Quality of New Model Blackhawks from early 90s till now?

[Arkansas Paul]

So I acquired a NM Blackhawk in .357 magnum yesterday in a trade. Referencing the serial number on the Ruger website, it was shipped in 1991. It of course has the transfer bar safety but does not have the grip safety.

My NM Blackhawk in .45 Colt was shipped in 2009 according to the Ruger website. It does have the grip safety.

The thing is, the .357 locks up much tighter and has a vastly better trigger. There isn't a hint of creep in it and the action seems smoother. I love my .45 and it has never given me a problem, but it just doesn't seem to be made with as tight tolerances as the older .357 mag.

Was the quality as a whole better 25 years ago?
Or about the same?

 

[HankR]

Never seen a Blackhawk with a grip safety? Is there now a key lock or something that you are referring to?

I have one from maybe 2005 or so (stainless, 45 Colt/cap convertable) and I'm not seeing major quality difference between that and the (1990s?) blue .357 I had before. I think I recall that the newer ones had a Tauras-style key lock with the hole hidden under the grips for awhile. I don't recall if my newer one does or not, the older one (since sold) did not and am not sure if they currently do that or not.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Yeah, I'm not certain when they started the grip safety but it is a key style safety that you can drill a small hole in the grips to utilize.

I've never heard of anyone using it.

 

[cfullgraf]

And the lock is gone again. I bought a couple new Blackhawks in the past year or two and neither have the lock in them. I think the grip casting is still configured for the lock but the lock parts are not there.

 

[BobWright]

Apparently that safety lock was short lived. I bought one New Vaquero, with the color case hardened frame finish that had the lock, and this bought used. A Flat Top .44 Special I bought afterwards did not have that lock.

I have Rugers dating back to 1958 and on up until now, and never had any problems with any of my guns. But I do feel that my Flat Top .44 Special is considerably better finished than previous Blackhawks, and, as I said, never had a complaint against a Blackhawk. But then, the early Super Blackhawks were superb revolvers.

Bob Wright

 

[BobWright]

Incidentally, to avoid confusion, that is a safety lock, not a grip safety.

The term grip safety conjures up the squeeze handle S&W revolvers and the Colt Government models in which there is a safety lever built into the backstrap of the grip that is deactivated as the gun is gripped.

BobWright

 

[jaguarxk120]

I was all set to drill a hole in the SBH grips, the gun in the drill press vise, but did not have hole location. Where is the hole located?

And what size, there is a 1/2 high speed drill chucked up ready to cut into the grip panels.

Why doesn't the owners booklet show such parts?

Were they ever there? And if they were there how did they work?

 

[BobWright]

jaguarxk120:

I was all set to drill a hole in the SBH grips, the gun in the drill press vise, but did not have hole location. Where is the hole located?

And what size, there is a 1/2 high speed drill chucked up ready to cut into the grip panels.

Why doesn't the owners booklet show such parts?

Were they ever there? And if they were there how did they work?

The lock was located in the grip frame, at the base of the mainspring. When the lock was engaged, it blocked the mainspring strut, preventing the hammer being cocked. The hole in the grips was very small, about 1/8" diameter or less. A key was furnished with the gun that entered the keyhole in the lock by passing through the grip panel.

Guns that had these locks did have their use explained and depicted in the owner's manual. As I said, very few were made and only few of those manuals were printed. If you do need one, contact Ruger, who will supply you with the proper manual.

Bob Wright


P.S. Here is a brief illustration and article:

http://www.realguns.com/articles/310.htm

 

[jaguarxk120]

So what you are talking about is a collectors item. If I had one it would be buried deep in the safe next to my No. 3 in 22 Hornet.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

The aluminum colored part near the base of the grip is the lock in the grip of a New Vaquero. The conical indentation in the grip at the right is where you drill a hole for the lock key. You don't need a drill press, you can do it with a hand drill. No, I never bothered to use the lock, so I do not know what diameter drill bit to use.




The part sticking out of the rear of the grip on this old S&W pocket pistol is a grip safety. The trigger cannot be pulled unless the grip safety is squeezed while pulling the trigger. Same as with a 1911 Semi-Auto.

 

[.455_Hunter]

The key to Ruger revolvers is being able to directly examine the specific gun that you have an interest, regardless of vintage.The factory range of "acceptable" is pretty wide for cylinder gap and endshake, my most important criteria. The worst one I saw was an almost unfired "200th Year" Blackhawk with a gap big enough to watch TV through (.015), yet my 1982 Super and 2012 Bisley have a very useful .002-.003 reading.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

I erroneously used the term 'grip safety' I know.

I had no clue they actually made a revolver with one. Wow.

 

[murf]

ye ole "lemon squeezer"! hats off to you , driftwood johnson, for your outstanding revolver collection.

ruger has always produced a few "lemons". i have a 1973 vintage 357 blackhawk with a "lemon" cylinder. i sent it back to ruger and they replaced the cylinder. great customer service, great company. you can't go wrong with ruger.

murf