A 44 Special by Hamilton Bowen

[Dyermountain]

Beautiful. Bowen does some serious work.

[Ruger8r]

Outstanding!
I really like those stags.

[gunsbam45]

Sharp lil 4" there in the right caliber 4 it IMHO. Did someone custom make the stags, or did you have some fit? They're just as sharp as the rest of the gun. Would love to hear where they came from.

[Doc4429]

I bought the stag grips in the mid-90s from Lynn Laudise. I wish he was still with us as he always found the neatest Ruger handguns and accessories.

Bill

[flattop44]

I agree with you Bill, Lynn was a great guy. I bought a lot of fine and rare Rugers from him. That was back in the old Gunlist days.
Bill

[Ruger8r]

Gunsbam45,
Those are Ruger factory stag grips made for just a few years and only fit early Blackhawks and Single-Sixes - the XR3 grip frames. They are prized by collectors but, as such, have been knocked-off by various fakers. Look around here and you'll learn a lot about them.

[Brass Frame]

Bill, I have a similar .44 Special, made from a converted Old Model .357 Ruger. However it has a 5" barrel which makes it legal for me to carry while deer hunting in Ohio. I have also carried it on several Elk and Mule Deer hunts in New Mexico and Wyoming. Easy to carry and accurate, if I do my part! Brass Frame/Lee E

[Doc4429]

Lee...I haven't carried this .44 much, but it shoots great. I have a short barreled S&W 44 Magnum I have carried on several elk hunts in the Scapegoat Wilderness of Montana. A short barrel is a must when on horseback (or on a mule, which I actually prefer ).

Bill

[Brass Frame]

Bill, good for you on the elk hunt. I actually had to draw my .44 Special on an elk hunt when a cougar wanted my elk meat and decided to take it after dark one night! Quite an experience to come out of a deep sleep to hear the horses and men shouting while trying to remember why I was sleeping in a tent? No one was hurt and the meat was safe. One never knows what might cross your path on the trail. My .44 Special will shoot very accurately with one of Elmer's suggested loads. brass frame/Lee E

[Doc4429]

Lee...My first trip to the Bob Marshall Wilderness in 1986 resulted in a similar experience. We had all gone to bed in our tents and about 1 AM the horses in the corral started going crazy. Turns out a grizzly had come into camp, spooked the horses who kicked down the fence and scattered. The wranglers and guides spent most of the next morning chasing them down. The outfitter chastised us somewhat for not getting up and dealing with the bear. Like we were really going to do that

At this time, I had a Model 629 with an 8 3/8-inch barrel with me. Not much good on horseback and too heavy to carry in the mountains, but I learned, and that is why the short barreled 44 Magnum came along after that.

Bill