Re: Guess I'm Old School.........

[BobWright]

The above mentioned thread dealt with, in part, grips for a Single Action Army.

I've been a fan of the Single Action for many years now, and come to have certain preferances for my guns. These include no aluminum nor ZAMAK parts, preferring all steel, with concession being made to brass; steel and brass being traditional in times past. Further, no plastic grips, including the laminated wood, acrylic impregnated wood. I'm not too fond of new ivory, though would accept older yellowed and cracked ivory.

I do prefer stag:





And nice oil finished wood:






So maybe some won't agree with my choices, that's O.K. ~ they suit me very well like this.

Bob Wright

 

[Dain Bramage]

You built the Old School.

Is that an all-Ruger collection?

 

[BobWright]

Is that an all-Ruger collection?

No, Sir. Bottom photo, l. to r., Ruger, Colt, Uberti, and Hy Hunter.

But the majority of my battery are Rugers.

Bob Wright

 

[joem1945]

I like blue steel and wood. I did change out the wood grips on my Super Blackhawk to Hogue grips. I shoot it quite a bit and the Hogue made me a better shot with it and less painful. In fact i had to replace the grips as they wore through in places.

 

[PJSprog]

I doubt anyone here is going to argue with your taste in revolvers, Bob. Your collection is extraordinary.

That said, I've never been a big fan of stag/bone/ivory grips. Just not my thing. I've always preferred wood. Your oiled examples have me drooling over here. As always, thanks for the great photos.

 

[Dain Bramage]

l. to r., Ruger, Colt, Uberti, and Hy Hunter.

New Frontier? Nice. I'm partial to adjustable sights.

Excellent collection, and you're certainly a man who knows what he likes.

 

[gotboostvr]

Nice collection of guns and grips!

I'm thinking about a set of stags for a new blackhawk of mine

 

[ROAshooter]

A fine...fine collection....to be proud of!!

 

[Panzerschwein]

Oh MAN those are all SO nice!!

You've got some in .44 special right?

 

[Blueduck]

Didn't the original colts come with Gutta percha (which I've heard is basically latex) and hard rubber grips from their introduction?

1870's seems kinda old school to me. I guess you could slap some Pachmayers on that colt and call it good (Just kidding please don't do that!)

 

[susieqz]

truely beautiful guns.
i just got my first cowboy gun n it feels so natural in my hand, i gotta get a bunch like yours.

 

[BobWright]

Didn't the original colts come with Gutta percha (which I've heard is basically latex) and hard rubber grips from their introduction?

The original Colts, ca. 1847, came with varnished walnut grips, one piece style, with the exception of the Root models, which necessitated the use of two piece grips. The Single Action Army Model 1873 was issued to the Army with one piece walnut grips, the commercial models did have two piece hard rubber grips. Gutta percha and hard rubber were the same material, and were an early form of plastic. And yes, this was a latex based plastic.

You've got some in .44 special right?

Yes, these are .44 Specials:




Bob Wright

 

[bannockburn]

BobWright

I hear ya' brother! First thing I did with my Ruger Flattop .44 Special was change out those plastic abominations for a set of rosewood grips from Ruger. Then I ordered a set of American Holly grips form Private's Custom Grips and they look and feel great. Also love the look of stag and ivory, just can't afford them right now.

 

[Panzerschwein]

Bob, I see you've got a nice variety of barrel lengths.

What's your favorite length, and why?

 

[BobWright]

Bob, I see you've got a nice variety of barrel lengths.

What's your favorite length, and why?

Don't have one favorite length. Length commensurate with the situation.

I like the 7 1/2" Magnums for hunting, greater sight radius, extra weight dampens recoil, and provides greater velocity.

The 4 3/4" or 4 5/8" for daily carry. Since I carry this I also practice more frequently with this length.

The 7 1/2" usually is used with rip-snortin' fire breathin' handloads, though do sometimes runs more tame ammunition through them.

My shorter barreled guns get milder ammunition, mostly stout enough for social situations.

Bob Wright

 

[samweller]

Man, that is one fine collection of pistols...you dog...

 

[srtolly]

I love blues steel and wood but the stag and ivory look fantastic. I'm trying to find some for my Blackhawk that I got with Pachmeyers on.

 

[ACP]

Bob, you have exquisite taste in firearms.

That's not old school -- that's just classic.

 

[ACP]

Bob, quick question: your thoughts on Bisley grips?

 

[BobWright]

Bob, quick question: your thoughts on Bisley grips?

Well, bless your heart for asking that. Gave it plenty of though years ago.

Around 1990 or so I built up several Ruger Single Actions in .45 Colt. I had a 7 1/2" and a 4 5/8" Blackhawk fitted with Super Blackhawk grips; a 4 5/8" Blackhawk turned out like a Bisley, and a 7 1/2" Bisley; and a 4 5/8" Vaquero. I worked up .45 Colt factory equivalent ammunition, some very high velocity 185 gr. JHPs, and some very stout 350 gr. cast round nose flat point bullets.

I ran samples of each load, shooting from the bench, standing with two hand hold, and one hand duelest style.

After shooting and comparing these guns and loads, I swapped out the Bisley grips as they whacked my knuckle pretty hard and were the least comfortable with heavy loads. The Super Blackhawk handled recoil best for me, while the standard Blackhawk was best for pointability and rapid firing. This before the re-introduction of the XR3 steel grip frame on the Flat Top Blackhawks. I've been shooting this with moderate .44 Special ammunition and am really fond of it for that kind of shooting.

Bisley 7 1/2" then (with Super Blackhawk):



"Bisley" 7 1/2" now:



Blackhawk 4 5/8" converted to Bisley then:




And, back to Blackhawk:



Bob Wright

 

[ACP]

Thank you for the reply!

I ask because the Ruger Bisley flattop in 44 Special is all the rage among some gun writers, supposedly reminiscent of Elmer Keith's Number 5 Colt, which is really saying something.

One last question -- do you have a preference for 45 Colt or 44 Special? I guess if I was going handgun hunting I would use 44 Magnum, but for a woods gun, which caliber do you prefer? And I understand both calibers work best with handloads that match the bullet to the bore diameter.

Thank You! You have a gorgeous collection of single action revolvers, something anyone would be proud to own, hand down, or to strive to collect themselves.

 

[Armybrat]

Bob, you're not "old school" - you're the Old Schoolmaster.

I've always admired your extensive first rate collection of single actions, especially the Rugers.

 

[Risky buisness]

Re: I guess I'm old school

Bob, that's a real nice set of revolvers. A quick question if I may.
In the first photo, the Ruger in the top position, is that a Super Blackhawk? If so, could you tell me what grip frame that was used in that revolvers production? I really like the thought of a longer grip that , if available I could attach to a old model Blackhawk, with Stag grips of course.

 

[bannockburn]

BobWright

Bisley or regular grip, that is fine looking Blackhawk! Really love the color case hardening!

 

[CraigC]

Stag all the way. Can't abide factory grips on my sixguns, even Colt eagles.