For some reason I like the old model Ruger revolvers. Particularly I like the early single-sixes with the black plastic grips.
My question is, do other 3 screw Rugers also have the black plastic grips like on the single 6's? If they do I haven't seen any but I don't get out much. I don't currently have anything other than Smiths but would love to find an early (unconverted) single 6 and possibly a .357 or .44 from the same era with the same grips.
Just wondering.

Thanks, Roger

From 1953-1960 they were all shipped with the "rubber" grip panels. ~1960, they began shipping some with walnut and most of the .44's were then being shipped with walnut.
Hope you find this helpful!

Some of those first walnuts are very pretty. My Single Six marked .22 Magnum is from the early sixties with varnished grips. Later they were those more common oiled grips Ok but not like the old ones.

I have two old Ruger Single-Sixes.One is an early round gate sold in 1957 ,the other is a '58 gun.Though the '58 gun has a lot of "character" it is the single most accurate .22 I own.They are very nice shooting guns!!

I bought a Ruger Single-Six a year or so back that has a steel ejector housing and the black checked grips. Never seen one before!

Must be early sixty's, and it's not a flat-gate.

Have never seen the Blackhawks or Super Blackhawks with black plastic factory grips.

The older grip frames (XR3), those that came with black plastic panels are shaped differently that later Single-Six and Blackhawks (XR3-REDesign).

The current reissue flattops have the old style grip frame. Closer to the shape and feel of a Colt SAA.

I wouldn't shun an early 3-screw with walnut grips...I have several flat-tops I'm pretty fond of!!

Here's an early (1957) .357 flat-top with rubber grips:



A later gun with a 6 1/2" barrel and walnut grips...about 1962


A group shot with an early Single-Six thrown in...the right rear gun is a first year .41 Magnum (1965):


The latest addition to the accumulation...a 1959 flat-top with walnut grips and 4 5/8" barrel:

__________________
"Onward thru the Fog"

This single six from 1958 was unfired untill I bought it about 15 years ago. I havent shot it much either.

Those older Ruger hard rubber grips are worth a good price by themselves. They only fit the early XR3 grip frames as already posted. Once in awhile you can find a set by themselves at a show for sale. They sell/resell for $100+ in nice condition.
I have a 44mag F/T Blackhawk from '56 that had wood grip panels on it,,orig XR3 grip frame. But it's hard to say if they were the originals as the gun was so abused when I got it anything was possible.

Here's a three digit S/N flattop .357 wearing stags. It would have come from the factory with the hard rubber grips. I bought a pair after I got this gun, but put them away.

__________________
John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!