Blackhawk in .45 Colt with an unfluted cylinder?

[BigBlock]

Hopefully I'll be picking up a shiny new Blackhawk soon, but I'm going nuts deciding exactly what I want. What I'd really like is a stainless .45 colt with an unfluted cylinder, but as far as I can tell they don't sell that. Would it be possible to get an unfluted SBH .44 mag cylinder and bore it out to fit a .45? Will the SBH cylinder fit without much trouble into a regular blackhawk?

 

[roscoe]

I believe the unfluted cylinder is for the Bisley.

 

[BigBlock]

The Super Blackhawk comes with an unfluted cylinder too...but only in .44 magnum.

 

[Old Fuff]

Any of Ruger's .44 Magnum cylinders can be rechambered to .45 Colt.

That said, individual fitting by an experienced gunsmith may be necessary, as cylinders are not a drop-in part - or at least they are not met to be. Usually if there is a problem it's because the hub at the front is too short. The best solution for this is to bore out the center hole and install a bushing, as was done with older Colt's.

 

[campbell]

The .44 mags can be rechambered and re-barreled, or you could have a .45 Colt fitted with a custom cylinder, but that won't be cheap. The closest thing to what you're looking for out of the box is the Acusport Bisley.

http://www.gunblast.com/Ruger_Stainless_Bisley.htm

I've got one of the 2006 run that came with same rosewood grips in that Gunblast article, and an extra cylinder in .45 ACP. 5.5'' stainless .45 Colt is a great configuration. There's a couple on Gunbroker right now.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=81671097

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=81095674

Or, if you like the Blackhawk better and the budget is right, check out the Tayra package from Clements. 1100, but that's a hand built job with custom barrel.

http://www.clementscustomguns.com/handguns/special.htm

 

[BlkHawk73]

The Super Blackhawk comes with an unfluted cylinder too...but only in .44 magnum.

Actully it has ben available in .41 mag and 45 Colt also. So yes there ARE unfluted 45 Colt stainless cylinders out there.

 

[Malamute]

Do you want the unfluted cylinder for looks, or perceived strength?

If for looks, go for it. If for perceived strength, don't expend the effort. The weak point in a 6 shot Ruger cylinder is the locking bolt cut, not the flutes. All evidence I've known of cylinders that either let go, or began to let go, it happens at the locking bolt cut first.

 

[BigBlock]

Actully it has ben available in .41 mag and 45 Colt also. So yes there ARE unfluted 45 Colt stainless cylinders out there.

Is that available as a spare part from anywhere?

Do you want the unfluted cylinder for looks, or perceived strength?

Just for looks...I want to get it custom engraved.


Can anyone give me an idea of what it would cost to have a gunsmith fit a replacement cylinder? I'm not really a fan of the bisley style grips.

 

[Old Fuff]

Then you have another option. You can buy a backstrap/trigger guard, hammer, trigger, and stocks for a regular Blackhawk, and switch out and sell the Bisley parts. There is a good market for the Bisley parts from others who want to do the conversion the other way (Blackhawk to Bisley). You may even find the parts you need at an attractive price on one of the Internet Auctions.

 

[BigBlock]

Then you have another option.

Bah!!! I think my head is going to explode! I have been thinking about a bird's head grip too. I take it the grip frame can be changed without a gunsmith?

 

[campbell]

You can buy a backstrap/trigger guard, hammer, trigger, and stocks for a regular Blackhawk, and switch out and sell the Bisley parts.

Except that he wants to custom engrave the cylinder, and the Bisley cylinders are already engraved.

Dave Clements answers questions on his message board. He does conversions on Redhawks from .44 mag to .45 Colt for $425 by re-boring the factory barrel and rechambering the existing cylinder, so I imagine he can do it to a Super Blackhawk as well. You'll end up with with a .45 Colt Blackhawk with a blank unfluted cylinder, and it'll be bored out to much tighter tolerances than you'd get from the factory.

 

[Old Fuff]

The engraving on the unfluted cylinder is "rolled," or pressed in, and not very deep. It can be polished off without effecting the cylinder's strength.

Converting a Redhawk would be much more expensive then doing the same to a Blackhawk - the construction of the two revolvers is different. The most cost effective way would be to purchase a Bisley-Blackhawk in .45 Colt (if the 7 1/2" barrel was acceptable) and change out the backstrap/trigger guard, grips, hammer and trigger; because the left-over parts could be sold to cover much of the expense. Otherwise rechambering a .44 Magnum unfluted cylinder would seem to be the answer.

Fitting a cylinder will require the services of a gunsmith, unless one gets very lucky and it drops in. Changing the handle parts, hammer and trigger can be done by the gun owner in most cases.

 

[capitolpeak]

A Ruger Rep told me that the Super and the Reg. blackhawk have identicle frames. The only difference is the caliber offerings. So it seems the cylinders might just swap out and all you would need is barrel work.

Not sure though, dont take my word for it. If I were you I would just call them and ask. Their pretty nice and helpful as far as questions. Chances are they can build you one.

 

[Boxhead]

Here's an Acusport 45 Colt that I removed the cylinder "engraving" on as well as the barrel safety warning. I have also tweaked a few other things on it. One of the finest hunting sixguns IMO.

 

[campbell]

The engraving on the unfluted cylinder is "rolled," or pressed in, and not very deep. It can be polished off without effecting the cylinder's strength.

I didn't realize it was so shallow. I just took a close look at mine, and it really is barely there.

Here's an Acusport 45 Colt that I removed the cylinder "engraving" on as well as the barrel safety warning. I have also tweaked a few other things on it. One of the finest hunting sixguns IMO.

That looks great. I just may have to polish my cylinder. Warning's on the underside of the barrel, so I don't think I see it often enough to take it off. After getting an Acusport, it's easy to see why Bowen calls his 5.5'' Bisley package the "perfected" Bisley.