texaswheelgunner
Single-Sixer
I've looked in my RENE's but can't seem to come up with the answer.
How many of these were manufactured?
How many of these were manufactured?
OM FT .44 Mags. 7 1/2" bbls. Question
- Thread starter texaswheelgunner
- Start date
Chance
Buckeye
According to Dougan's handy-dandy pocket guide there were about 750 with the first appearing around sn#17000.
flatgate
Hawkeye
One of my favorite shooters. A gun show DOG..... now fitted with a steel XR3-RED grip frame and a Super hammer.
flatgate
OP
texaswheelgunner
Single-Sixer
Hey thanks guys, I've got my own 7 1/2" speciman but didn't realize they numbered less than 1000.
Flatgate, I had seen that pic. of your FT before I got mine. When I finally found mine, I, too, installed an XR3-Red grip frame on it....thanks for the good idea.
Flatgate, I had seen that pic. of your FT before I got mine. When I finally found mine, I, too, installed an XR3-Red grip frame on it....thanks for the good idea.
flatgate
Hawkeye
There are a few, a half a dozen or so, BKH-47's out there that were shipped with XR3-RED grip frames. However, so far, all known examples have Super Blackhawk cylinders.
texas wheelgunner, that's a fine looking .44 you have there!
flatgate
texas wheelgunner, that's a fine looking .44 you have there!
flatgate
153
Bearcat
- Joined
- Jul 12, 2010
- Messages
- 43
Here is mine, it was quite blue worn with some light pitting when I got it, couldn't resist a refinish. IMO it is now near perfect with the addition of a Ron Power steel gripframe and some Lett walnut stocks... my favortie Ruger and my favorite .44 magnum too!
flatheadsal
Single-Sixer
WOW 153, thats a real beauty all around!!! flathead
OP
texaswheelgunner
Single-Sixer
153.....that is really nice!
street
Hunter
texaswheelgunner":2jc7psbv said:
RENE "Reference of Ruger Firearms, Volume One" Forth Revision. Look on page 60, left column about half way down. Looks as if about 1500 to 2000 made. Hope this helps.
153
Bearcat
- Joined
- Jul 12, 2010
- Messages
- 43
Thanks for the compliments on the .44, glad to see that there were more than the 750 to 1000 made.... when I found out they were rare, I felt a bit guilty about modifying my revolver.
When I purchased this 7 1/2" I had the opportunity to get a 10", it was equally finish worn and I thought it was a bit ungainly - so I picked up a 6 1/2" FT .357 instead. Of course all this was about ten years back!
The FT with the original aluminium grip frame used to beat my knuckle to death with factory .44 mag loads. I could never figure out how to hold the revolver and not get rapped. I was very surprised when I found that the added weight of the steel frame was enough to stop the knuckle beating completely.
Any suggestions on a treatment to keep the screws from backing out?
Here is another picture....
When I purchased this 7 1/2" I had the opportunity to get a 10", it was equally finish worn and I thought it was a bit ungainly - so I picked up a 6 1/2" FT .357 instead. Of course all this was about ten years back!
The FT with the original aluminium grip frame used to beat my knuckle to death with factory .44 mag loads. I could never figure out how to hold the revolver and not get rapped. I was very surprised when I found that the added weight of the steel frame was enough to stop the knuckle beating completely.
Any suggestions on a treatment to keep the screws from backing out?
Here is another picture....
OP
texaswheelgunner
Single-Sixer
153, I use a small amount of blue loctite on grip frame screw threads and also the three cylinder frame screws if needed. They'll stay tight but will come out with normal screw driver pressure applied given you have properly fitted drivers.
I've gone to the Green loctite on the ejector rod housing screw. The blue just didn't cut it.
Do NOT use the red loctite....you'll have to apply heat to get the screws out.
Now you're going to get other answers here; many will not use loctite but I've had very good luck with it.
I've gone to the Green loctite on the ejector rod housing screw. The blue just didn't cut it.
Do NOT use the red loctite....you'll have to apply heat to get the screws out.
Now you're going to get other answers here; many will not use loctite but I've had very good luck with it.
153
Bearcat
- Joined
- Jul 12, 2010
- Messages
- 43
Thanks Tex!
I have always been leary of locktite, but may give it a try.
Many moons ago I saw Ruger screws with a bit of nylon set in them. Couldn't figure out why until years later.... wish I had saved some of them. I think they were for the trigger, bolt and hammer.
Colt used to put some kind of washers in the SAA, haven't seen those for years either.... guess locktite is easier, at least it's available!
I have always been leary of locktite, but may give it a try.
Many moons ago I saw Ruger screws with a bit of nylon set in them. Couldn't figure out why until years later.... wish I had saved some of them. I think they were for the trigger, bolt and hammer.
Colt used to put some kind of washers in the SAA, haven't seen those for years either.... guess locktite is easier, at least it's available!
OP
texaswheelgunner
Single-Sixer
153, some other folks use a little nail polish on their threads...that works pretty good too I understand. I have a Colt New Frontier .44 Special made around 1980. It has the little plastic washers but they don't work very well in my experience.
Loctite will not hurt the finish on guns; the blue is Loctite 242; the green is Loctite 290. Two excellent products that I've used probably 30 years on my Ruger and Colt Single Actions.
Loctite will not hurt the finish on guns; the blue is Loctite 242; the green is Loctite 290. Two excellent products that I've used probably 30 years on my Ruger and Colt Single Actions.
chet15
Hawkeye
153":2opax305 said:
And to the 1,500 to 2,000 figure add to that another 750 or so of the model BKH-47 that have a eagle logo on the barrel (the Super Blackhawk rollmark).
Yes, don't get too excited about the rarity figures that have been published by some sources in the past. A production of 750 for a BKH-47 is too low. I have something like 230 of the BKH-47 recorded in my notes and only 150 or so of the 10" .44 flattop BKH-40. So, the BKH-47 is absolutely more common than the 10".
Heck, a figure of 750 for the BKH-47 would put them nearly on a rarity level with the 10" .357 and that's simply not the case.
There were a lot of 7-1/2" tubes available for fitting in the 1959 to 1962 time period as that is the same length they used on the Super Blackhawk.
Chet15
flatgate
Hawkeye
I use a piece of monofilament fishing line as "thread locker". Stuff some in the screws bore, insert and tighten screw. Trim the excess with a small flame or nail clippers.
It's been quite some time since I've seen any 7-1/2" or 10" .44 Flattops for sale except by a collector or a "fine firearms" merchant.
flatgate
It's been quite some time since I've seen any 7-1/2" or 10" .44 Flattops for sale except by a collector or a "fine firearms" merchant.
flatgate
Chance
Buckeye
Dougans pocket guide is only 32 pages and easy to carry in the back pocket but this is the second time his numbers have been completely out of whack. First time was a couple of yeas ago when I bought an RSS4 XR3 listed as 2K made, forum members doubled + that number. Below is the page with the 44 FT listing on page 26.
Are any of these #'s correct?
Are any of these #'s correct?
chet15
Hawkeye
1,500 for the BKH-40 is reasonable.
One of the more glaring discrepencies for published quantites lies in the chapter on Super Single-Sixes of the same book you speak of. I don't have one in front of me right now, but he says there are bunches of non-convertible Super Single-Sixes. Well...the only ones that were shipped as non-convertible were the two factory "seconds" that I know of, a handful of factory nickle guns and a handful of Mag only 6-1/2" Super Single-Sixes.
For the Super Single-Six...the convertible feature was standard.
Chet15
One of the more glaring discrepencies for published quantites lies in the chapter on Super Single-Sixes of the same book you speak of. I don't have one in front of me right now, but he says there are bunches of non-convertible Super Single-Sixes. Well...the only ones that were shipped as non-convertible were the two factory "seconds" that I know of, a handful of factory nickle guns and a handful of Mag only 6-1/2" Super Single-Sixes.
For the Super Single-Six...the convertible feature was standard.
Chet15
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