Henry Rifle Forums

I had told myself I didn't need another single action 357 revolver, but after seeing it at my LGS I had to bring it home. 1960 three screw flattop. I was seven years old when it was made and it has definitely held up better than I have. You just don't ever know what you will run up on on your next adventure to the local shop.

Nice is it original with no transfer bar.

I am having trouble seeing the advantage of not having a transfer bar. I have a pre -war Iver Johnson break top .32 that has a transfer bar so Ruger was not the first. A transfer bar Ruger is a true six shooter and a three screw is a five shooter just like a Colt. As far a trigger pulls, my new model Blackhawk has a very easy and crisp trigger despite having had a Super Blackhawk hammer installed because I had a good gunsmith do the work.So as far as a a working gun, I will take the transfer bar every time and the Ruger is a lot more robust design than the Colt or any of it's clones one that I would bet my life on.

I try NOT to go in the Gunshops unless I have to. if I saw a nice Ruger blackhawk in excellent condition and they weren't asking a mint, especially in 38/357 or 22/22 mag I would have to add it to the collection. I don't do it often and I love the single actions. (Um, and double actions.) Ah, handguns in general... Who am I kidding. But...

If I saw a Single Action in 357 with Stag Grips...

That one is on my collector/shooter bucket list. Great find! Those OM flat tops were made on a medium frame, just right for the 357. When Ruger went to the New Model, they used the large frame, except for some special runs for a flat top New Model.

BigAl52 wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 12, 2023 10:42 pm

Nice is it original with no transfer bar.

Sorry for the delayed answer, but yes original with no transfer bar.

Good for you. I've handled and examined half dozen OM Rugers that had the transfer bar conversion and not a one had as smooth an action or as nice a trigger as any un-converted OMs I've owned. Ruger did a much better job with the transfer bar when they went to the New Model. That's what the New Model was all about.

Very nice find and looks in very good condition!

Very nice !!!! But it's not a flat top, Notice the raised "ears" in front of the rear sight. Where the sight cross pin is. Flat tops' were totally flat on top with a steel Micro sight embedded down into the flat top..........You'r's might be a transitional gun. My Ruger book indicates by your s/n a 1963-64 mfg. date.
But still a very nice early .357. You did good.

The Happy Kaboomer wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 03, 2023 10:34 pm

Very nice !!!! But it's not a flat top, Notice the raised "ears" in front of the rear sight. Where the sight cross pin is. Flat tops' were totally flat on top with a steel Micro sight embedded down into the flat top..........You'r's might be a transitional gun. My Ruger book indicates by your s/n a 1963-64 mfg. date.
But still a very nice early .357. You did good.

Thanks for the added information.

That was a good find. Good looking revolver. Range report coming up?

Kaboommer is correct. It is not a flat top. It is a medium frame, though, and that's one thing that makes the OM 357s a nice find. All the OM model 357s were built on a medium frame, but if anyone is looking for a NM 357 with a medium frame, you can still find a medium frame New Model 357 Blackhawk if you can hunt down a 50th Anniversary NM Flat Top or one of the Lipsey's special run NM 357 Flat tops (had one). If you can't find one of those, there's always the current New Model 357 Vaquero. It's also built on the old medium frame size.

Learning more all the time. Thank you to everyone that has chimed in. Some knowledgeable people on this forum.