The 41 Magnum line up. (top to bottom; NMBH 4 5/8″ pre-warning, NMBH Flattop 5 1/2″ Bisley, Threw-screw Blackhawk 6 1/2″)

Thought this might be interesting to share. After purchasing the middle pictured pistol in 41 Magnum I was having some thoughts about the weight. Lipsey’s advertizes it as weighing 46 ounces. Being a mid-size frame with a smaller diameter and shorter length cylinder it should be “lighter” and handier.

Granted the Bisley grip frame definitely tames the recoil it does add quite a bit of weight. As the 41 Magnum isn’t to wild to start with I got to wondering how I could make it even handier.

A Ruger New Model Super Blackhawk (NMSBH) in 44 Magnum with a 5 1/2″ barrel was an acquisition I made several years ago. The lower and wider spurred (Bisley style) hammer commonly found on Super Blackhawk models continually nipped away at the web of my hand. I ordered a standard New Model Blackhawk (NMBH) hammer (higher and thinner spur) which provided the much needed relief my hand desired when the pistol would roll under heavy loads.

Looking at https://rwgripframes-com.3dcartstores.com/ and seriously mulling the idea over for a “beast” taming grip for the 44 the wife said something to the effect of “can’t you just swap the handles?”

“First off my love, they’re called ‘grips’… and yes … why yes honey, I can just swap the ‘handles!'”

About forty-five minutes in the shop and the swap was complete. Grip frame, hammer and trigger were all the components swapped. The transfer bar, pawl and bolt stayed with the gun it came in. A couple of cosmetic changes, the ejector rods and housings and I was finished. I did have an issue with the bottom of the pawl hitting the grip frame when attempting to cinch the grip down on the Flattop. This would push the hammer away from the frame and not allow it to contact the transfer bar. A couple of passes with a flat file made clearance enough to allow the hammer to contact the frame.

(Top) The Flattop New Model Blackhawk 41 Magnum sporting a standard steal grip frame and hammer; (Bottom) The New Model Super Blackhawk 44 Magnum sporting the Bisley grip, trigger and hammer.

	44 Magnum, 5 1/2″	41 Magnum, 5 1/2″	41 Magnum, 4 5/8″	41 Magnum, 6 1/2
Factory Weight	45 oz	46 oz	—	—
Final Weight	47 oz	42 oz	38 oz	41 oz
	2 oz Gain	4 oz Loss

Note the 6 1/2″ is even one ounce lighter than the Flattop due to an aluminum vs. steal grip frame.

The 44 Magnum is definitely a tamer beast with the new grip, no more skyward muzzle roll with heavy Keith loads or hammer digging the back of my hand although, the new model hammer I installed eliminated that issue early on.

With a nod to John Taffin, I believe my Flattop 41 Magnum is…the “Perfect Packing Pistol.