Any Ruger Blackhawk aficionados ....

[FlattopPat69]

Got this .357 Mag a few months ago:

A mirror image of my 1969 6.5” convertible (357 mag/9MM cylinder); and yes, verified unmolested (removed grip panels and saw no “R” stamped on the grip frame)…4-click original

 

[Golddollar]

My first ever centerfire handgun was a blue .45 Colt Ruger Blackhawk I picked up at Bixler's Hardware in Carlisle, PA. I started using it for SASS matches. When a second handgun was required, I bought its twin. Then Ruger came out with Blackhawks in stainless steel, and with my weakness for shiny guns I had to buy a .45 Colt Ruger Blackhawk in stainless steel. Then of course I had to have a twin for that too. So until medical issues kept me out of the SASS matches, all four of the .45 Blackhawks would go with me to the matches. One pair comes out the first day, then the other pair comes out the second day.

 

[Alpo]

I was in a pawn shop one day and they had a six and a half inch old model 357. Came home with me. The plan was to have it converted to 44 special. That was the plan.

Then a guy I worked with said that he knew that I knew something about guns, and he was going to have to put his daddy in a home so he wanted to sell his daddy's guns to help pay for it, and could I help him value them. So I got the latest copy of the blue book and we went to look. And one of the guns was a six and a half inch old model 357. I told him I did not know what the book said that was worth but it was worth $250 to me. Show you how long ago this was, the book said 95% was worth $220. And he pointed to the $220 and I told him that it was still worth $250 to me and he said sold. So now I had two.

Then one day I got the urge to put some Matt Dillon grips on them.



Never did convert either one of them. Gave them to my daughter.

 

[2152hq]

3 screw .357 6 1/2 that had a single scope mt screw hole in the top strap.
I bought it in a shop for around $200 back a ways with the intention of a conversion/custom project.
I accumulated some parts like a Ruger 45cal bbl, a steel trigger guard from a Ruger Old Army, a Power Custom Bisley hammer that still needed alteration for the SAA frame, a steel eject housing,
I made a new trigger to do away with the thin, stick like orig Ruger trigger and altered the placement of the trigger return spring/plunger so it is now up inside the frame. That places it out of the outline of the inside of the TG. Just a cosmetic thing but I think it looks better.
The biggest change was doing away with the Ruger rear adj sight all together. Filling in the frame cut for it and reprofiling the frame to a S&W M&P revolver style look.
No particular reason, I just thought they looked nice.
The front sight was made as a Target style Blade sight pinned into a base. The new/old Ruger 45 cal bbl was turned down to a slimmer taper profile. That elliminated all the roll markings on it and made it better looking and handling.

New AmWal grips made from the block. Still uncheckered, I may just leave them that way.
I rechambered the orig 357 cyl to 45Colt.
Tuned up the action a bit in the process and gave it a nice 3# pull.
...and filled that one scope mt hole in the top strap of course.
I ended up engraving it after a time and then rust blued it.
I lettered the bbl address says 'Wm. B. Ruger Firearms Mfg Co, Southport, Conn, USA
LH side of the bbl near frame I lettered it 45Colt
The LH side of the frame where it orig said Ruger 357/ Blackhawk,,it now just says Ruger/ Blackhawk

Shoots very nicely, though I haven't had it out in a while.
Another project done and kind of just put aside.

I did a similar job but more extensive engraving and with 24k gold inlay and with ivory grips to a 44FT.
I didn't change the frame profile any on that one though but did add a Power Custom Colt style steel grip frame. It had been someone's FastDraw pistola and was in bad shape on the outside. So a good prospect for a project as well

Most of the pics are the in progress ones and in the white.
No particular order.