to how it's supposed to be.
 
You can remove the original OM parts,, send in the gun,, to Ruger,, and they will install the NM type parts. All for free. I know they say they return parts,, but occasionally, I've heard of a few times they didn't return parts saying they were "unserviceable"!

If I have to return an OM,, I'd pull the hammer, the trigger, the base pin at a minimum. Then let Ruger do it's part,, and when I got it back,, I'd return it to how it's supposed to be.
I did not know you could send a stripped BH to Ruger and they would put the conversion kit in them. I have sent two, my 'smith buddy had some parts, said they needed to be converted before they were sent. Didn't charge me anything, just got his parts back when they were returned. Learned something. Thanks Contender.
 
Well, the deal finally went through, and now the quest for parts begins. I discovered that OM barrel in mine has the stud for the ejector rod housing (ERH) screw so that's a problem and despite the gun being in overall excellent condition the ERH is a bit ratty. Considering it was made in 1967 that's gonna be an issue to get a steel or stainless replacement.

I'll give RW a call to see what he can do for a grip frame.
 
Gonna be exciting to see what you get and how it looks when done... Ronnie Wells has a HUGE selection of styles and materials to choose from.

J.
 
Ok, you want to swap the g/f to a steel or brass one. As I mentioned before,, that's an easy thing to do. If you get a Ruger NM factory g/f in stainless or steel,, an adapter for the trigger return spring isn't hard.

As for the ERH,, and the studded barrel. Swapping out the alloy one for a steel one or stainless one may be a little harder. I'd have to dig into my parts to see if there is a factory one that fits the stud. And yes,, there are different housing mounts for the ERH.

If the gun has the OM parts in it,, I'd leave that alone. You will discover how "sweet" the action feels over a standard (not worked over) factory transfer bar type. If it has the transfer bar safety upgrade,, I'd really start hunting for a set of original parts. A 3-screw's action is so much smoother.
 
AFAIK it's all original and it even "says Colt" when cocking the hammer.

I have SS Super Blackhawk Dragoon as well as RED grip frames for it which I'll get on it eventually. Today I'm heading to the range with it and a few others.
 

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FWIW:

I have sent several old model's back for the safety conversion.

I strip all the Original OM Parts out before sending it. I have even taken off the ERH, asked for a replacement and it come# back with a new one installed,,, go figure.

You can do what you want, it's your gun, BUT when your Original OM Parts don't come back… don't come here and cry, ohhh wait,,, yes come here and cry & beg for a set of Original OM Parts…😜

Bottom line: if your OM gun does not have the "R" stamped on the underside of the cylinder frame that indicates it has been back for safety conversion, it does not need Original OM Action Parts installed.
 
Well it has been back to Ruger based on the R stamped on the left side of the frame. No biggie, it's going to get the updated parts and I have no plans on sending it to Ruger.
 
"Well it has been back to Ruger based on the R stamped on the left side of the frame."

Ruger never stamped the side of the frame in reference to the safety conversion. They only did that on the bottom of the main frame,, where the g/f hides it. The left side "R" is for something else.
 
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