ID this strange Ruger blackhawk grip frame

[R.W.Dale]

I did some horse trading with dad today for what I assumed was a normal run of the mill 4.5" barreled new model 357 blackhawk. Naturally the poor thing was wearing those cheap ugly 5$!.6"% hokey pachmayr presentation grips instead of the nice original wood stocks. ANYWAY I got it home and proceeded to strip and detail clean the thing and much to my surprise apoun removing the "grips" I noticed this.

A round butt blackhawk frame???????? Something I find no mention of nor have I ever heard of aside from the birds head.

 

[goodtime]

I'm curious to learn the answer to this one.

While you have the panels off, what a good time to do a poor boy trigger job!

 

[Kernel]

Seen'em like that before. It's not factory. A kitchen table gunsmith round butted it.

 

[CraigC]

It's not factory, it's been roundbutted. No indication from the picture how well done, so the "kitchen table gunsmith" prediction might be a bit premature. I've had two of them done by gunsmith David Clements. This one a .45Colt Bisley Vaquero roundbutted and fitted with BluMagnum ivory micarta. Among other things.....

 

[R.W.Dale]

The general consus seems to be it's custom work. Whom ever performed the work did a good job with the grinding, polishing and blueing (plum on a ruger) as it wasn't evident to my savvy eye that thus was a rework.

I don't know what's the "kitchen table" comment came from, WOW that came outta left field. I think some members here just have an uncontrollable compulsion to be negative in some small way in all their posts.

Next how difficult will it be to recontour a set of wood or faux ivory stocks to match.

 

[CraigC]

Shouldn't be too difficult. I would bolt them on, one panel at a time and trace the grip frame contour onto the back side. Then I'd remove them and work them down with a file or rasp until the contours were very close and finish with sandpaper.

 

[Kernel]

What a bunch of snobs. Why would "kitchen table" have any negative connotations? It's not like I said "Bubba'd" or "butchered". You must think an average Joe can’t do quality work at home. I’ll withdraw the comment. The work was probably done in a man cave, anyway.

 

[ljnowell]

What a bunch of snobs. Why would "kitchen table" have any negative connotations? It's not like I said "Bubba'd" or "butchered". You must think an average Joe can’t do quality work at home. I’ll withdraw the comment. The work was probably done in a man cave, anyway.

And another insult. Kitchen table implies a less than qualified or skilled person doing it themselves. Would it be that difficult for you to believe that a person paid to have this done?

 

[Kernel]

Well, if they did pay to have it done, they obviously weren’t to happy with the results. Since they sold the gun, choosing not to disclose the modification, and instead deceptively hiding the work under a cheap Packmayr grip. Perhaps, knowing such a modification would typically lower resale value.

Not saying I don’t like it, though. In fact, if krochus didn’t want it, and the grip frame was aluminum instead of steel, I’d offer to buy it for $20, or so. I've already downloaded the image and saved it to my hard drive.

I have a take-off BH aluminum grip frame, and walnut grip panels, sitting here, with plans to one day round butt and install on a 4-5/8” stainless Single Six. And, though I am definitely “less than qualified or skilled”, when I do get around to it, I will avoid doing the work on my kitchen table in the hopes of ensuring a better outcome.

 

[R.W.Dale]

What boggles my mind is given the info presented in the OP why you'd even speculate as to who what when and where this modification was made.


BTW I don't know what your kitchen is like but most folks don't have grinders and buffing wheels mounted next to the gravy boat.

Well, if they did pay to have it done, they obviously weren’t to happy with the results. Since they sold the gun, choosing not to disclose the modification, and instead deceptively hiding the work under a cheap Packmayr grip. Perhaps, knowing such a modification would typically lower resale value.

Again more baseless speculation.

The owner could have died or simply moved onto another project. The wood stocks could have become cracked or broken and given the custom nature of the work could have gotten the only grip that fit by a subsiquent owner. I do know that this firearms recent trail of ownership went through a pawnshop.

Who knows? Why do folks put these retarded grips on ANY blackhawk anyhow? Yet they do by the thousands.

Not saying I don’t like it, though. In fact, if krochus didn’t want it, and the grip frame was aluminum instead of steel, I’d offer to buy it for $20, or so

HAHAHA!
I'm sure you would, but I wouldn't sell it to YOU even if you were offering ten times that much

And on another note sadly this us what passes for intelligent discourse on THR nowadays.

 

[Leadhead]

Lighten up boys, the kitchen table comment may have been a hair low but buddy did answer your question as to whether it was stock or not.

It's not stock, and how or where the work was done will never be known..... could have been a kitchen table... who knows and really who cares.

Enjoy your "custom" grip frame!