Blackhawk 45LC frame change

[3Crows]

I have a 4 5/8 blued Ruger Blackhawk in new condition. I bought it for my father circa 1982. I now have inherited it back. I have nothing really against the aluminum frame but I am a stainless guy and for no reason other than to dress it up and I like contrast I was thinking to install either a stainless frame or a brass frame.

I have hear that to go from the standard frame to a Bisely I need to change triggers? Or to a Super BH frame? I am pretty good at gunsmithing but would prefer to change nothing other than the frame. Please educate me on the best direction here.

I plan to carry this revolver, possibly this summer, for bear protection (and whatever) while hiking in places such things exist so will be loaded with BB or HMS "bear" type loads. Bisley or standard on that?

3C

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

Aluminum frame? Do you mean the grip frame? The main frame of Blackhawks has never been made of aluminum, only steel or stainless steel. Blackhawks have always had aluminum grip frames, unless they were the Stainless models. Then both the frame and the grip frame were stainless. Vaqueros have always had steel grip frames, either blued or stainless.

Power Custom makes (or used to make) brass grip frames for Rugers. Available at Midway USA.

In order change a standard Black Hawk to a Bisley model you will need to change the hammer, trigger, and maybe the related springs to. Been a long time since I was inside a Ruger.

 

[3Crows]

Howdy

Aluminum frame? Do you mean the grip frame? The main frame of Blackhawks has never been made of aluminum, only steel or stainless steel. Blackhawks have always had aluminum grip frames, unless they were the Stainless models. Then both the frame and the grip frame were stainless. Vaqueros have always had steel grip frames, either blued or stainless.

Power Custom makes (or used to make) brass grip frames for Rugers. Available at Midway USA.

In order change a standard Black Hawk to a Bisley model you will need to change the hammer, trigger, and maybe the related springs to. Been a long time since I was inside a Ruger.

Yes, I understand, I mean the grip frame. Yes, the stainless models have stainless grip frames, not aluminum, the blued models have aluminum grip frames. And I have seen brass but they were I assume aftermarket. So, I guess then that to change my blued Blackhawk .45LC to a stainless grip frame without other mods (trigger, hammer etc) then I need to stay with the standard Blackhawk grip?

I want to do this strictly for the look, I like the contrast and the little bit of extra weight. I am fully aware that the aluminum grip frame is plenty strong and is completely fine in all ways except I prefer the look of stainless steel and it shows less wear from heavy use.

3C

 

[3Crows]

And I will 'splain a little further. One of my two stainless steel Marlin 1895 SBL rifles, I have modded by installing RPP black gate, RPP black take down lever screw and a WWG blued/black Happy Trigger (and it may get a blued lever when Marlin releases them in blued as spares). Then of course it has the anodized OE black rail and black Warne QD rings and a black Burris Scout scope. So it already has a blue/black and stainless look going on. And my intention is to kind of give my Blackhawk the same look so that when I carry them together hog hunting or whatever I am doing with the two they have a common matching theme and make matching size holes .

3C

 

[Pat Riot]

I bought a stainless unfinished Blackhawk / Vaquero frame to try out on a New Vaquero. I dislike the New Vaquero grip. Anyway, the grip was and still is unfinished.

I ordered it from Midway.
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1004332163?pid=446153

Here are some photos of it installed. I will eventually polish it, but until then it’s perfectly functional. It is a little off at the base of the grip panels and at the top of the frame.

 

[cfullgraf]

I bought a Bisley 45 Colt Blackhawk a few years ago and disliked the Bisley grip frame. I replaced the frame with a standard "plow handle" grip frame that accepted a Pachmayr grip set. I forget exactly what other parts I needed for the exchange but it was easy to find on the internet and easily available.

Most of the time was spent with the exchange was getting the new grip frame of match with the existing revolver. Mostly cosmetic. The mechanical fit up did not require much fitting to function properly.

 

[Gordon]

I bought a stainless unfinished Blackhawk / Vaquero frame to try out on a New Vaquero. I dislike the New Vaquero grip. Anyway, the grip was and still is unfinished.

I ordered it from Midway.
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1004332163?pid=446153

Here are some photos of it installed. I will eventually polish it, but until then it’s perfectly functional. It is a little off at the base of the grip panels and at the top of the frame.

View attachment 1072458 View attachment 1072459 View attachment 1072460 View attachment 1072461 View attachment 1072462 View attachment 1072463

Looks like a Montalvo ! Did you also put a Super Blackhawk hammer on it ?

 

[Pat Riot]

Looks like a Montalvo ! Did you also put a Super Blackhawk hammer on it ?

Yes. With the new frame and the SBH hammer it balances nicely when firing.

 

[CraigC]

The Bisley needs the hammer and trigger swapped as well. You can do the Super grip frame and nothing else. A lot of folks are opting for the Hunter grip frame. It's the same shape but the triggerguard is rounded.

If you order a new part from Ruger, Brownells or Midway, it's going to be rough like the one in Pat's post above. They take a good bit of filing, sanding and polishing to blend with the gun. Or you can find a take-off and roll the dice with regards to fitment. It of course will be fully finished but the way it mates to the receiver will not be perfect.

 

[3Crows]

So I can use the Ruger Hunter frame? I may, if I do this, just stay with the same frame. I know the Ruger OE part will require fitting.

There are these available in brass:

https://rwgripframes-com.3dcartstores.com

3C

 

[CraigC]

Yep. Bear in mind that Ronnie's grip frames are oversized and take a lot of work to get them fitted properly.

 

[Bazoo]

I have changed the XR3 grip frame on my flattop 44 NM Blackhawk to a XR3-red grip frame. I bought it from midway. It didn’t require fitting on the inside of frame or guts but required fitting on the outside edges. The original hammer base was proud of the ears, so I installed an older hammer which has a smaller base. The hammers were changed, as well as grip frame height at the ears, around 97 to be taller than previous. So an old grip frame will not fit a new gun frame, but new grip frames can be fitted to old gun frames. A brisley hammer has a larger diameter hammer base and requires a bigger cut in the grip frame.

I have probably 8 hours in fitting it. First I installed it and then took it off and filed just one area and got close. Then repeat using sandpaper with a backer until it’s flush. I finished with 400 grit and then used green scotchbright pad to give it the brushed appearance. I’ve fitted it over several sessions. I’m almost done. There is one very minor proud spot that needs more. It’s easy enough if you’re patient. But it’s easy to get in a hurry too if you’re not used to detail work. I am used to it.

 

[Pat Riot]

On mine no fitting was needed to the gun for operation of the gun. There is a small gap that is really minor. One probably wouldn’t notice it unless they looked close. It’s not enough of a gap to bother me.
The standard parts fit just fine.

One very interesting note:
The New Vaquero “supposedly” has a 17# hammer spring. The Vaquero had a 23# hammer spring. I always liked 19# hammer springs in my Vaqueros. A 19# is way too light to set off primers in a New Vaquero with a Vaquero grip frame. It felt really light when pulling back the hammer.
I tested springs in 1# increments until I was satisfied with the reliability. It turns out a 23# spring is what is needed for reliable ignition but with a light hammer pull.
It’s gotta be the weird geometry of the two frames, RNV main and Blackhawk/Vaquero grip frames, together.

 

[Bazoo]

My FT NM Blackhawk had a light hammer spring. I replaced it with a standard weight, used spring. I like a lot of hammer snap. My gun had the internal lock. It was removed when I changed frames. All I had to source was a mainspring seat. I then sold the other parts at a fair price.

 

[BigBlue 94]

I put a stainless birds head frame on a wrangler. It required zero fitting or changing of parts. It was a rough ground blank though, as mentioned, so the shape did require some work and then finished to whatever finish you want. I polished mine.

With a bisley grip, you WANT the bisley hammer. Otherwise only Wilt Chamberlain can cock it one handed.