I am assuming

bigbob

Single-Sixer
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Jan 21, 2010
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ARIZONA
That ALL Super Blk Hawks are LARGE FRAME because of Caliber???
How can you tell the LARGE frame Blk Hawk from the MEDIUM frame Blk Hawk??
Thanks guys
 
The large frame is bigger than the medium frame. Thats how I tell the difference. ;)
 
Knowing the different models is the best way. I'm sure you could find specifications that would list cylinder diameter of the different size models.
 
SN# Prefix,,,
Large is 2 digit.
Medium is 3 digit.

This works 99% of the time, why 99% ??? There is one out there that is large but has 3 digits, I just can't remember right off, but the error is in the safe direction.
 
All Medium frame Blackhawks are officially named "Flat Top Blackawk" and do not have protective rear sight ribs:

Flat Tops
orig.jpg

NOTE: But not all Flat Tops are med frame: the 41 mag and 44 Mag "Flat Top Blackawk" are built on the large frame.


All Supers and Blackhawks are large frame and have sight ribs in front of rear sight:

orig.jpg

NOTE: The Old Model 357 Blackhawk from 1962 thru 1972 is a medium frame and has protective sight ribs.

All med frame Ruger cylinder diameters are: 1.675" +/-.

All Large frame Ruger cylinder diameters are: 1.725”-1.732”; ~.045” larger than Ruger mid frames.
 
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The above illustration is on page 8 of H.W.Ross' Blacksmith Guide to Ruger Flattops & Super Blackhawks, copyright 1979 by Ross.

There's a similar illustration on page 9 for the .44 series, up thru the Supers and New Models.

A great reference work.

:mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:
 
I had a nice easy to follow chart for the following info but the forum didn't like it, sorry.

CYLINDER SIZE for FRAME SIZE COMPARISONS:

1. Colt SAA
2. U.S.F.A. SAA
3. Ruger Mid Frame Old Model BHs .357 FT and 1962-72 Ribbed sight frame
4. Ruger Mid Frame New Models: New Vaquero/FT Blackhawk
5. Ruger Large frames New & Old models: Original Vaquero/Blackhawk/Super BH/41 and 44 FT BHs

Manuf./Models------------------1.----------2.-------------3.-----------4.-----------5.

Cylinder OA length----------1.852------1.852--------1.835------1.830-65---1.955-70
Cylinder Diameter-----------1.652------1.674--------1.672------1.675-------1.732
Cylinder Body Length-------1.607------1.625--------1.602------1.610-------1.703
Frame Window Height------1.672------1.690--------1.700------1.700-------1.763
 
Hondo44,

You posted this in the past and not popular with the RF? Why, didn’t like having models 1 and 2 included? You did all the required work for “Ruger” data. You share a great deal of information with this forum, so I don’t believe you would mind some changes to your chart for personal use. So I did.

Thanks,

SATCOM
 
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