A Hamilton Bowen 44 Special (not S&W)

[Doc44]

I like most makes of firearms, as most of you know, but Ruger is right up there with S&W and I have collected Blackhawk 44 Magnums and Super Blackhawks for as long as I have collected S&Ws. A couple of years ago, this .357 Blackhawk was converted to 44 Special caliber by Hamilton Bowen. It is a great shooter and easy to carry. I thought I would post a photo of it since many of you liked the 38/44 Outsdoorsman Mr. Bowen converted to 45 Colt.

Bill

 

[Dnovo1]

Very nice. I have a similar gun Hamilton did on the same 'chassis' in his Longhunter variation, chambered in the 50AE. Great gun, albeit with 'stout' recoil but manageable. Dave

 

[Arisin Wind]

That is the best looking Ruger I've seen.

 

[29aholic]

Great gun Bill. I have been lusting after the new Bisley flat tops in 44spl. Do you use the lanyard ring to hang it around your neck like Tucco?

 

[keith44spl]

Now that right there is the bees knees,

44 Specials are great in any flavor.

Su Amigo,
Dave

 

[Dave T]

A Ruger Blackhawk 44 Special with the proper number of screws in the frame. Nice...very nice!

Dave

 

[ColdBlueSteel]

Very slick 44. Congrats.

 

[feralmerril]

I had this one done to .44 special by a gunsmith friend, bill choats in palmdale california around the early 1980s or late 70s. It was a .357. I made a mistake tradeing it off. I forgot what barrel manufactor bill used.

 

[Joe in SC]

Handsome gun in my favorite caliber. Several years ago I was able to buy one of the Lipsey's 44 special Ruger Blackhawks in 5". It is a great carrying and shooting gun, also. Thanks for showing, great photography by the way. Wish I could take photos like that.

 

[GF]

The barrel looks shorter than 4 &5/8th's, is it?

GF

 

[Doc44]

GF...it's either 4 1/2 or 4 1/4 inches. I can't remember which.

Bill

 

[AnthonyF]

That is a work of art.

I've only come to appreciate Ruger SA's recently. Have purchased 5 in the last 8 months. I'd sure like to have some mechanical and cosmetic TLC applied to several of them.

 

[MajorDude]

Very nice! I recently purchased one of the 5.5" Blackhawk .44 special Flat Tops that I believe are now a cataloged item. I've only had it to the range once so far, but I can see why they are so popular: accurate, good looking and much less felt recoil than the S&W 624 I was shooting with it that day. I even like the feel and look of the hard rubber grips.

 

[Bat Guano]

I have one of the Lipsey 4 5/8" .44 Specials. I noticed the same thing in comparison with my M24-3.

 

[M29since14]

That is a real "gentleman's handgun" - nicely done in every detail. I suppose some might object to the shape and type of the sights as non-traditional, but my impression is that when Mr. Bowen builds something, he aims for function and quality first. The knowledge of what has been done is there, for sure, but he also has the boldness to improve on tradition, where he thinks it is indicated. Great looking Ruger!

 

[ElToro]

very nice, Bill as usual. i have been slowly and quietly packing away Ruger blackhawks as i see them at good prices. i think they are still under appreciated at least in the bay area. sometimes see them at around 300-350 and jump on em. its when people want more fo ra used than a new that i get irritated. for all of PRK's wackadoodle gun laws, single actions are exempt and can still be imported, for now. A few years ago I passed on a 357 maximum real cheap and when i found out what could be done with it i went back and it was gone of course.

I like the lanyard ring. adds a nice touch of utility-ness look to it.

 

[JT]

Top drawer as usual Doc. Ham Bowen Bowen Classic Arms is a fine Southern Gentleman and one of the best gunsmiths on the planet! He has taught gunsmithing here at Montgomery Community College - NRA Courses.

Since S&W went the way of the lock, Ruger is now my go-to gunmaker for great new revolvers at reasonable prices and no locks. A Bowen Ruger (or pre-lock S&W for that matter) is perfection!

Thanks for sharing Doc and setting the mark for the rest of us!

 

[Vulcan Bob]

Wow Doc, thats a nice one! The lanyard ring is a very nice touch. I picked up two old model three screw 357's to convert to 44 special, then Lipsey's talked Ruger into makeing em. I picked up three of em and really like them. Now I have to figure out what to do with those old models, maybe a .41 special and a .40 S&W? Here's a pic of a 5 1/2 inch .44 special.

 

[Marshal Tom]

Very nice Bill, I had Andy Horvath do one for me on a 3 screw back in the 80's and sold it to a friend like a fool. I have been thinking of having Bowen do me another one. I also let two really nice Flattops go a couple of years ago.

Tom

 

[Muley Gil]

I have two OM .357 Ruger Blackhawks that have been converted to .44 Special. Alan Harton fron Houston did the work.

The 4 5/8" was done with a Super Blackhawk barrel. It is now wearing smooth Ruger grips. The 5 1/2" gun wears a Colt New Frontier barrel.