[Old Fuff]

Well all is not gloom & doom. I have always wanted a .357-size Blackhawk chambered in .44 Special, but the older flattop revolvers had a cylinder with a diameter that was "just" big enough to hold the larger cartridges. The new .357 Blackhawk/Flattop that this revolver is based on has the same length cylinder as the older one, but is the same diameter as the ones used in current .44 Magnum Blackhawks. I suspect future edition may be offered in .45 Colt and possibly .45 ACP :) ;)

Lipsey's Announces Exclusive Ruger Flattop 44 Special Blackhawk

Baton Rouge, Louisiana-- Lipsey's LLC, a leading nation-wide firearms distributor, is pleased to announce an exclusive run of Ruger Flattop 44 Special Blackhawks for 2009. These much anticipated revolvers will feature a blue finish, black hard rubber checkered grips, and adjustable sights. They will be built on the mid-size 357 Magnum frame and offered in both the 4-5/8" and 5-1/2" barrel lengths.

Lipsey's has been a firearms distributor since 1953 and currently services FFL licensed firearms retailers in all 50 states. This exciting new exclusive 44 Special Flattop will complement Lipsey's extensive line of special make-up and limited edition firearms.

To find out more about these and other Lipsey's offerings please visit www.lipseys.com.

[CSA 357]

I got to have one, 44 spec is a great round:d

[BlkHawk73]

Have also anted one for quite some time. Herad strong rmors of these a while ago so I've held off sending in my 50th Ann BH for a rechambering and full makeover. Not having the bbl length I'm wanting in these will keep that project alive. The initial 1000 of each won't last long so I'm darn sure they'll be more.

[calaverasslim]

THANK YOU, LORD...one prayer answered, now if S&W will follow suit in one of their K frame 44 specials, I will be a very happy man.

[Old Fuff]

BlkHawk73:

I'm not sure what barrel length you want. But be aware that any barrel made for a .44 Magnum Blackhawk or Super Blackhawk will fit this .357-size frame. A barrel switch would cost far less then converting one of the new flattop .357 Blackhawks to .44 Special.

[BlkHawk73]

I'm not sure what barrel length you want. But be aware that any barrel made for a .44 Magnum Blackhawk or Super Blackhawk will fit this .357-size frame. A barrel switch would cost far less then converting one of the new flattop .357 Blackhawks to .44 Special.

Well aware of what can be utilized. For what want, using my existing flattop will cost about as much as buying one of these .44 specials and having it converted to what I want. Acyually less. The rechambering of the cylinder and new bbl will cost me a bit less than whatone of these will cost me. I'm having more than just a staright rechamber done so the other work involved still will have the work up close to $1000. Buying one of these...$450 or so for the gun if not more, then the work...still at $1000.
Actually NOT every SBH bbl will work. Those used on the untermodels havea different thread so they cannot be used easily on these medium frames.
Oh, I'm wanting a 6 1/2" bbl. which is gong to require a longer bbl being cut down, recrowned and having the front sight reattatched.

[420Stainless]

Updated wish list.

.44 Special Blackhawk
Officer's Model Match
New Delta Elite (Don't think I need to worry about this one anymore - it was just a cruel tease from the Colt folks at the SHOT show last year)


Thanks (I think) for the news Old Fuff. Oh well. Probably a better investment than Wall Street right now.

[Beagle-zebub]

This'll be a good CAS cartridge in a good CAS-size frame. Good stuff.

[FoMoGo]

I need one of these...
I have my .44 special large frame DA, my .44 special compact frame snubby... now I just need my .44 special SA.


Jim

[Old Fuff]

Everyone should keep in mind that this is a special 1000-gun run for a distributor. I doubt that there will be more in the near future, although they may make other limited runs chambered for different cartridges. Some that come to mind are:

10mm Automatic
.44-40
.45 Colt
.45 ACP

But if you want a .44 Special it may be wise to not wait too long.

[Auburn1992]

Why not just get a 44 mag?

[Old Fuff]

Why not just get a 44 mag?

Because it's a larger and heavier revolver, and sometimes a smaller and lighter gun with almost equal power is easier to lift, point and carry around.

Of course if you MUST HAVE magnum power then I suppose.... :uhoh:

[sm]

.44 special I likes a lot!

This is great news !

Thanks Old Fuff...

[FoMoGo]

Why not just get a 44 mag?
I used to be one of "Those People" ;)
I now own 0 .44 magnums and am building my .44 special collection.
.44 special people are a different sort...


Jim

[Gordon]

The "medium frame" is not the old/new flattop .357 but rather the original Vaquero size. A 2 screw .357 black hawk would be a "med frame" ?

[BlkHawk73]

Why not just get a 44 mag?


Becasue one need not have just one cartridge. Variety! Otherwise with that tain of thought...

Why have a .22lr when there's a .22 mag?
Why have a .38 special when there's a .357 mag?
Why have a .357 mag when there's a .357 max?
Why have a .45 schofiled when there's a .45 Colt?
Why have a .45 Colt when there's a .454 Cassul?
Why have a .454 cassul when there's a .460 S&W?
Why have a .480 Ruger when there's a .475 Linbaugh?
Why have a .50 Special when there's a .500 Linbaugh?
Why have a .380 when there's a 9mm?
Why have a .40 S&W when there's a 10mm?
Why have all the cartridges we have when 2 or 3 will suffice?

Basically...if you have to ask, you wouldn't understand. ;)

[saltydog452]

Thank you Fuff.

salty

[Auburn1992]

Why have a .22lr when there's a .22 mag?

22lr is cheaper.

Why have a .38 special when there's a .357 mag?

I'd just get the .357 because you can shoot both.

Why have a .380 when there's a 9mm?
+ Why have a .40 S&W when there's a 10mm?


You can't shoot either in the bigger gun... so you'd need a new one.


But why limit yourself to a 44spl if you could get a 44 mag and shoot both??

[sidheshooter]

Great, time to start saving my quarters, I guess... ;)

The 4 5/8 med size flat 'hawk is my favorite SA... the same with huge holes in the end may well be primo...

I'd eat beans and rice into 2009 to be able to pick one of these up!

[Archie]

A five and one half inch barreled .44 Special on a Blackhawk frame.

Not as big, heavy and marginally unhandy as a Super Blackhawk or Redhawk. Capable of being loaded down to nearly nothing for plinking or squirrels, or loaded up to what drove the development of the .44 Magnum.

Not to mention a certain flair and 'je ne sais quoi' and soul not to be discounted.

Six hundred bones? Mebbe I can get two?

[Old Fuff]

But why limit yourself to a 44spl if you could get a 44 mag and shoot both??

Because bigger isn't always better. The .44 Special on a .357 frame is smaller, lighter and easier to pack. While the .44 Special isn't a barn-burner it can be handloaded to respectable levels in the right revolver, and this is a "right revolver."

[ocharry]

while i am a 44 special fan,,,and a SA would be cool,,,i would love to see ruger build a special in the 101 size frame,,,with a 3-4" barrel in a 5 shot

talk about a nice carry size,,,,oh my mouth is waterin,,,,,in a satin ss,,,

that's it i aint sayin no more,,,,,,cept PLEASE MR. RUGER

ocharry

[meef]

while i am a 44 special fan,,,and a SA would be cool,,,i would love to see ruger build a special in the 101 size frame,,,with a 3-4" barrel in a 5 shotI would buy that in a heartbeat and completely abandon my current quest/lusting for a S&W 696 - which is so freaking overpriced on the market that I haven't been able to bring myself to pull the trigger whenever one's available, so to speak.

[Old Fuff]

Sorry, but it isn't likely to happen. The cylinder diameter is too small, and the chamber walls would be too thin by Ruger standards. They tend to overbuild everything to be on the safe side. :(

[Prepster]

I'd eat beans and rice into 2009 to be able to pick one of these up!

Yeah, I'd be willing to go on a Ramen diet for a while to get one of these. My Vaquero could use the company, it doesn't have any other single actions to play with.

[FoMoGo]

But they COULD build a 5 shot .44 special GP100. :D


Jim

[Old Fuff]

Yes, indeed they could...

Now all you have too do is talk them (or a major distributor) into it. :cool:

[ocharry]

and a GP100 would be my next choice,,,prolly what i should have said in the first place,,,,,oh what a christmas gift

can you just imagine one of those GP100's in stainless lying under the tree sparkling away with a box of shells next to it

well i'm drooling again

i guess you are right fuff,,,101 is a little on the small side for that round

ocharry

[Ben Shepherd]

Can I afford it? No.

Am I going to get one anyway? DUH.:D

[Walkalong]

But they COULD build a 5 shot .44 special GP100. :D
Double :D:D
Yes, indeed they could...
Triple :D:D:D
Now all you have too do is talk them (or a major distributor) into it. :cool:Ah man...:(

[FoMoGo]

Or have clements build you one. ;)
http://www.clementscustomguns.com/handguns/images/2.jpg
www.clementscustomguns.com


Jim

[MikePGS]

www.clementscustomguns.com

"Calibers available

New Model Blackhawks and Vaqueros: .44 Special .44-40 (.430 bullets) .38-40 10mm 40 S&W .41 Magnum .45 ACP .45 Colt .44 Magnum "
NICE!

[Old Fuff]

New Model Blackhawks and Vaqueros....

Not sure, but I think he is refering to Blackhawks and Vaqueros made on the larger .44 Magnum frame, but at least most of those cartridges would work in the current .357 Flattop frame. Note that the current flattop .357 frame is slightly larger then the original .357 Blackhawk one.

[mgregg85]

Is there a significant weight diference between the .44 special version and the .44 mag version to make this worth while?

[Ben Shepherd]

Oh yes. A lot of difference given the smaller frame.

EDIT: Nevermind. I just read the original post about the frame size.

[Shawnee]

Has to be an absolute Sweetheart of a gun !!

:cool:

[Archie]

I was going to put an order in for the .44 Special edition, but...

At the Orange County Gun Show today, I found a dealer with whom I have dealt before with a "50th Anniversary" Ruger Blackhawk in .44 Magnum. Total cost was 460 Yankee dollars. I'll shoot a lot of lighter loads in it, but still have the ability to shoot the heavy stuff as needed. It's a six and a half, rather than the five and a half barrel, but I think I can deal with that.

I also found a very nice set of after market grips for it. A very dark 'laminated wood' material with basic checkering (15 lpi according to my aging eyes) with a diamond around the grip screw and small 'fleur-de-lis' accents at top and bottom.

Who says gun shows are all bad?

I guess I should load up some ammo for the new one, huh?

[Dienekes]

I have one of the 50th anniversary flat tops, and it is a honey. Have had a old .44 flat top from the 60s that I cut to 4 5/8" many years ago, and it makes a primo packing pistol. Unlike a lot of Ruger SAs, it handles and balances nicely. Can't remember the last time I shot magnum rounds in it, though. So a smaller frame .44 would be loverly.

Next stop--Lipsey's.:D

[hawmanai]

Also just picked up a 50th 44 Ruger. Smaller than the Super Blackhawk.

Very happy with it.

Need a glove for full power loads.

[SlamFire1]

I asked Lepsey's about the Ruger Flattop, 44 Spl. http://www.lipseys.com/itemdetail.aspx?itemno=RUNVB45SPCL&mfg=Ruger&family=Blackhawk+Series&model=Blackhawk+Flattop&type=Revolver&caliber=44+Special

I was told that they are going to get 250 by the end of January 09, with Ruger delivering 250 per calendar year quarter. The production run will end at 1000 pistols. I don't know if that is 1000 each barrel length, or total.

Consider that it costs $800.00 to have Hamilton Bowen convert a 357 Blackhawk to a 44 Spl.

Mr. Bowen's work is outstanding, but $800 plus the price of a 357, and you are talking about a $1K + pistol.

[batmann]

I have one on order! The first 1/4 run is sold out, but there is more a comin.
I have a Mag, but the mid-size frame is a perfect platform for a Special.