I am starting a Ruger Single Action thread for Member OttoSig. ***PLEASE*** Only Ruger Single Action Revolvers! Plow Handle, Bisley, Birdshead, any grips/grip frame, any caliber.
OttoSig appears new at Ruger Single Action collecting, so let's show him what can happen if you start collecting Ruger Single Action revolvers!

This Ruger Blackhawk is the same as OttoSig's recent acquisition in 10mm/.40, other than this one is the 6.5" barrel length. Two cylinders, 10mm & .40 S&W. It is box stock.
It is also the nicest example of a Ruger Single Action revolver that I have ever seen them manufacture. If I recall correctly, the two different barrel length models was a special run for Lipsey's,
and less than 1500 of each barrel length were produced. This one is box stock.

IMG_20250326_123346864 by cee_Kamp 32ACP, on Flickr

IMG_20250326_123405249_HDR by cee_Kamp 32ACP, on Flickr

This Ruger Old Army started life as a black powder .45 caliber cap & ball revolver. I added a Kirst Konverter .45ACP cylinder, and the Belt Mountain base pin/ramming lever delete parts.
It can be switched between cap & ball configuration and .45ACP cartridge configuration in less than 10 minutes. Other than the previous mentioned changes, it is box stock. 7.5" barrel.

IMG_20250326_123524979_HDR by cee_Kamp 32ACP, on Flickr

This model is a Ruger Super Blackhawk "Hunter" in .44 Magnum and has the heavy top rib barrel which is factory machined for stock Ruger scope rings. It's also machine engraved at the Factory with the word
"Hunter" on the upper surface of the cylinder frame top strap. It is box stock, other than the addition of the Leupold scope and the Hogue black micarta grips. 7.5" barrel. One cylinder.
The front sights can be changed easily, as this model has the "plunger", and when you depress the plunger, the front sights are user replaceable in under one minute.

IMG_20250326_123642561_HDR by cee_Kamp 32ACP, on Flickr

This Ruger Super Blackhawk .44 Magnum started out with a different/shorter grip frame from the Factory. For my hand size and the .44 recoil, I couldn't shoot it very well until I added a used Ruger "Hunter"
grip frame which is about 3/8" longer for the grasping surface. It also got a fiber optic front sight after an "oopsie". When hunting, the fiber optic front sight is very visible in poor light.
4-5/8" barrel. One cylinder. I carry this one frequently during big game rifle hunting season in a Diamond D across the chest holster.

IMG_20250326_123758416_HDR by cee_Kamp 32ACP, on Flickr

This Ruger Blackhawk started off in .357 Magnum. I saw it used in my local sporting goods store. It was quite cosmetically flawed, corrosion and rust pits. Wet gun rug storage? Blood spatter?
I couldn't get a straight answer from the store owner. I inspected it carefully. The bore/rifling was clean and sharp, and the cylinder lockup and barrel/cylinder gap was good also. Being cosmetically flawed, this unit could be modified without having any concerns with residual value. I looked for over a year for a stainless steel cylinder chambered in 9mm, but was ultimately unsuccessful.
Carbon steel 9mm cylinders were easy to locate. E-Bay, Numrich, Forums.

I sourced a carbon steel cylinder in 9mm, it was oversize. It required machining on a lathe for cutting down the front gas ring and the front face of the cylinder for installation.
After machining, it had bare steel on those two machined surfaces, and I sent it out for military parkerizing.

I also found when carrying the original plow handle style grip frame on a tractor when working, the rear corner of the grip frame dug into the tractor seat when getting on/off the tractor.
I spotted the used highly polished Birdshead grip frame along with Factory Micarta grips for sale on the Ruger Forum, bought it and installed it myself.

It certainly isn't pretty, but it sure is nice to own a "beater revolver" where you simply do not care if it gets scratched, dinged, or dirt/mud slopped on it.
Two cylinders, 9mm shown, and the.38 Special/.357 Magnum cylinder in stainless steel is not shown. 4-5/8" barrel.
I do not have any issues shooting this one in 9mm with the short/rounded Birdshead grip frame. The .38/.357 cylinder has not been installed in the revolver since setting it up for 9mm.

IMG_20250326_123900903_HDR by cee_Kamp 32ACP, on Flickr

This Ruger Single Six Convertible is chambered in .22LR/.22 Magnum. Box stock. 5.5" barrel. Two cylinders.

IMG_20250326_124024009_HDR by cee_Kamp 32ACP, on Flickr

Let's show Member OttoSig what can happen when you start collecting Ruger Single Action Revolvers!

Had a Ruger Super Blackhawk Bisley Hunter sold it back in 2013 as it was just gathering dust in my safe, had a scope on it as well, heck of a 44 mag.

My only Ruger single action is a Flat-top 7.5" Bisley .44 Magnum. Did a bit of customization on it, including better sights, a steel ejector rod, and a set of English Walnut stocks made by Roy Fishpaw.

Wild. I'd never heard of a cap-and-ball/.45ACP conversion before, but it looks good and sounds intriguing.

The only downside I can think of to collecting Ruger SAs is that it's easy to figure out what you want but you may wait forever for Ruger (and Lipsey's, often enough) to make it happen. I missed out on the Turnbull Bisley .45 Colts a few years ago, and keep hoping someone will get Ruger to make a run of blued Bisley .45 Colts with 5 1/2" barrels.

The Kirst Konverter aftermarket cylinders are made for the Ruger Old Army revolver
in .45 ACP and .45 Long Colt. I don't own anything at all in .45 LC so it would have
been a new caliber for me with ammo, reloading dies, brass, and components.
So it was an easy caliber choice for me to make.
I have .45 ACP ammo, dies, components, and a 40 year collection of fired brass.

I'll play.

Top to Bottom:

Ruger New Model Blackhawk Convertible .45 Colt/.45 ACP 4 5/8"
Ruger Blackhawk (unconverted 3-screw) .357 Magnum 4 5/8"
Ruger Single-Six 50th Anniversary Convertible .22LR/.22 Mag 5.5"

Cee_Kamp, you’re alright I’ve been driving all day, got home, opened Sigforum and saw this.

Barely got the Ruger out of the box lol. One thing I notice is that the cocked hammer comes right down into my hand. And like you mentioned before. I could use a little more room on the grip. That’s a problem for another day.

Also grabbed that Mernickle holster you mentioned, fits well but makes me a bit nervous for any serious movement. I’ll wear it around the property and I’m sure it’ll do just fine.

I was lucky enough to find an older Hunter holster for $20 on eBay as well. Between the two I’ll be good until I go full cowboy setup.

Extremely initial impressions are that crossdraw is the way to go. And as much as I’d like to say the Ruger is perfect, I think it may have a tiny burr on the loading gate somewhere, it’s tough to open. I’ll try to manipulate it a bunch to see if it breaks in a bit, and give everything a good wipe down and a few drops of lube in places. You can tell it’s sat for a while, the factory oil is kinda tacky on it.

Definitely in for a .44 or MAYBE a .41 in the future. Id like to see how the 5.5” balances and handles compared to the 4 5/8” before I buy the .44. This opens a whole new realm of coolness for me. Companion guns and more single actions. I don’t know WHY they’ve always been so cool to me, their not overly practical these days, but if I’m sitting in the living room playing with a gun, it’s gonna be a revolver, and most likely this single actions going forward.









ETA: The gun isn’t loaded, those are brass case snap caps I got for some guns I wanna dry fire.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: OttoSig, March 26, 2025 09:02 PM

I can participate in this thread.

There is only one Ruger Single action that I have longed for, and this past fall, I finally acquired my ‘grail’ Ruger.


It is a Single Seven in .327 Federal Magnum, one of my favorite calibers. The birdshead grip, the 3.75” barrel, the 7-shot capacity … all add up to just a wonderful single action.

I have a Colt and Pietta … but this Single Seven just hits me right, in all aspects. An IWB holster from Doc Barranti lets me carry this from time to time, and I enjoy it tremendously.

I think finding another Vaquero to complete the brace will be next to impossible. sorry for the crappy cell pic.

A simple Ruger Blackhawk, 4-5/8” barrel, in .357 Magnum. I’d like to purchase something similar to include the 9mm cylinder.

Looking at the Bisley Blackhawk 44. Any experience between a 4.6 and 3.75” barrel?

BTW OttoSig,
Your new 10mm/.40 Blackhawk with the stiff loading gate.
First, remove the cylinder.
Second, looking at the surface on the frame where the firing pin comes through the little hole and "whacks" the cartridge primer. Now look lower and left.
Third, with the loading gate open, right at the pivot point of the loading gate, you will see the short tail end of a flat spring protruding and resting in a notch at the loading gate pivot point.
Two drops of nice thick oil, one drop on the pivot point, and another drop on the angular end of that flat spring.
I believe you will find the loading gate will operate much better.

Many people will remove the "long hammer spur" type Blackhawk hammers and install Super Blackhawk or Montado hammers due to web-of-hand hammer spur interference.
Check Brownells & Midway as they will occasionally get them in stock.

Another choice, and I would not make a modification to the original factory equipped hammer.
Source another Blackhawk hammer, and shorten the hammer spur to whatever length makes you happy.

I'll play...

Single Six Convertible


Bisley Blackhawk .44 Spl


Adios,

Pizza Bob

quote:

Originally posted by cee_Kamp:
BTW OttoSig,
Your new 10mm/.40 Blackhawk with the stiff loading gate.
First, remove the cylinder.
Second, looking at the surface on the frame where the firing pin comes through the little hole and "whacks" the cartridge primer. Now look lower and left.
Third, with the loading gate open, right at the pivot point of the loading gate, you will see the short tail end of a flat spring protruding and resting in a notch at the loading gate pivot point.
Two drops of nice thick oil, one drop on the pivot point, and another drop on the angular end of that flat spring.
I believe you will find the loading gate will operate much better.

Many people will remove the "long hammer spur" type Blackhawk hammers and install Super Blackhawk or Montado hammers due to web-of-hand hammer spur interference.
Check Brownells & Midway as they will occasionally get them in stock.

Another choice, and I would not make a modification to the original factory equipped hammer.
Source another Blackhawk hammer, and shorten the hammer spur to whatever length makes you happy.

I oiled it up and it’s working better, I’ll keep playing with it.

Also got my xero today so this weekend I’m cleaning out a space inside for my two reloading benches. Eager to test my initial 223 and 308 loads before working on some subsonic 10mm.

I’ll shoot it a bunch before changing anything. I’ll also go to a local store and handle the Bisley right next to the standard Blackhawk to see which I like better. I watched some videos on hot to possible change up my grip. Trying to draw with a pinky under the grip just doesn’t seem natural. So I watched some champion SASS shooters videos on how they grip a single action. Pretty cool stuff. Haven’t taken it off in the house all day lol.

We inherited a 1969 Ruger Blackhawk from my FIL when he passed.

It looks a little rough but I know he used to deer hunt with it.
I've considered sending it to Ruger for the safety recall and have them clean it up, but I haven't done it.

The safety update is THE LAST reason you should send it to Ruger. Yes, you'll safely be able to carry 6 rounds instead of 5. In exchange for an awful trigger.

Bearcat Shopkeeper, 22LR with Elk grips


Flattop Bisley .44special, 5 1/2", Giraffe Bone grips


1967 3-screw (unmodified) Super Blackhawk .44mag, 7 1/2"


1967 Single Six .22LR, 5 1/2", Elk grips


Single Six, new model, 6 1/2" .22LR, Giraffe Bone grips

This message has been edited. Last edited by: GCE61, March 28, 2025 08:32 AM

quote:

Originally posted by GCE61:
Photos

Sir, can you elaborate?

I’ve got my eyes set of a 44 magnum Bisley in 4.6” length.

Also a 357/9mm convertible so that I can reload the 38 and use the plethora of 9mm I have stashed away.

Speaking of 9mm convertibles...anybody know of a shop that could source/fit a 9mm cylinder for a .357 old model Blackhawk? Preferably for less than the gun is worth.