Show me your Custom Ruger Original Flat Tops

[jringo8769]

Well i am considering customizing a rough 1957 Ruger Blackhawk 44 mag 6.5"...gun has already had the front sight modified poorly for a custom plexiglass insert which i am told was a popular mod back years ago...and if we are going to repair that..it will damage the bluing to remove it...so i am thinking doing a 4 5/8" barrel mod and correct front sight reinstalled and case harden the frame...and of course a custom set of vintage stag grips with original blackbird medallions and grip screws....i know it is only original once and figured this one would be the try this on...i would never want to alter a original one....i am sure i am not the first to think of this...so please show me the early flat tops u all have with your mods...they can be just grips to full modifications......thanks in advance God Bless,John....

 

[mike campbell]

I made my first post here about 5 years ago. The topic was this 4-digit .44. In short, I bought it in high original condition, put a few mild rounds through it and the ejector housing flew off. Turnbull is about an hour away and he repaired it but had to reblue the barrel. No longer original and, my first trip back to the range, the housing flew off again. Took it back for repair ...no charge, of course...but since it was now just a shooter I had him refinish the entire gun. I made some English walnut grips for it.
It's remarkable in that, with about 800 rounds through it since the refinish, there is not a trace of a turn line. I wish all revolvers were made that way.

 

[bigskyguy]

Oh man, that is NICE! We all know Turnbull does amazing work, but those grips are stunning!!!

Good work Man!

Todd

 

[Robb Barnes]

Here are a couple of mine.

 

[rugerguy]

you don't need to start out with a 'flatop' this was a 30 prefix protected sight gun, case color was done back when the old man was running Turnbulls......AND its a 44 Special............

 

[cellar701]

It’s your choice on custom options and some nice examples already shown would make it “better than new”. If the barrel is the only issue, those vintage barrels do surface for sale periodically if you are looking for options to restore back to “original”.

 

[hdxr750]

I have a 1960 .44 Flat Top. It's had the Main frame CCH and a set of Stags By Lone Star, and also shoots very well. Wish I could post a Picture.

 

[bigskyguy]

I have a 1960 .44 Flat Top. It's had the Main frame CCH and a set of Stags By Lone Star, and also shoots very well. Wish I could post a Picture.

Email one to me and I'll get her posted for ya!

[email protected]

 

[jringo8769]

wow...everyone...those are some real beauties....love the case hardening and all the custom work done to all of these...incredible work...where did u all have this done?........thank u all for sharing these pics...keep them coming.....if i do get this 6.5"...as they are more common ...i think i would want to do the mods i wanted...i have a very nice 7.5" i would love to do the case hardening too...but i do not have the heart to do it to that one...but i would love too...God Bless,John...

 

[Robb Barnes]

A 7 1/2” with Turnbull case coloring should land here later this week. Onceit does and gets some additional parts tweaks I’ll post it too.j

 

[veeman]

Not alot of Custom stuff, SBH grip frame and hammer, Elk Stag grips.

 

[tom black]

Mike Campbell the only thing I see wrong with your flat top is...it isn't mine. That is simply a stunning revolver. In fact, it may even rival some of Bob Wright's beauties. Thanks for posting.
Tom Black

 

[mike campbell]

Thank you, Tom!
Purty as it is, it's still a shooter. The only thing that keeps it from being perfect is the original finish on the alloy grip frame. It's not real bad but you can tell it's 65+ years old.

On that note, I wonder if someone here has had the finish restored in a manner that would almost pass for factory original.

 

[mike campbell]

Here are a couple of mine.

Rob,

Can you tell us about grip frame on this gun?

 

[Robb Barnes]

That is one of Ron Powers two piece #5 style grip frames for the old model Ruger. That gun was the first old model Ruger #5 that Hamilton built. I pestered him for a obut 3 years before he agreed to do it and the #5 base pin latch.

 

[mike campbell]

Superb gun. Thanks.

 

[Robb Barnes]

Thank you sir, it is one I will pass on to one of my children some day.

 

[BearBio]

Bobby Tyler just took one in trade from me for some work. Maybe he's got it done by now==NICE gun as it was!

 

[rmc25]

First try didn't work so here goes. Previous owner abused this OM so I decided to have it refinished and shortened. Always wanted a short barrel OM 44. Got it back after my accident so never got a chance to fire it. I put flat bottom grips on it because I like the feel.
rmc

https://imgur.com/a/GvIUS

 

[mike campbell]

Niiiiice. Did the refinish include the grip frame?

 

[jringo8769]

wow....never seen flat bottom grips either...very well done...u have great taste....thank u for sharing it...God Bless,John

 

[rmc25]

Thanks for the kind words jringo. Mike, the refinish did include the grip frame. While waiting for the work to be done I bought a Kirkpatrick holster for my 6 1/2" OM Flattop with side draw for the shortened one. Best laid plans don't always work out the way you want them to. Now they just a reminder.

 

[mike campbell]

Thanks for the reply. Can you share any more about the grip finish? What process was used...Cerakote, anodizing ? Your opinion of the work, if not who did it?

 

[bigskyguy]

I just sent one in to have a complete make-over...

4 digit, 6.5" 44

Gonna color case harden the frame, nitre blue all the screws and trigger, and reblue the whole thing. It will have a steel grip frame and custom Dall sheep stocks.

Gonna be nice...I'll post when I have it back.

 

[jringo8769]

well i can not wait for the pics....and please tell us all about it when u get it back.....God Bless,John

 

[rmc25]

My OM 44 work was done by Sandy Garrett who is an active member of the American Pistolsmith Guild. If anybody has had any dealing with Guild members they know that their work is the finest you can get. Sandy cut the barrel and did the gun work but he sent the gun out for refinishing. I don't know who he sent it to but the work is first rate.
Sandy Garrett.
Northern Virginia Gun Works
[email protected]
7518-K Fullerton Rd (P.O. Box 128)
Springfield, 22153
703-569-6504 (703-569-6411 FAX)

 

[CraigC]

My very first custom was built of a $250 beater flat-top, a .44Spl by Jim Stroh.

Do New Model flat-tops count?

 

[6GUNSONLY]

Here's my 7.5" flattop .44. It had been drilled and tapped, so I got it pretty reasonable. John Gallagher welded up the holes, installed a steel XR3-RED size gripframe, and reblued the whole gun. It's my favorite sixgun, and accounted for two bucks this year.

Here's another one that was a beater 6.5" gun. Cut to 4 5/8", cylinder frame color cased by Turnbull, locking base pin, reblued. Custom work also by John Gallagher.

 

[mike campbell]

:oops:

 

[mike campbell]

Took me a minute to figure out what attracted me to that cylinder. The flutes look smaller and uniquely shaped and I like it a lot. I guess that resulted entirely from chamfering the cylinder?