New Model Flattop 44M

[HarryB]

I've been looking for a Super Blackhawk in 44 on the used market since the new prices have greatly increased. Found one online, looked good, so I made the purchase. I wasn't paying attention to details.

Upon arrival I thought I was confused. She was marked New Model Blackhawk 44 Magnum, not super. Turns out it was a 50th Anniversary Flat Top--a model I was not familiar with. She appears unfired, just a faint turn on the cylinder. My guess it was put away in a dark place for awhile, to surface today for unknown reasons.

Looks like a great reason to load Specials, with some magnums simply because we can.

Now I have a nice trio of 6 1/2 inch Blackhawks: A Single Six , a 357/9mm, and the new 44. Think I will start shopping grips to dress them up a little and get some leather.

 

[Frulk]

Nice acquisition. What’s the one in your avatar picture

 

[HarryB]

Nice acquisition. What’s the one in your avatar picture

Vaquero 44 Mag birdshead. I couldn't see the sights well enough at range so I traded it off. She was a great looker though...

 

[Riomouse911]

Sweet!

My only flattop is a .44 Special with a 5.5” barrel. It became one of my favorites almost immediately.

Let us know how your flattop shoots when you get a chance to run some shots through it.

Stay safe.

 

[Charlie98]

My only flattop is a .44 Special with a 5.5” barrel. It became one of my favorites almost immediately.

That's the same pistol I had... next to my old .45 Colt Vaquero, it felt slim and handy compared to the porky Vaquero... it was a really nice pistol. I wasn't even aware they made the new New Model in .44MAG. I would opine that it'll be a handful with those smaller grips.

Nice score!

 

[vanfunk]

Ooooh. Oooooh. Ahhhhh. Nice! I’d love to find one like that. Good show!

 

[Riomouse911]

That's the same pistol I had... next to my old .45 Colt Vaquero, it felt slim and handy compared to the porky Vaquero... it was a really nice pistol. I wasn't even aware they made the new New Model in .44MAG. I would opine that it'll be a handful with those smaller grips.

Nice score!

I have a 4 5/8” old Vaquero, and another short barreled Blackhawk, in .45 Colt. I must say you are right about them being… a tad rotund .

A Blackhawk .44 mag would be a sweet partner with my .41.

Stay safe.

 

[Speedo66]

I don’t see the typical Ruger lawyer speak on the barrel, did they leave it off?

Good luck with your new gun!

 

[doubleh]

The first 44 magnum I ever fired was one if those. It took a long time for the swelling on my middle finger to heal.

 

[Kookla]

The writing should be under the barrel and grip frame is steel. If you pull the grips, I believe you'll see the internal lock in the grip frame. From what I've heard, Ruger spent some extra time on the polish and fit of the 50th anniversary models. With my 50th 357, this seems to be the case.

 

[CraigC]

That's interesting. Neither of the 50th anniversary Blackhawks I have/had were any better polished than the other Blackhawks. My .357 went down the road but the .44 is now a .500JRH.

 

[Kookla]

@CraigC My 357 50th seems better polished than some of the others around that time. Not as nearly nicely polished as my old model SBH though.

 

[CraigC]

Old pics of mine. Maybe a little better than standard Blackhawks.

 

[HarryB]

I don’t see the typical Ruger lawyer speak on the barrel, did they leave it off?

Good luck with your new gun!

as @Kookla posted, it is under the barrel. The top of the barrel has the gold anniversary markings.

I haven't taking the grips off to look at the internals, but the trigger on this Ruger is exceptional. And it appears to have the lock as the keys were present in the case but no hole was drilled in the grips

 

[UncleEd]

As I recall, the grips had to be removed to
turn the lock on or off. In other words Ruger
found a way for everyone to totally ignore it.

 

[Bazoo]

Congratulations. I have a 44 Special that I am fond of. I removed the XR3 grip frame and added a stainless XR3-RED grip frame. That also removed the lock, which mine had also. I installed a full power 23lb BlackHawk mainspring when I did the conversion. For mine, I had a bit of hammer bounce when I dry fired, and changing the spring resolved that, though it didn't cause any issues, it was just annoying.

I like my Simply Rugged Sourdough Pancake holster, though I've not tried that model holster for a longer barreled gun.

 

[Riomouse911]

Old pics of mine. Maybe a little better than standard Blackhawks.

Is the 4 5/8” BH gripped in spalted walnut? Beautiful!

Stay safe.

 

[CraigC]

Is the 4 5/8” BH gripped in spalted walnut? Beautiful!

Stay safe.

Close, spalted birch.