Ruger SBH hammer vs. regular hammer?

[eisenhower]

Hi Gents,

I recently got a Ruger Super Blackhawk Hunter Stainless Steel Wide Spur hammer, thinking I could drop it into my 2009-made New Model Blackhawk Flattop 44 Special.

Upon transferring it over, I discovered the hole for the hammer plunger and hammer plunger spring is really shallow (only 0.27" deep), which won't even allow my plunger spring, much less the plunger itself to enter. Moreover, the hole isn't anywhere deep enough to engage the hole for the cross pin that holds the plunger and spring in the hammer.

Is this a manufacturing defect on this hammer, or does the SBHH use some different kind of plunger and won't accept the parts from a standard model hammer? If so, I can't figure what the cross pin hole is even there for, as it doesn't "cross" anything.

 

[BoggusDeal]

Something is either in the hole or it isn’t drilled deep enough.

 

[eisenhower]

Definitely nothing in the hole, I can see bright, shiny bottom.

 

[BoggusDeal]

Then not drilled deep enough.

 

[eisenhower]

Thanks for the confirmation of what I suspected. I'm doing a return with MidwayUSA. Looks like someone making parts was having a bad day.

 

[Gunny268]

OP... you're not the first, nor the last, to receive "factory seconds" Ruger parts from Midway. Please trust me in this matter.

 

[xtratoy]

I have put Super Blackhawk hammers in all my Flatops, so I think your issue is with that hammer

 

[pupsdad]

Those hammer swaps are popular I'm thinking on a single six bisley hammer but they are pricey.

 

[thedogdidit]

Thanks for the confirmation of what I suspected. I'm doing a return with MidwayUSA. Looks like someone making parts was having a bad day.

I ran into the same issue with a few hammers that I bought from Midway. The plunger shaft was literally plugged with some sort of material. Not metal though. I don't recall what color it was, or what it was. Manufacturing wax?
Anyways, I removed it with this hand drill from Amazon and a small drill bit the size of the hole. Light pressure, mult passes to discard the dry powdery....whatever the hell it is. After I felt like it was cleaned out enough I used WD40 with its pressurized straw to finish the job of cleaning it out. Worked perfect afterwards.

 

[GrumpyOldMan]

OP... you're not the first, nor the last, to receive "factory seconds" Ruger parts from Midway. Please trust me in this matter.

Guess I need to start checking more carefully when I order parts.

 

[Hondo44]

Hi Gents,

I recently got a Ruger Super Blackhawk Hunter Stainless Steel Wide Spur hammer, thinking I could drop it into my 2009-made New Model Blackhawk Flattop 44 Special.

Since the SBH hammer is made for the large frame and your Blackhawk Flattop 44 Special is a mid size frame. So the SBH hammer can be a little taller, just make sure it doesn't scrape the bottom of the rear sight.

The wide hammers should be an option when you order a gun!
You might like the Montado hammer better and it's sized for the midframes. (NM 44 Spl):

 

[Gunny268]

Since the SBH hammer is made for the large frame and your Blackhawk Flattop 44 Special is a mid size frame. So the SBH hammer can be a little taller, just make sure it doesn't scrape the bottom of the rear sight.

The wide hammers should be an option when you order a gun!

eisenhower...If Hondo44 was a preacher, he'd be speaking gospel. I've long been a convert to the SBH Hammer Club. (I've even installed one on my Stainless Single Six.) But about the best shootin' packin' pistol I own is a NM Flattop 45. I almost exclusively shoot the 45 ACP cylinder in it and it'll never wear me out. You'll experience about the same in your 44SPL.

 

[pupsdad]

eisenhower...If Hondo44 was a preacher, he'd be speaking gospel. I've long been a convert to the SBH Hammer Club. (I've even installed one on my Stainless Single Six.) But about the best shootin' packin' pistol I own is a NM Flattop 45. I almost exclusively shoot the 45 ACP cylinder in it and it'll never wear me out. You'll experience about the same in your 44SPL.
View attachment 97783

I love the 45 acp in a revolver I had a Vaquero birdshead in 45 acp what a great shooter it was. I let it go recently due to a 32 H&R mag that I found I enjoyed more and the size of the single six carried better for me. I'm working on a
22 WMR that I hope will be as enjoyable as the 32.

 

[pupsdad]

eisenhower...If Hondo44 was a preacher, he'd be speaking gospel. I've long been a convert to the SBH Hammer Club. (I've even installed one on my Stainless Single Six.) But about the best shootin' packin' pistol I own is a NM Flattop 45. I almost exclusively shoot the 45 ACP cylinder in it and it'll never wear me out. You'll experience about the same in your 44SPL.
View attachment 97783

What was involved in putting a SBH hammer on a single six?

 

[Gunny268]

Ronnie Wells / RW Gripframes make a SBH spurred (in proper scale) NM Single Six hammer. Pricey but worth it. I'm waiting in the que for an OM Single Six SBH spurred hammer. (Just gotta be patient.)

 

[Hondo44]

What was involved in putting a SBH hammer on a single six?

Cut the top off, cut out a section of the hammer and weld (or have someone weld) it back together, shape and polish. NM triggers for old models when installing NM grip frames are done the same way but they can be silver soldered because the seam doesn't show.

Same process as making Bisley or SBH hammers for single sixes and old models.

This was before after market hammers and triggers were available. But I still do it this way when I see the prices.