Will the original Ruger grips from an Old Army fit any other Ruger frame?
I tried a pair on an early Blackhawk and they are a tad too small.
Many thanks
I tried a pair on an early Blackhawk and they are a tad too small.
Many thanks
Question about grips on an Old Army
- Thread starter ArizonaTea123
- Start date
woodperson
Blackhawk
The steel Old Army grip frames are different from the Al grip frames. And maybe different from each other a little also. I hand Ruger put an Old Army grip frame on a Blackhawk and the original grips are too small slightly for the steel frame. They fit well enough to work and shoot but they do not fit exactly.
...especially the stainless steel grip castings, size varied, and I recall the later Vaqueros were even worse???
Grips / Grip Frames for the Old Army had the XR3-RED. ***
*** only exception is the MR3-DB, a brass Dragoon Super Blackhawk size GF.
EARLY guns (pre 1985) were aluminum.
LATER guns (post 1985) were steel,,, note that these frames had the large trigger opening, to accommodate the wide trigger. Yep, sometime in 1985 was the switch. The RENE might nail the SN# down on the switch.
And then the anomaly… The XR3-RED Stainless Steel (introduced in 1976)
As for fit of the grip panels, they were decent in the older days,,, AS OF LATE, DEPLORABLE!
It really seems that sub contractor "LETT", whom Ruger used for years, until they closed up shop, were the best, and had a very acceptable fitment.
*** only exception is the MR3-DB, a brass Dragoon Super Blackhawk size GF.
EARLY guns (pre 1985) were aluminum.
LATER guns (post 1985) were steel,,, note that these frames had the large trigger opening, to accommodate the wide trigger. Yep, sometime in 1985 was the switch. The RENE might nail the SN# down on the switch.
And then the anomaly… The XR3-RED Stainless Steel (introduced in 1976)
As for fit of the grip panels, they were decent in the older days,,, AS OF LATE, DEPLORABLE!
It really seems that sub contractor "LETT", whom Ruger used for years, until they closed up shop, were the best, and had a very acceptable fitment.
Last edited:
chet15
Hawkeye
The switch to a steel grip frame on the Old Army happened about 145-63xxx.
But really... they are still an XR3-RED grip frame. Shouldn't be that big of a difference in grip panel fit.
Chet15
But really... they are still an XR3-RED grip frame. Shouldn't be that big of a difference in grip panel fit.
Chet15
woodperson
Blackhawk
I think the steel Old /Army grip frame have the same issue as the new steel and stainless grip frames. The castings are repeatable and accurate in size. But how much the employee rounds off the edges when he/she cleans up the casting varies a bit. So...the grips may show some grip frame or may stick over the frame in places. Too small grip works but looks bad. Too large is better since it can be corrected. In addition my steel grip frame that says XR3-RED has a different shape at the rear, bottom than my Al frame that says XR3-red and when I mover a grip panel from one to the other it shows a little.
Hondo44
Hawkeye
Yes they are intended to fit (within factory tolerances which is very loose) any Blackhawk with XR3 RED grip frame (which began in 1963).Will the original Ruger grips from an Old Army fit any other Ruger frame?
I tried a pair on an early Blackhawk and they are a tad too small.
Many thanks
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