Blackhawk help

[Henry Shooter]

Morning Gang
I need some help to clear up the difference between the Ruger Blackhawk. What is the difference between the older and the newer BH, and which is better.

[den888]

Old Models do not have the transfer bar safety, and could be dangerous to load 6 rounds into the cylinder. New Models do.

Die hards like the Old Models. I had a New Model (from 1985) and shot over 5000 full .357 magnum loads though it and no problems whatsoever. Great guns and built like heavy duty armor is.

[461]

Nothing wrong with either model. Old model gets loaded with five and an empty chamber under the hammer for carrying while the new model can be carried safely with six. The old model generally has a better trigger than a new model but both can be made near perfect.

[scootergmc]

Easiest way to tell:

Three screws in the side of frame=old model
Two screws in the side of frame=new model

Pretty much what 461 said. They're both good. I have both. I prefer the originality of the old model, but there's absolutely nothing wrong with the new model. It's always nice to find an unconverted Blackhawk.

Here's a good and quick Chuck Hawks article:

http://www.chuckhawks.com/ruger_blackhawk_vaquero.htm

[1JimMarch]

Well it's gotten more complex of late .

Blackhawks of the early period prior to 1973 were mostly 357s on a mid-size frame very similar in heft and strength to late-generation Colt SAAs. Towards the beginning of that period the SuperBlackhawk in 44Mag was built in a larger frame size, and towards the end other large-frames sold as "Blackhawks" were chambered in other calibers, including (1971 - 1972) the 45LC.

From the very first Blackhawks through about 1962, the frame was "flat" on top similar to a Colt New Frontier. After that Ruger put "ears" on the topstrap to protect the rear sight a bit better. It's really just a cosmetic change.

Starting in 1973 *all* the Blackhawks and Supers were built in the large frame size regardless of caliber. The mid-size "Colt-like" frame size vanished.

In 2004 the mid-frame made a comeback in the New Vaquero first, and then in 2005 Ruger made the 50th Anniversary 357 Flattop, bringing back the flattop AND the mid-frame features in the same gun while retaining the transfer bar safety of all the other post-1972 Rugers. We now have a second mid-frame variant of that gun, in a special run of about 2,000 44Spls through Lipsey's. Other than caliber, that's the same gun as the 50th 357.