I like the 4 3/4"~4 5/8" barrel..............

[Bob Wright]

When Ruger announced the Blackhawk .357 Magnum and its 4 5/8" barrel, I thought it was the most handsome handgun ever made. This in 1958. And as the years rolled (And rolled. And rolled. And rolled......) by, I still am of that persuasion. Though I've bought, and shot many Single Actions over the years, that barrel just to the end of the extractor has always appealed to me. And shooting has never changed my thinking.

For evidence:

Do y'all think I might have overdone it?


Bob Wright

 

[larryofcc]

When Ruger announced the Blackhawk .357 Magnum and its 4 5/8" barrel, I thought it was the most handsome handgun ever made. This in 1958. And as the years rolled (And rolled. And rolled. And rolled......) by, I still am of that persuasion. Though I've bought, and shot many Single Actions over the years, that barrel just to the end of the extractor has always appealed to me. And shooting has never changed my thinking.

(Photos edited out -- Moderator)

Do y'all think I might have overdone it?


Bob Wright

No Bob. You have several real nice Rugers. I have a short bbl. 357 Blackhawk #1064 that shows wear from many years, but I would never have it redone. I also have a short bbl. Colt SAA 45 from 1906 that I did have nickeled many years ago, and wish I hadn't. The short bbl. Colts seem to bring a premium and the Rugers seem to follow that trend. Again, you have a very nice collection there. Big Larry

 

[street]

Those are the guns that Ruger should have been making all along. :wink: Just for a note, Ruger started making that barrel length in .357 mag. in 1955.

 

[bogus bill]

I have some myself.
https://i.postimg.cc/jdPGjsTr/Colt-SAA-45-SA-47021-lower-Colt-SAA-22235-44-special.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/NfnRYH27/Uberti-P-0795.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/prMc159F/Colt-SAA-LAP-8015.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/tg0rgV5m/Ruger-single-six-32-H-R-Mag-65004687.jpg

 

[Bob Wright]

Those are the guns that Ruger should have been making all along. :wink: Just for a note, Ruger started making that barrel length in .357 mag. in 1955.

It was sometime in 1956 that I first heard of it. Seems my first was buying the 1956 Gun Digest.

Bob Wright

 

[Rclark]

Those are the guns that Ruger should have been making all along.

I agree. I do like the CC finish and wish all my 'blued' SA revolvers were so completed. Quite a nice collection of shooters there. Bob.

I don't mind the 4 5/8", but I do prefer the 5 1/2". Ruger via Lipseys finally came out with the adjustable sighted .357 flattop in 5 1/2". In my mind, proper frame size and proper length for the cartridge.

 

[bogus bill]

I have one of those 5 1/2" Lipseys in .44 special.
https://i.postimg.cc/B6Z7wvHt/Ruger-44-spec-520-23413.jpg

 

[Jeepnik]

Of all the handguns I own this one seems to balance better than any. I think that contributes to it's being not only one of the most accurate, but my favorite centerfire.

 

[6GUNSONLY]

My favorite length, too, Bob. Ever since my first single action, an old model .45 convertible that I quickly had rebarreled to 4 5/8".

 

[larryofcc]

My favorite shorty. Very scarce "Star" single cylinder. Big Larry

 

[jdowney]

Those are some nice sixguns, all sporting the best barrel length! :mrgreen:

I could probably live with the 5.5", but I agree with you, same length as the ejector rod is my favorite.

 

[bogus bill]

I like this 3 1/2" Cimmeron Thunderer. I have owned it almost 35 years. It has .45 colt and ACP cylinders. Once seen a Colt SAA just like it. The Colt was nickle, ivory grips and fire blued screws. That was the prettiest single action colt I ever seen.
https://i.postimg.cc/5NHNjBj9/Uberti-C-012399.jpg

 

[dixie884]

I'm a shorty fan, myself.........

 

[Chief]

I have one of those 5 1/2" Lipseys in .44 special.
https://i.postimg.cc/B6Z7wvHt/Ruger-44-spec-520-23413.jpg

I would love to have one of those! Still available?

 

[bogus bill]

I dont know. Bought mine about six or more years ago. Hardly shot it. Someday I may sell it as I own these other six .44 specials. Two colts and four smiths. I aint sure how that happened. Read too much Skeeter.
https://i.postimg.cc/JzRVzvzk/IMG-1417-edited-1.jpg

 

[Chief]

Bogus those are very nice ! Especially the Smiths.

 

[bogus bill]

The 6 1/2" Triplelock was made I think 1909 or 1910 and sent back to the factory 1949/1950 and had the adjustable sights added. The 1950 target is I think, 1955. The 5" was a 4" 38/44 Heavy duty that I found a model 21 5" barrel and had the cylinder reamed to .44 special. The 4" 24-3 I bought new in 1984. Thanks.

 

[Muley Gil]

My first Ruger was a 4 5/8" OM .45 Colt Blackhawk. I have owned a 7 1/2" Colt New Frontier .44 Special, an older 5 1/2" Great Western .45 Colt and a 7 1/2" Ruger Old Army with a .45 Colt cylinder. I also had a 6 1/2" 50th Anniversary .44 Magnum. Other the 6" Colt New Frontier .22 LR/.22 Magnum, all the rest of my single actions have had 4 3/4"-4 5/8" barrels.

 

[bogus bill]

I once owned a nickle old model 4 5/8 single six. Bought it used, It had stag grips, the hammer spur checkering had been filed smooth. Wrote Ruger and they said they never nickled one. A close friend of mine that had done the quick draw thing at Big Bear said he seen a similar one given as a prize years ago. Wish I had kept it.

 

[Chief]

The 6 1/2" Triplelock was made I think 1909 or 1910 and sent back to the factory 1949/1950 and had the adjustable sights added. The 1950 target is I think, 1955. The 5" was a 4" 38/44 Heavy duty that I found a model 21 5" barrel and had the cylinder reamed to .44 special. The 4" 24-3 I bought new in 1984. Thanks.

That is quite the selection Bogus Bill. That model 24-3 is my favorite. Who made the holster pictured with your very nice Ruger .44 ( I am very jealous, remember me if you should decide you don't need it).

 

[bogus bill]

The holster is a lined Safariland. I bought it about 45 years ago for a 5 1/2"colt new frontier. They were about identical sized. Still looks new. Unfortunately my New Frontier was stolen along with many more guns. The New Frontier was originally one of a consecutively numbered pair Audie Murphy bought new and willed his two sons.
Serial # was 5355 NF.
https://i.postimg.cc/c1QmQ102/Guns6.jpg
I bought that colt about 1973 from a pawn shop in southern Ca. Used/new. Later I seen the mate in George Gartons book "Post war Colt Single Action Armys". I called Garton as mine was numbered with the one featured.
He said mine was the missing one. I lettered it and it was shipped together with the other one. When he died
one son sold his to ---- and the other son, not a gun guy, took his to the nearest pawn shop and didn't tell them it was his famous father`s. I bought it for the average price they were going for back then. ($250)

 

[Ruger Packer]

I have one of those 5 1/2" Lipseys in .44 special.
https://i.postimg.cc/B6Z7wvHt/Ruger-44-spec-520-23413.jpg

I would love to have one of those! Still available?

I have one of those... except its stainless. Never been fired, expect for factory proof. I'd consider selling it.

Contact me via PM if interested.

 

[protoolman]

What, no one likes the 10" Super's? Nah, I like the 4 5/8s ones best too.

 

[Jeepnik]

I have to admit when it comes to Smith's N frames my preferred barrel length is the fairly uncommon 5". I suppose I got spoiled with my 1917's. For a large revolver they aren't in the least ungainly.

 

[bogus bill]

I have a few 5" smiths. A 27-2, 29-2, 544 (44-40 Texas Wagon Trail commemorative) and a 1917. (They are 5 1/2") and a old heavy duty converted to .44 special.
https://i.postimg.cc/gk32PFBx/top-s-w-27-2-bottom-s-w-29-2.jpg
https://postimg.cc/JyYntCBw
https://i.postimg.cc/Pf3q8ctD/S-W-1917-46203.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/XvWMVHMR/SW-S73070.jpg

 

[Chief]

I have one of those 5 1/2" Lipseys in .44 special.
https://i.postimg.cc/B6Z7wvHt/Ruger-44-spec-520-23413.jpg

I would love to have one of those! Still available?

I have one of those... except its stainless. Never been fired, expect for factory proof. I'd consider selling it.

Contact me via PM if interested.

PM inbound.

 

[smith1961]

Just imagine a 4 & 5/8" .41 mag Vaquero!!!!

 

[Colonel Daddy]

Great thread. Lots of very nice Blackhawks! Y'all bring on more of them. Most of us never get tired of a color case hardened Blackhawk! I also prefer the 4 5/8 in. barrel as they do seem to balance better for me, both the medium frame and the large frame. Have not had any of mine Case Hardened but am considering having it done to a .45 OM built on the medium ,357 frame that will have a birdshead grip and 3 1/2" bbl. Yes, could have purchased a New Model Birdshead as such but the OM's are my preference. This .45 is the one Isaac Gallagher returned to me in parts that his dad was unable to finish.

 

[smith1961]

Hey Look!!!
Lipsey's does it again! Something unique that's never been done before :P

https://www.ruger.com/products/newModelBlackhawkConvertible/specSheets/0476.html