Misfit Guns

[MalteseHoss]

For some reason I have an eye for misfit guns. I bought a High Standard awhile back that someone bastardized and its one of the best shooters I own. Now my local gun shop has a misfit Ruger that just won't go away and stares me down every time I walk in. It is a Super Blackhawk three screw. But, it has a 4 and something inch barrel, Blackhawk trigger, and round trigger guard. Also, the receiver is Red, like left in the blueing tank to long(?). But it handles nicely, and the action is like butter. I was thinking of picking it up as a sidearm while hunting. Is it common to customize these to that extent?

 

[eveled]

Blued Rugers have a habit of turning plum colored. Some consider it a good thing some bad. All of my single actions have plum loading gates. If the price is right buy it. Would have to be pretty cheap for me to snag it.

 

[DHD]

If the price is right, you are just postponing the inevitable. If you go ahead and bring it home, you can get started spending money on it like it needs. I for one prefer a rounded trigger guard so that would be a big plus for me.

 

[Snake45]

If the price is right, you are just postponing the inevitable. If you go ahead and bring it home, you can get started spending money on it like it needs. I for one prefer a rounded trigger guard so that would be a big plus for me.

What he said. :wink:

 

[BPGuy]

At least some, if not all, of the short-barreled SBH's come with a round trigger guard. As mentioned above, Rugers are known to have the "blue" turn plum colored. As for the trigger, I don't see a difference between the SBH trigger and the BH trigger. Could be my lack of knowledge and experience speaking, but I'm thinking that you found a stock gun that you are unfamiliar with and which just seems to have been customized.

You mention it's a 3-screw; does it have the safety conversion? If so, it's somewhat less desirable. If not, keep the chamber under the hammer empty!

I suggest you go to GunBroker and use their search feature for closed auctions to see what the gun you're looking at has been selling for. Not what they were offered for, what they actually SELL for! Usually a significant difference. With that information, if you still want it, negotiate with the LGS and see if you can get it at a price you can live with.

 

[DHD]

At least some, if not all, of the short-barreled SBH's come with a round trigger guard. As mentioned above, Rugers are known to have the "blue" turn plum colored. As for the trigger, I don't see a difference between the SBH trigger and the BH trigger. Could be my lack of knowledge and experience speaking, but I'm thinking that you found a stock gun that you are unfamiliar with and which just seems to have been customized.

You mention it's a 3-screw; does it have the safety conversion? If so, it's somewhat less desirable. If not, keep the chamber under the hammer empty!

I suggest you go to GunBroker and use their search feature for closed auctions to see what the gun you're looking at has been selling for. Not what they were offered for, what they actually SELL for! Usually a significant difference. With that information, if you still want it, negotiate with the LGS and see if you can get it at a price you can live with.

Having no OM Blackhawk's, Super or otherwise, I don't know that the Super had a rounded triggerguard on any OM. I do have more than a few NMBH's and yes, the short barreled Super's do have a round triggerguard (got one of them).

As stated, I don't have any OM's so my experience with them is nil.

Regardless, you may as well buy it. You did say it had called to you so it already has your number......

 

[MalteseHoss]

I did some research and found that there were no old model short barrels ever made. Im guessing someone swapped out the grip frame with a newer model, and had to put the thinner trigger in as well. Being as how its a good distance from being original, if I do decide to get it its a good candidate for a safety block conversion. But if I hear right that will negatively effect the action.

 

[hdxr750]

Just asking, but is there something wrong with that barrel length? I know it's not correct but it should not be to big of a deal considering the other things that are different from factory fresh. It sounds like an interesting .44 to me.

 

[MalteseHoss]

Nothing at all. That's IMO what makes it ideal for carrying.

 

[Tip]

As already noted OP, what you're referring to as "red" may be what is known to us as "plum". It's not a negative, necessarily. And, nothing wrong with a 4 5/8" bbl., either.

This early 3 screw (1962) has a nicely beveled crown and was likely customized long ago. It had Sambar stag grips when I found it, but I prefer the tones of the Gonçalo Alves grips ('80's vintage) sold to me by a forum member.

 

[NitroAcres]

I would have snapped this Super up on first sight....zero question..it sounds PERFECT AS IS.

(No way would I think about "converting" it for "safety", there are plenty of precautions already discussed that are more than adequate for anyone of intelligence to understand)

 

[Mike Armstrong]

Those plum guns are plumb unsafe--who knows what metallurgical deterioration caused that color shift? Avoid them and send me their address so I can take them safely off the market and out of the hands of the naive, ignorant, and unwary!

I think we should call that color "prune" anyway!

Seriously, I think rescuing bubbaed and inappropriately modified guns, especially Rugers, and returning them to service is an excellent thing to do and a fun extension of our hobby. (I call it rehabilitation of deserving cripples. My wife calls it making a $450 gun out of $600 worth of parts....).

 

[MalteseHoss]

Well maybe I might have to go for it. I was going to pick up a convertible 45 but those are a dime a dozen (except for the bisley I let get away). My Uberti 44 just started giving me issues so I’m down a 44. If it’s still there next time I go in I’ll post pics of the new addition.

 

[Spencer]

As already noted OP, what you're referring to as "red" may be what is known to us as "plum". It's not a negative, necessarily. And, nothing wrong with a 4 5/8" bbl., either.

This early 3 screw (1962) has a nicely beveled crown and was likely customized long ago. It had Sambar stag grips when I found it, but I prefer the tones of the Gonçalo Alves grips ('80's vintage) sold to me by a forum member.

I love the look of this one. Not just the color, but the grips, barrel length and honest wear on it.

 

[Biggfoot44]

Back in the day there was a demand for .44mag SA of comfortable belt length . Consequently it was semi-common to shorten Super Blackhawk bbls, both to 5.5in , and flush to ejector rod housing. People weren't concerned about collector value 30 or 40 years later, they wanted a practical gun to fit their needs.

 

[Hondo44]

You have stumbled onto a very common modification of the OM SBH. Many users desired a more handy size 44. Myself included. That's why Ruger finally began producing the New Model SBHs with the same features as you observed.

The other possibility is that someone also had a standard Blackhawk OM or Old Army and wanted the all steel, sq back trigger guard, large size grip frame with the wide trigger. So swapped the parts and sold the SBH.

The unknowns are which standard grip frame does it have?

The OM pre '62 XR3 aluminum grip frame that busts your knuckles in large calibers, or

the OM post '62 XR3-RED aluminum grip frame with an 1/8" extra space that corrected the XR3 grip, or

the later post '85 Old Army XR3-RED size steel OM grip frame (has wide trigger slot and used the wide SBH trigger).

It could even have a new model BH grip frame aluminum or steel adapted to it, but much less likely.

The three basic sizes of old and new model grip frames:

 

[MalteseHoss]

Well someone beat me to it. Went back to pick up another one that I have on layaway yesterday and it was gone. I guess that means the low serial number 30 carbine Ive been looking at will be next instead. But someday I would like to build that one I missed out on. It really intrigued me.

 

[Hondo44]

Bummer. But now you can build your own. And your not limited to the old model alloy grip frames. You can buy a Clements adaptor wide trigger for the same ~price as an old model SBH wide trigger. and use any new model grip frame as well.

THE ONLY ADAPTATION NEEDED FOR A NEW MODEL GRIP FRAME TO AN OLD MODEL IS THE TRIGGER AND RETURN SPRING, AND THERE ARE 3 OPTIONS:

1. You can use the NM trigger return spring on old model guns with a Clements adapter trigger. This is the easiest way and the trigger is wide to fit the wide trigger slot in all NM grip frames. This is required if you want a Bisley trigger.
You'll also need the NM grip frame trigger return spring and both pins to use a Clements trigger.

___________________________Clements adapter triggers are the center two_________________________
OM trigger__________________standard____&____Bisley w/over travel stop__________________NM Bisley

They are $65 and are a 'drop in'. http://www.clementscustomguns.com/

 

[MalteseHoss]

Wow great information! Thanks!!