Super Blackhawk, "Flattop???"
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DGW1949
Hunter
As I recall, the first Ruger single action .44mag was a big-frame Blackhawk....not the more familiar Super Blackhawk....and yeah, it was indeed a "Flat top". Like the more familiar .357, it was produced with an aluminum XR3 grip frame, Micro rear sight, and black Eagle grips.....Cost was about $95. But that was back when we had real money. No telling what one in NIB condition would cost in today's debt-notes.
DGW
DGW
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45 Colt was never offered in the OM Super or OM Flattop. Flattop .44's are on the same frame as the Flattop .357, and smaller than the OM .44.
Flattop .44 (6 1/2" barrel)
Flattop .357 (4 5/8" Barrel)
OM SBH (7 1/2" barrel) notice the difference in cylinders and trigger guards:
Flattop .44 (6 1/2" barrel)
Flattop .357 (4 5/8" Barrel)
OM SBH (7 1/2" barrel) notice the difference in cylinders and trigger guards:
Clarify:
All .44 Magnum OM or NM are on the large frame. Period.
Only .44 Special, .357, and .45 Colt can be had on the NM flattop Medium frame.
Note the normal NM BHs (and SBHs) with sight ears are large frame.
All OM .357s are on the medium frame (why there were favorites for making custom .44 Special revolvers). All other OM revolvers are on the large frame.
Just the first few years with the OM .44 Magnum before the dragoon handled .44 Magnum arrived. Also the NM 50 Anniversary .44 Magnum is a flattop. No .45 Colt large frame flattop was ever built at the factory.
Hope that helps a bit.
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Didn't they make a 45 Colt Blackhawk Flattop on the NM mid sized frame when they also made them in .357 and 44 Special?
Post 40
Here's more:
lipseysguns.com
Post 40
Blackhawk Flattop
Have several old model flattops, but one of my favorites is my New Model Flattop in .41 mag.
www.rugerforum.com
Here's more:
Ruger 45 Colt Flattops: The finest packing guns ever produced
The mid-size Ruger Flattop sixguns in 45 Colt are some of the finest packing guns ever produced. The original 357's and the wildly popular 44 Specials have been highly prized for their smaller dimensions and great balance. Whilst most people would probably find electric-firing replicas of this...
lipseysguns.com
Attachments
JAYDAWG answered your questions EXACTLY as asked.
Then there are those that like to make what Ruger didn't, WHY? ,,, Because we like some of the features of the "SUPER"
Top gun; 1958 Old Model Flattop 44, that has; Super Hammer/Trigger. A XR3-RED Brass GF with a straightened back strap to emulate the XR3.
50 years later,,,
Bottom gun; 2008 New Model Flattop 44, that has Super Hammer/Trigger.
A Hunter Brass GF w/ straightened back strap again to emulate the XR3. (same size as Dragoon Super grip frame but with a rounded trigger guard vs the square back of the dragoon.)
Both of these guns are built on the LARGE Frame,,,, Same Size Frame, as the OM or NM Super Blackhawk is built on.
FWIW: The Top Strap on NM FLATTOP is a bit thicker than the OM,,, made by Ruger that way.
Then there are those that like to make what Ruger didn't, WHY? ,,, Because we like some of the features of the "SUPER"
Top gun; 1958 Old Model Flattop 44, that has; Super Hammer/Trigger. A XR3-RED Brass GF with a straightened back strap to emulate the XR3.
50 years later,,,
Bottom gun; 2008 New Model Flattop 44, that has Super Hammer/Trigger.
A Hunter Brass GF w/ straightened back strap again to emulate the XR3. (same size as Dragoon Super grip frame but with a rounded trigger guard vs the square back of the dragoon.)
Both of these guns are built on the LARGE Frame,,,, Same Size Frame, as the OM or NM Super Blackhawk is built on.
FWIW: The Top Strap on NM FLATTOP is a bit thicker than the OM,,, made by Ruger that way.
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This being my custom 45 Cal. Flattop,,, is a MEDIUM frame, that has had the hammer changed out to a Montado Hammer, same as a Super Hammer but w/ cross cut checking. The NM thinner XR3 size Gripframe was changed out to the Birdshead. #5 Basepin
The Medium frame is good for 45ACP & Standard Velocity 45 Colt loads.
They can be loaded up a little to what is referred as a medium velocity load. Load Data is out there. Ruger ONLY 45 COLT LOADS, are a NO GO!
I shoot this gun using 45 Cowboy Special 99.9% of the time, very enjoyable, accurate, and easy
The Medium frame is good for 45ACP & Standard Velocity 45 Colt loads.
They can be loaded up a little to what is referred as a medium velocity load. Load Data is out there. Ruger ONLY 45 COLT LOADS, are a NO GO!
I shoot this gun using 45 Cowboy Special 99.9% of the time, very enjoyable, accurate, and easy
The Super Blackhawk was the first model to use the protected sight (non-flattop) frame and it came out in 1959.
The .44 flattop continued to be made until 1962/63 when both the large and medium flattop frames were discontinued. The .357 went to the protected sight frame at that time and the Super Blackhawk became the only .44 Mag offering.
The .41 mag was the next caliber in 1965, followed by the .30 Carbine in 1968. The .45 did not come out until 1970. Because the prefixed serial numbering came along in 1969, there are no non-prefixed .45 Blackhawks.
The .44 flattop continued to be made until 1962/63 when both the large and medium flattop frames were discontinued. The .357 went to the protected sight frame at that time and the Super Blackhawk became the only .44 Mag offering.
The .41 mag was the next caliber in 1965, followed by the .30 Carbine in 1968. The .45 did not come out until 1970. Because the prefixed serial numbering came along in 1969, there are no non-prefixed .45 Blackhawks.
I have a '58 .44 Flattop and a '62 .357 Flattop. My .45 is from '72
| Blackhawk [.357 Mag] | 1968 |
| Blackhawk [.30 Carbine] | 1969 |
| Blackhawk [.41 Mag] | 1968 |
| Blackhawk [.45 LC/.45 ACP] | 1972 |
| Blackhawk [.44 Mag] (Flattop) | 1958 |
| Blackhawk [.357 Mag] (Flattop) | 1962 |
| Super Blackhawk [.44 Mag] | 1964 |
| Single Six [.22LR] (Flatgate) | 1956 |
| Single Six [.22LR/.22WSM] | 1964 |
You can still get one, just not factory
Hondo44
Hawkeye
Note;
The old model .357 made after 1963 until 1973 is the only medium frame with protected rear sight ever made by Ruger.
The old model .357 made after 1963 until 1973 is the only medium frame with protected rear sight ever made by Ruger.
and it isn't an OM
In my experience the term "Flattop" is used to describe the 357 & 44 (non super) up until 1962/1963 when Ruger went to the protected sight version.
The new models above, technically are flattops, but copies of the originals.
JaydaWg
The new models above, technically are flattops, but copies of the originals.
JaydaWg
Time moves on, and new revolvers are introduced -- all to help muddy the water. Now we have OM flattops and NM flattops 
. So it goes ... Probably some here were not even born when the NM was introduced, so to them you might even say the NM is now an OM NM and the OM is simply the ancient model AM 
... Ha!
. So it goes ... Probably some here were not even born when the NM was introduced, so to them you might even say the NM is now an OM NM and the OM is simply the ancient model AM ... Ha!Another thing to remember is that the term Old Model refers to the "three-screw" versions while New Model refers to those manufactured with the transfer bar action.
The Hawkeye and Old Army had actions specifically designed for them, both without the transfer bar mechanism.
The original Bearcat and Super Bearcat had no transfer bar mechanism while the New Bearcat does. Some use this distinction to refer to these as Old Model and New Model, respectively. (Super Bearcat refers to the change from aluminum frame to steel frame, not the addition of the transfer bar.)
Help or additional confusion?
The Hawkeye and Old Army had actions specifically designed for them, both without the transfer bar mechanism.
The original Bearcat and Super Bearcat had no transfer bar mechanism while the New Bearcat does. Some use this distinction to refer to these as Old Model and New Model, respectively. (Super Bearcat refers to the change from aluminum frame to steel frame, not the addition of the transfer bar.)
Help or additional confusion?
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