Hello, i have a chance to purchase an unconverted 357 circa 1959.It has wood grips,are these the right grips for that year as i saw somewhere that there were also black plastic grips for the OM's? Thank you to anyone who can help with this.It has no papers or box unfortunately but it will be my first OM.
OM 357
- Thread starter smorin2
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Spillway
Bearcat
Go to Gunblast.com do a search on ruger blackhawks all the info is there.
contender
Ruger Guru
I fully agree with eveled. Grips are interchangeable. Plus, as noted it could have come with either type. And since the grip frame should be a XR-3, both the wood & the plastics are worth about the same money.
Thanks for all the responses.My OM 357 is the 6 1/2" model with the Micro sight and if i researched right it's a type 3 flattop.It has a plum colored loading gate and ERH.I traded a Glock for it today and i'm quite pleased.The LGS had it rated at 95% condition,it has a slight turn ring on the cylinder 
and a little blueing wear on the muzzle.Considering the age of this gun it is in really nice shape and does not appear to have been shot much.I was on the fence about buying this gun but after you guys responded i went and got it,this forum is a great place to get help,thank you.
and a little blueing wear on the muzzle.Considering the age of this gun it is in really nice shape and does not appear to have been shot much.I was on the fence about buying this gun but after you guys responded i went and got it,this forum is a great place to get help,thank you.Hello again,tonite as i was cleaning the gun i noticed something odd-the grip panels are oiled walnut w/ a black eagle medallion and the frame is marked XR3-Red and is stamped Alcoa.My serial # 25278 puts it according to Ruger's website at late 1959 but this grip is not from that time.My question is do you think the grip was changed or is it possible that the production date is wrong? The price was very fair and i intend to enjoy shooting it but i am just curious to what you guys think is the case here. Thank you
contender
Ruger Guru
Well, #25278 would be a 1959 gun. It's too early to be a "transition" gun, so my bet would be on the fact that somebody swapped around the grip frame & grips at some point.
Sounds like a fine shooter!
Sounds like a fine shooter!
street
Hunter
Most likely the grip frame was changed, but only a shipping date from Ruger would tell if it could have been shipped with the XR3-RED frame. Sometimes a gun will stay at the factory for a while, sometimes years and be assembled with parts from both time frames. With Ruger never say never!!!!! :roll:
chet15
Hawkeye
Walnut grips were standardized on all Blackhawks in January 1960. But that doesn't mean somebody couldn't have put a pair of "accessory" walnut on a gun, which were available at $5 beginning in 1955.
Chet15
Chet15
Hondo44
Hawkeye
smorin2 said:
Bravo, you'll love it.
If you just bought as a shooter, I wouldn't worry about the grip frame. In fact you'll appreciate it if you shoot much .357 Mag. It's longer distance from the trigger guard gives a little extra room to keep from rapping your knuckles under recoil. That could be why it was changed, if it was changed. Of course you can find an XR3 grip frame and grips to restore it. But like street said, until you get a ship date from a Ruger letter ($10) you won't know if it was a later shipped gun, post 1962, and has the GF it came with.
Thank you to everyone on this thread.I enjoy this section of the forum the most.I tried out my flattop and really like it,i have no intention of selling this gun.I'm going to call Ruger this coming week as i'm curious about the gun's history,if the letter comes back with anything interesting i will share it here.Thanks again guys.
25278 was very likely shipped in late 1959, perhaps December. This is not absolutely for sure, but Bob's List shows guns from 24694 thru 36403 having 12/59 ship dates.
A letter from Ruger would be a good idea.
Congrats on a good score.
A letter from Ruger would be a good idea.
Congrats on a good score.
chet15
Hawkeye
Ale-8(1) said:25278 was very likely shipped in late 1959, perhaps December. This is not absolutely for sure, but Bob's List shows guns from 24694 thru 36403 having 12/59 ship dates.
A letter from Ruger would be a good idea.
Congrats on a good score.
Ditto on the letter. Ruger is known to have shipped flattops into the mid 1970's!
Chet15
