Came across an old ruger.....

David Clements 44 Special

I’d recommend Bowen or Jack Huntington. I’ve had work done by both and both are top-notch.
Can’t go wrong with a 41, or 44 or 45.

I would advise going to 480R instead of a 5 shot 45, and that means skipping the 454. There are certainly no flies on the 454, but there is an increase in recoil and it’s still just a 45 caliber hole. You may be better served just stepping it up and going 475/480 Ruger.

Steve Milblocker

David Clements 44 Special

Click to expand...

I second Risky buisness' notion that's definitely one fine looking handgun!

Risky buisness said:

I happend on an old Ruger 3 screw blackhawk 6 1/2" in 357 the other day. Good shape.
Im thinking about having my first custom revolver made from this old girl. Maybe a 5 shot .45 colt, perhaps a .41 mag. I always wanted a Bisley model so thats a for certain. Anyone have some additional thoughts about what you have had done like this, and who did it? If anyone would share some results i would appreciate it.

Click to expand...

10mm conversion seems pretty popular. Of course, I’d never do something like that to a nice condition 3-screw Blackhawk but there’s no accounting for taste.

Swapping calibers is pricy, if I was going to go for it I’d go with Bowen.

Stay safe.

If it's original-no transfer bar-and in good shape, I would leave it as is.

Steve Milbocker said:

David Clements 44 Special View attachment 1043199

Click to expand...

That's a right handsome looking firearm!!

I could live happily with it just as it is.

I was in picking up a gun today and was checking out the Ruger .22's & a Heritage. I was surprised to see the 6" (?) Single Six had such a short grip, barely a 3 finger like a sub-compact. My hands are average size, not overly large. Didn't handle either of the lower priced models.

Howdy

I have a few old Three Screw Rugers.

Left to right they are a 44 Mag Flat Top, a 357 Mag 6 1/2", 357 Mag Flat Top, then 3 Single Sixes.






I used to think I would like to convert this one to 44 Special, but I probably will just leave it as it is.

DTL said:

I was in picking up a gun today and was checking out the Ruger .22's & a Heritage. I was surprised to see the 6" (?) Single Six had such a short grip, barely a 3 finger like a sub-compact. My hands are average size, not overly large. Didn't handle either of the lower priced models.

Click to expand...

I never try to cram my entire hand onto the grip of a single action revolver, Colt, Ruger, Uberti, or any others.

I always curl my pinky under the grip of any single action revolver, like this Three Screw SIngle Six, or a big Colt 45.

I'm looking forward to seeing the conversion!

Risky buisness said:

I read many posts about having to place the little finger under the grips of most non bisley single actions, due to the grip size of the blackhawk i have to as well, and so saying, most of my rugers stay in the safe because of it. Growing up with a colt SSA 44/40 with 1860 army grips has made my decisions easy about adding a bisley grip frame to my requirements for a revolver i actually want to shoot rather than take out to see if it still does.

Click to expand...

Howdy Again

Quite a few years ago, when I was thinking of starting to load cartridges with Black Powder, I was advised to buy Rugers with the Bisley grip to compensate for the stout recoil Black Powder cartridges generate. So I bought a Ruger Bisley Vaquero chambered for 45 Colt. I took it to exactly one match, decided I did not like it, and sold it. I know a lot of guys swear by the Ruger Bisley grip for heavy recoiling ammo, but I just did not like it.

About that time, I discovered if I curl my pinky under the grip, that lowers my grip on the revolver enough that a space of about 1/4" opens up between the knuckle of my middle finger and the rear of the trigger guard.

I shoot my Colts all the time in Cowboy Action Shooting with full house 45 Colt Black Powder loads.

This is how I hold a Colt. Notice the pinky curled under the grip. Notice my thumb reaches the hammer spur very easily in order to cock the hammer. More importantly, notice that gripping the revolver this way opens up a space of about 1/4" between the trigger guard and the knuckle of my middle finger. A 45 Colt cartridge loaded with Black Powder generates stout recoil. I know guys who complain about their knuckle getting whacked by the trigger guard when the revolver recoils. The 1/4" or so of space between my knuckle and the trigger guard prevents the trigger guard from whacking my knuckle. As I say, I shoot my Colts like this all the time, and I never get my knuckle whacked, despite the stout recoil of my ammo.






This photo shows the position of my hand, and thumb, as I cock the hammer.






This is an antique Colt Bisley model. The Colt Bisley grip is a bit different than the Bisley grip Ruger makes, the Colt Bisley grip sweeps further forward than the Ruger version of the Bisley Grip. This Bisley is chambered for 38-40, and although the recoil with Black Powder is not quite as stout as a 45 Colt, it is still substantial. This is how I hold this revolver. Again, notice the space between the trigger guard and my knuckle.






Cocking the Bisley Colt.






I completely understand your point of the 1860 Army grip, it is about 1/4" longer than the standard SAA grip, which is the same grip Colt was using for the 1851 Navy Cap & Ball revolver. But as I say, I shoot these revolvers all the time with heavy recoiling ammo, and my knuckle never gets whacked.

You can always switch to the Houge rubber grip and use all of your fingers. I know, the grips are slightly uglier than a home made mud fence but oh boy, do they work great. I recently bought a Taylor & Company 44 mag that has the 1860 Army grip and really like it. I have always wondered why Colt switched from the 1860 grip when the SAA came about.

I have threatened to make a pair of longer grips for my old single six for years but just keep putting it off. Maybe I will finally get it done this winter.

For me, the Old Model .357 isn't the platform for a five shot. Jack Huntington is the only one I know that would do it anyway. IMHO, these are best as a rechambered .44Spl, .38-40, .41Spl, .44-40, .45ACP, .45Colt, etc.. If a .41 is what you want, the .41Spl is a simple rechamber and it can still get a 215gr to 1200fps. Also, when you convert one to a Bisley, you lose a lot of that mid-frame weight savings. Unless you're getting aluminum from Ronnie Wells. The hammer and trigger will have to come from him. If I'm spending five-shot money and/or converting to a Bisley, I want it to be a large frame.

I'm about to send off two Old Model .357's for conversions. One will be a 4" .44Spl or .45ACP. The other a 7.5" .44Spl.

Not a Bisley, but I converted a new Wrangler to a birds head grip. Not difficult but time consuming.

From this


To this

I installed a rubber grip on my SBH because when I shot it the bottom edge of the grip frame would dig into my palm and after a while hurt. I just a couple of months ago switched back to the original grip. I wish I could find a wood grip that extended down below the metal grip and added just a little more length. But still had the cowboy grip look to it.