The Birdheads

[JPGLSG]

I may be the only peculiar person that would want a set of OM Vaqueros like this in the four barrel lengths....but....I had a great time getting this little project finished.

 

[win1894s]

Nice.first 7.5 birds head I've ever seen. Looks great.

 

[Joe S.]

looks cool to me!

 

[Wheelyfun44]

Love Ruger Birdshead grip frames, and your collection looks great!

 

[greenmtnguy]

How does the long barreled one feel in the hand? I'd tend to think that the smaller size grip would really make you feel the muzzle heaviness

 

[NorEaster]

How does the long barreled one feel in the hand? I'd tend to think that the smaller size grip would really make you feel the muzzle heaviness

My first thought too... I like the look of it a lot; but wonder about balance

 

[UmpquaCharlie]

Something to make everyone envious.

 

[Rainy Day Shooter]

Well played!!! Those look wonderful!

 

[GA Cracker]

How does the long barreled one feel in the hand? I'd tend to think that the smaller size grip would really make you feel the muzzle heaviness

My first thought too... I like the look of it a lot; but wonder about balance

Last summer I wanted to learn how so I changed some of mine around and I put my stainless simulated ivory 45 Colt Birdshead Sheriffs Model gripframe on my blue 7&1/2 Bisley 45 Colt BH. I liked the balance and feel and I also like the way it shot. I also put the blued BH Bisley gripframe on the stainless Sheriffs Model. I also really liked the way it shot and felt. The blued gripfame on the stainless Sheriffs Model didn't look too good so I eventually switched them back.

Nice post Jim and I like them.

 

[tx gunrunner]

I may be the only peculiar person that would want a set of OM Vaqueros like this in the four barrel lengths....but....I had a great time getting this little project finished.

I love your collection of birdheads . Here is mine ..I built them all .

 

[JPGLSG]

[I love your collection of birdheads . Here is mine ..I built them all .

[/quote]

What....no 45 colt in the bunch. They all look nice to me. I think I'm going to wind up with one blue birdshead grip frame, left over, extra. I'll have to see when one of my project guns gets returned by Ruger. The gate spring blew out and caused all kinds of trouble. Anyway if I move to sell the frame I'll reach out, your might want to build a 45.

JP

 

[tx gunrunner]

JP .........Anyway if I move to sell the frame I'll reach out, your might want to build a 45.

2 of the donor guns were 45 colts and there 2 were 357 donor guns with birdheads . I put the plow handle on those 4 guns and sold them for a profit . So I have zero money in my birdheads . If you notice I put a Vaquero grip on my Maxie that the square grip blooded up my fingers too . None of my guns were ever offered in birdheads so they are 1 of a kind . Like my sheriff model 44-40

 

[JPGLSG]

TX...You got it going on with those 44-40s and that is some good shooting on the paper.

I am building a pair of birdsheads, that were born birdshead, that will be the only two in the world and I am not using any custom parts. However I may be the only one that wants them when completed as well. Stay tuned, one of the revolvers had a come apart and had to go back to Ruger and one is totally complete.

 

[tx gunrunner]

I thinned the SBH hammer so they slip hammer better and the look is am most stock , the SBH is low like the Bisley

 

[WendyZXZ]

Great looking revolvers everybody has!

 

[Dixiejack]

This is a beautiful collections of birdheads and more than I've ever seen. I have a Vaquero with the case hardened frame and have been thinking how good it would look with a birdhead grip and a bisley hammer. I don't have the knowledge or tools to make a conversion like that. Anybody steer (pardon the pun) me to someone who would do the conversion?

 

[JPGLSG]

Dixie...You could watch a few youtube videos on removing the grip frame and installing a new hammer on a Vaquero and order yourself a good set of screw drivers and coated punches from Brownell. You could also study the expanded view in the Ruger booklet supplied with you revolver to see how everything fits. All the parts that fit in your plowhandle will fit the birdshead grip frame. So all you would need is the finished frame and the hammer kit. Learn to do it yourself and enjoy it while doing it.

 

[Dixiejack]

Dixie...You could watch a few youtube videos on removing the grip frame and installing a new hammer on a Vaquero and order yourself a good set of screw drivers and coated punches from Brownell. You could also study the expanded view in the Ruger booklet supplied with you revolver to see how everything fits. All the parts that fit in your plowhandle will fit the birdshead grip frame. So all you would need is the finished frame and the hammer kit. Learn to do it yourself and enjoy it while doing it.

I found a steel birdshead frame at Midway that looks to be a Ruger rough casting. That involves more tools and more fitting and I would not want to take that on as a first project. I believe there is a difference in the shape of the bisley hammer from the vaquero. From what I've read and seen, those conversions are not just drop in jobs. I want it to look like a professional job, that's why I'm asking for some recommendations of a professional gunsmith. I have seen several mentioned on the forum, but can't remember who or where I saw them mentioned.

 

[JPGLSG]

Dixie...Jump on the index board, Ruger Smithing, and reach out as to what you are wanting to do. I'm sure there is a good Smith in and around the Madison area or out of State. You can always find a finished grip frame from time to time listed for sale. Finishing a frame in the rough can be a tough process without all the proper tools. Good luck on your project and there are many folks on the Forum that can be a great help.

 

[JES14352]

Very nice looking guns in these post...

 

[Dixiejack]

Dixie...Jump on the index board, Ruger Smithing, and reach out as to what you are wanting to do. I'm sure there is a good Smith in and around the Madison area or out of State. You can always find a finished grip frame from time to time listed for sale. Finishing a frame in the rough can be a tough process without all the proper tools. Good luck on your project and there are many folks on the Forum that can be a great help.

Thanks for the advice. I'll go lurking in the Smithing forum. We have a couple of gun repair guys around that are mainly parts replacers. Then there's a barrel maker North of me and supposedly a gun maker not far from me in Ky and I've called them both several times, left messages, and never heard from them. We have one LGS who only buys, sells, and trades (like his sign says). Does "0" gun work and will not recommend a gunsmith if you put a gun to his fun. This guy won't even mount a scope. Doubt if he has a screw dvr. in his shop. lol

 

[Smee781]

I like the collections, great pictures. I like the birdshead grips, I got one of the 45 Sherrifs models and just picked up one of the Single Six 32 H&R guns. I like swapping out the hammers for the Bisley hammers, with a little bit of work they will drop right in.