Transitional New Model 45 Colt

[AkRay]

I just bought a Ruger NM 45 Colt, but it's an earlier one. The serial number is 46-08xxx. At first glance it looks like a standard blue 7 1/2" New Model gun without the warning on the barrel, but when I took the cylinder out to check the bore, I noticed that it had an Old Model cylinder with counter bored chambers and a firing pin groove. I got it home to replace the Pachmayr grips that it was wearing with some proper factory grips that I had stashed away, and saw that the marking on the gripframe was one that I hadn't seen before. This gripframe is stamped NXR3-RED. The gun needs a little cleaning up and has some wear on the side of the barrel from being carried in a holster but it's a nice one. I'll have to find time to get out and see how it shoots.

 

[americal]

Subject out of my knowlage, but you may have a really neat odd gun from the factory 8) 8) The experts will help you just hang on

 

[flatgate]

Nice .45. The OM cylinders and the NXR3-RED markings are correct for the early NM grip frames. I do believe the letter N in the grip frame markings stands for "New Model".

flatgate

 

[AkRay]

flatgate, that's what I assumed it stood for. Thanks. I was expecting a regular NM 45 Blackhawk like the one I already have when I went to look at the gun and was surprised to see that it had recessed chambers and the firing pin groove. This cylinder is a good part of what guys are referring to when talk about the quality of the OM 45 Blackhawk. The clicking action isn't there, but this one has a nice trigger and a good smooth action. I was happy to find it and glad that I had factory grips at home that fit it. This gun was one of two in the deal. The other one was an OM Single Six with a 6 1/2" barrel and fixed sights.

 

[chet15]

Yeah, when Ruger goes into a new model variation it is always common to have leftover parts/boxes from the previous model. The same is true of the Super Blackhawk and .41 and .45 Blackhawks when they switched over from the Old Model to the New Model. Actually, it might not have been a case of leftover parts at all, but a running line change after the New Model series was well into production. You gotta admit, that's a lot of cylinders to have on hand (10,000+??) and that's just in .45 Cal. From what I saw at the factory, they pretty much make cylinders as needed.
The highest NM .45 Blackhawk I have noted with cylinders that do not have the firing pin groove is 46-13311 while the earliest .45 Blackhawk with the NM type cylinders is 46-09048.
Chet15