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OM Blackhawk MANY QUESTIONS

jimbo1096
I'm looking at a three screw Black Hawk, ser# 45-145XX. It just says 45 caliber, would that be a convertible 45 ACP/ 45 Colt, does the 45 colt say that on the side? Was there a BH made with just the ACP cyl.? That is all it has now, the ACP cyl. and it does match ser.# of the gun so it is the original one. Can anyone tell me year of mfg? One more question, value -- It has almost no cyl ring mark, doesn't look like it has been shot hardly at all, it's the flat gate style, has only the slight bluing wear at the end of bbl, and is the 7 1/2" bbl length. It has no box or paperwork and the grips have been changed to a large heavily checkered imitation wood, hard plastic style. WIW?
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7 comments

Date Votes
  • captkirk3@dslextreme.com
    The Blackhawk is a Single Action Revolver...to shoot the 45 APC would be to much of a Hastle, as You would have to Turn the back of the Cylinder to except the 1/2 moon clips and ruining the cylinder for shooting the 45 long Colt as designed...Besides... you'd have to pull the cylinder to reload every 6 shots....

    Captain Kirk, Tech Staff
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  • GaBob
    I have a convertible Ruger Blackhawk with a .45 Colt(Long Colt) and a seperate .45 ACP cylinder. The .45 ACP headspaces on the front of chamber so no half moon clips are required. Mine is a New Model Blackhawk. In a Ransom rest it shot as well as my Gold Cup.(I got rid of that D--n Gold Cup.)[:(!] I rarely use the .45 ACP cylinder prefering the .45 Colt.
    Bob

    Keep Your Powder Dry
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  • duckhunter
    Capt. Take another look in your ruger book. conv rugers use two cylinders not moon clips. No room. Go to www.ruger.com to date your gun.

    I WOULD RATHER BE DUCK HUNTING.
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  • captkirk3@dslextreme.com
    Yeah: I see that...I have an old Blackhawk with two cylinders,and the other cylinder has been Turned and uses the 1/2 moon clips....Don't recall who I got this setup from anymore....I've had it since the late 50's....Sitting here with a Mint Julip and perusing the Ruger Book...Stand Corrected..I should have realized that as the .30 Carbine was built the same way...Head spaced in front...Duh.....Thanks for the correction guys...........

    Captain Kirk, Tech Staff
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  • 2xbyu
    S/N 45-145xx = 1972. All OM 45s are rollmarked "Ruger Blackhawk .45 Caliber". There were no OM 45 ACP only guns. If it has the 45acp cylinder marked to the gun, then the 45 cylinder is missing. There were/are no flatgate style 45s. (only early single-six flatgates, the last flatgate was in 1957). There were about 5,760 OM 7-1/2" convertibles, BKH45X. Value, in the condition you describe with both cylinders and correct grips, I would say $650 maybe more. Less $200 for an old model 45 cylinder, less another $45 for the correct grips (silver eagles, new in 1972, from black eagles). Has the gun been converted? If so less another $100-$125 for those parts. Like anything, if you can get it for the right price go for it.
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  • jimbo1096
    Thanks 2xbyu, exactly the info I was looking for. It has been converted. I currently have a convertable new model. The shop is asking $299. It has the conversion intalled [:(]. They had it tagged as a 45 colt, and on inspection I noted the short cyl bore and case headspace for ACP. The dealer has it on consignment and had not bothered to verify the caliber since the sideframe said Ruger Blackhawk 45 Caliber. He tested it by attempting to insert a 45 colt catridge into the cyl. which didn't work. There may well be the extra cyl floating around at the owner's residence. The flatgate feature was the loading gate, being a flat piece that closes against the rear cyl face, correct? Instead of the rounded newer style that continues the curve of the frame. I could have sworn this gun has the flat loading gate. I didn't get to handle it too long as I just made a quick stop in the shop on the way back to work at lunch time. I am sure it is the three screw model.
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  • 2xbyu
    Jimbo1096, I'd go back to the shop and see if the owner has the 45lc cylinder for the gun. If he has both cylinders, at that price, it's a steal. Grips are easy to get (XR3 RED silver eagle), the old parts come up every now and then on the auction sites. Yes, that s/n is a 3 screw old model. If it has a "flatgate" type loading gate it's an aftermarket part. Original Ruger flategates were early .22cal Single-Six revolvers upto early 1957. No Ruger Blackhawk; 1955 to date; ever had a flatgate as factory original part. AS is, I would buy at $250 and keep an eye out for an OM 45lc cylinder.
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