NM Blackhawk grip frame change

[45r]

Will a Ruger Bisley GF work on a 73 NM Blackhawk.

[contender1]

Yes. All of the Blackhawk frames have the same screw hole pattern.

[scattershot]

Not quite. The screw hole pattern is the same, but on the Bisley the cylinder frame is a different contour at the rear, and the grip frame will not match up as a result. You can blend the metal to fit, but it's a lot of work that you may not want to get into.

[DougGuy]

The height of the back of the BH frame needs to be higher to fit the Bisley grip frame. There is some metal there you will have to blend in, but if your frame is like the SBH frame in this photo, it won't be very pretty at all, once you get it fitted on there.

Ruger fixed this in more recent production but your older one might line up with the Bisley grip frame just like this one does. I declined to proceed any further with this conversion once I found this out:

http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/DougGuy/Guns/DSC01678-1_zpsad4c7033.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/DougGuy/media/Guns/DSC01678-1_zpsad4c7033.jpg.html)

Here is another OM Ruger, note the angle of the back of the frame:

http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/DougGuy/Guns/OMSBH1_zps12ec5345.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/DougGuy/media/Guns/OMSBH1_zps12ec5345.jpg.html)

Here is a Bisley, note the angle between the red lines is not nearly as many degrees as the above two photos, the back of the frame itself is actually higher on the Bisley, so it meets up with the "ears" on the grip frame much better. If your frame is higher in the back, it will work. If it isn't, it will mate up like the top photo in this reply and you won't like it.

http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/DougGuy/Guns/Bisley_zps28379302.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/DougGuy/media/Guns/Bisley_zps28379302.jpg.html)

[45r]

Thanks for the info.
Looks like the CF would need to be welded up or the top of the bisley GF would need the top milled or filed flat around a half inch.
Will measure the CF to see how tall it is.
It's over 40 years old and still looks good.
Think it's one of the first NM 357's and has the short barrel.
I

[contender1]

DougGuy has posted some excellent additional info. Yes, it's possible will have a Bisley grip frame to be a little "proud" above the main frame of your NM. Here is a Pic of one of my OM Ruger 44 mags with a Bisley g/f.

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f27/rugersa44/mixedmisc012_zps533b9a54.jpg (http://s44.photobucket.com/user/rugersa44/media/mixedmisc012_zps533b9a54.jpg.html)

As you can see, this is an OM, 5 digit 44 mag that someone had cut the barrel down to 4-5/8". When I got it, it had a brass grip frame. I removed the brass g/f, and put a NM stainless Bisley g/f under it. Yes, I had to make an adapter for the trigger return spring, but in your case, it will not be an issue. I also added a stainless NM ERH to it. If you look close, you can see the rear "ears" of the Bisley do stick up a little.
This gun is a shooter, and in case I want to swap the Bisley off it, I didn't want to re-contour the g/f. I left it "proud" & it's not an issue. However, many people do take the time to file off the top edge of the ears & make it blend as if it was made that way. In the case of my 44 above, when it was re-blued, they got a little polish happy in that area and the curve of the main frame is down a bit more than other OM's I have.
That said, yes, you can put a Bisley on your gun, and if you wish, ignore the top edge of the ears, as it does not affect the shooting one bit!

[DougGuy]

Thanks for the info.
Looks like the CF would need to be welded up or the top of the bisley GF would need the top milled or filed flat around a half inch.
Will measure the CF to see how tall it is.
It's over 40 years old and still looks good.
Think it's one of the first NM 357's and has the short barrel.
I

JB Weld and Sharpie marker! :bigsmyl2:

[bigted]

so as a curiosity ... does this "Bisley" grip frame give more room for large hands ... also does it "pinch" your second knuckle if you have large hands like the standard BH grip frame does?

just wondering if another revolver is in my future as a result of better ergonomics for large hands. seems like they will not do what im lookin to do tho.