Standard Production Bisley Blackhawk or ???

[DennisB]

I spotted a .45 Colt Bisley Blackhawk today.  It's stainless, got a non-fluted cylinder with Ruger rollmark and standard Ruger grip panels.  Nice heft and feel, just like the .357 I once owned.  But it has a 5.5 inch barrel.  I've checked all the catalogs I have, and think (thought) that the Bisley Blackhawk was only available with 7.5 inch tube.  Or was there a period during one year when some shorter barrelled versions were available?  Any thoughts??

[timothy]

That sounds like an acusport bisley of which a limited number are produced every year. They're rather desireable so I'd grab it.

[BlkHawk73]

  Yup, it's what been dubbed an Acusport Bisley.  Acusport, like other distrbutors, will contract a manufacturer to produce non-cataloged variations exclusively for their own distribution.   Acusport started this stainless Bisley series years back and now have 5 different models in it.  I believe in the two runs of the 45 Colt model, there were 1200 produced.  They won't command the prices the models in .44 and .41 magnum will, but hold their value very well.  I have 7 of these gems and I can say the 45 Colt one, the only shooter of the bunch, is my favorite revolver.  Handles excellant!  If you got one locally for a good price, buy it!

[DennisB]

Thanks, Tim & Blackhawk.  I couldn't stand the thought of it getting away so went back at lunch today and put $ down to make it mine.  Not sure what all changes the AcuSport folks do to these revolvers, but for sure they turned the shortened barrel so the "warning" is now just visible next to the ejector housing.  The trigger feels pretty crisp, too.  Unless someone really, really scrubbed the cylinder front, it hasn't been fired yet.

[rbergum95]

they didnt turn the barrel.
all current production revolvers now have the warning on the bottom of the barrel. i just got one an accusport bisly in .45 colt a few weeks ago, same model as yours.

[BlkHawk73]

  Since is a bottom warning model, it's a later production as the initial run had it in the previous side barrel position. 

[DennisB]

Thanks for the input, guys.  Got it home safe and sound last week.  Now comes range time.

[superdown]

I just put one on lay-a-way also mine has the extra cylinder in 45acp but has the black laminated grips like the hunter mdls other than that it's the same gun hope you have fun with yours and i cant wait to pick mine up ! superdown

[DennisB]

superdown:  black laminated grips AND an ACP cylinder!  Nice!  Plz post a pic when ya get it safely home, ok? 

I have some willow oak from Ark that I'm gonna make a pair of Bisley panels out of.  The grain is sorta course, but it has a nice dark streak through the center.  Hopefully it will come out something like these ironwood ones on a Single Six:

[superdown]

Will do , that is some nice ironwood i don't know how much I'll be using the acp cylinder but you know you can't tell how the grips look when their in your hand shootin . superdown