OLD MODEL SUPER BLACKHAWK...REINCARNATED AND REJUVENATED!

[Anonymous]

Back in May, a few of us has an interesting little discussion about this gun (http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=181110).

If you're interested, you can go back and read it and see what the gun looked like then, not long after I purchased it at a gun show. Long story short, it left the Ruger factory in July of 1967 as a model S47 with a 7.5-inch barrel (I have a Ruger letter on it). Someone...possibly someone with some sort of mental defect and/or minimal mechanical skills...whacked the barrel off to 6.5-inches and did a horribly amateurish job of it, totally ruining the barrel crown and polishing the front sight base so much that every square corner was rounded off.

The more I looked at it, the more it bothered me. I know lots of people modify barrel length, but jeez, if you're gonna do it, do it right. I wouldn't normally consider modifying a vintage OM Ruger, but I'd begun to feel about this gun like I felt about several neglected and abused Rottweilers I've rescued over the years. It may sound strange, but I felt sorry for the old gun.

So last month, I took it to a gunsmith friend of mine and basically said, "Fix this. Make it look like a Ruger is supposed to look."

Here is the result. Barrel shortened to 4-5/8". Recrowned to Ruger specs. Barrel reblued and a new Ruger factory front sight with a gold bead around the sight base. And a vintage Ruger factory brass grip frame and wide trigger, courtesy of Bill Hamm. I say "courtesy of"...of course I had to pay him for it. :lol:

My gunsmith friend and I test fired it using Hornady Critical Defense loads, with the 165-grain bullet. Anyone remember Jackie Gleason and how one of his characters was always saying, "How swe-e-e-e-t it is"? Well, that's what it's like to shoot this gun. Sweet. I now have some Speer Gold Dot defense loads with the 200-grain GDHP bullet that I'm anxious to try. Hope to hit the range early in the week.

I'm liking this gun so much now, I may seriously consider having some engraving done on it. What do you think? Should I? This gun's a shooter...it isn't gonna languish on a shelf in a safe. Here's a photo.

 

[contender]

Beautiful!
I bought an OM Super in H'burg this past spring that somebody had done almost the same thing you did. The barrel had been cut off, a reblue, and a brass g/f. Well, I decided the brass g/f was needed elsewhere, so I put a stainless Bisley g/f under it, and added a stainless ejector rod housing.
As you say; (well as Jackie said;) "How sweeeeeettttt it is!"

 

[Anonymous]

Beautiful!
I bought an OM Super in H'burg this past spring...I put a stainless Bisley g/f under it, and added a stainless ejector rod housing.
As you say; (well as Jackie said;) "How sweeeeeettttt it is!"

I know you're in Lake Lure, a place I've visited countless times since childhood (I almost drowned in Lake Lure as a small boy...my dad saved me), not to mention Chimney Rock right up the road. When you say "H'burg", are you talking about a town in NC? Like Harrisburg? Just curious.

Where did you get the stainless Bisley grip frame? Off another gun, or did you get one from Brownell's? I keep wanting to do a Bisley frame, but am unsure how much fitting to an OM Ruger would be needed. All I have and buy are old models. And NC Ordnance in Wilson, NC (http://www.gungrip.com/items_RB__ruger backstraps.html) offers a brass or chrome birdshead gripframe that they've updated and now say it'll fit guns with the old XR3-Red grip frame, which would make an interesting looking short-barrelled Ruger. But I don't know what other parts I'd need. I'd be interested in hearing any thoughts you have on fitting a Bisley or Birdshead grip frame to an OM Ruger.

 

[gunsbam69]

It looks EXCELLENT, and I say engrave it if that's what you want. I'm going to convert one to .45 Colt someday myself with the same barrel length and either this or a stainless grip frame. Perfect way to rescue one that's been jacked up, and/or an excellent excuse :mrgreen:

 

[Jim Puke]

Beautiful gun.

In my opinion, engraving would only cover it's natural beauty...but that is just my opinion.

 

[WASATCH CHARLIE]

awesome job EH!!!!!!

 

[Anonymous]

Beautiful gun. In my opinion, engraving would only cover it's natural beauty...but that is just my opinion.

I actually tend to agree with you about engraving covering this gun's natural beauty...that was just one of those "what if?" ideas. I do have an engraving theme in mind which would relate to things that mean something to me personally...but I'm thinking this isn't the gun to do it on. You know how it is...you get a gun looking and working the way you want it to, then you start wondering what else you can do to it, and before you know it, you've gone overboard and messed up the original concept. I don't want that to happen with this gun, so I'll leave well enough alone...except shopping around for some custom grips.

Thanks for your input.

 

[contender]

Well Big Dawg,,, if you know where LL is,, you have visited my home. I'm an endangered species,, a born & raised native. (Born at the original Bat Cave Valley Clinic, delivered by a local LL doctor.)
You'll have to look me up on your next visit.
Ok, I got my H'burg gun in Harrisburg Pa at the March RCA show there. Lonely OM Super, factory brass g/f, and a chopped barrel. I looked at the 5 digit serial number & knew it would be a good gun. Someone had done a good job on cutting the barrel, & re-installing the front sight. I knew any collector value was gone,,, but as a shooter,,, I couldn't let it languish in that colder state. It needed a move to a milder climate.
I had a Bisley g/f, trigger etc I'd bought at a show as well. Obviously a factory take off. I didn't want to do any trigger mods,, so I just used the g/f. BUT,,, to use a NM g/f in an OM gun, you have to make an insert for the trigger return spring. A few hrs of tinkering in my gunsmiths shop & we made me 3 of them. After that,, the g/f went right under that Super. Next,,, for the NM stainless ERH, I did have to drill it out a bit to fit over the barrel stud. Again,, it came out of my parts bin, as did the screw needed.
It's a simple swapping once you figure out what is needed.
Since I used only Ruger parts,, I can't offer anything on the aftermarket stuff. But,, I don't think I'd enjoy a Birdshead g/f on a Super,,,!
Now,,, if you get in this area,, and want to try out my Super to see how a Super shoots with the Bisley,,, you are welcome to try it!

 

[gunman42782]

She's a beaut!

 

[WendyZXZ]

Nice job!