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Alan Harton Custom Ruger Flattop .44 Special
Guns International #: 103556616 Seller's Inventory #:
Category: .44 Special Revolvers - Custom Pistols
Seller's Information
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Seller: Baskerville42
Member Since: 4/29/25
First Name: DeWayne
Last Name: Hayes
State: Arkansas
Zip: 72223
Country: United States
Phone: (501) 951-0787
Number of Active Listings: 0
Total Number of Listings: 4
Seller: Private Seller
Return Policy: 3 day inspection and return policy on used guns.
Payment Types Accepted: Certified Check, Postal Money Order
Description:
Up for sale is a Ruger Flattop in .44 Special built by one of the great sixgun smiths alive today - Alan Harton of Houston, Texas. Alan and I sort of "collaborated" on this project as follows.
I took a new-in-box Ruger Flattop in .357 Magnum and reprofiled the sides of the frame and grip frame dead flat/flush (Ruger grip frames frequently do not mate flush with the cylinder frame, with the grip frame being proud on one side, short on the other.) I did this during the process of making the grips for this gun, which are made from a material called "Resin-S" - a synthetic ivory that mimics the distinct pattern of "schreger lines" that make every piece of real ivory unique. Warm to the hand, and fitted absolutely flush to the grip frame, as can only be achieved when planning to refinish the steel, as the grip material and steel are polished as one, making for a truly "custom-fit" grip. See pics. Tedious, but very much worth it in hand. I also did all the nitre bluing of the pins, screws, etc. you see on the gun. Looks very nice and very traditional with a case hardened frame.
Then the gun was off to Alan Harton. Alan did what he does best - he converted this .357 Magnum to a .44 Special, boring out the .357 cylinder to .44 specs, and mounting a brand new Douglas barrel blank in .44 caliber, using Ruger's oirginal front sight. During his conversion work, Alan welded up the ".357 Magnum" nomenclature on the frame, re-marking it "44 Special Cal." He then had the frame color case hardened. Alan also roll stamped the barrel with the vintage-style "Russian and S&W Special 44" caliber marking (filled in by me with white crayon which is easily removed if you wish). The crowning touch was Alan's truly exceptional trigger job - the trigger breaks like the proverbial glass rod with 2.5lbs pressure and no creep whatsoever. It's a beauty to fire or just dry fire.
The pictures tell the story on this one. There are a handful of extremely light markings that show evidence of use but they're so light as to be fairly impossible to capture in a photo - I've done my best. The gun is a throwback to the Victorian age, yet possesses strength far surpassing what a similar Colt would hold given Ruger's metallurgy and beefy top strap. I have enjoyed the heck out of the revolver but as some of you may understand all too well, the gun "sickness" has me pooling funds for other projects and I simply have more .44 Specials than I need, so I'm passing this one on to a hopefully worthy home. This presents a chance to own a true custom pistol by one of the last remaining sixgun artists with NO wait.
Happy to answer any questions about a really neat project I had the pleasure of engaging in and enjoying. Buyer pays $50 UPS shipping.
Note: If you are interested in this revolver but would prefer to put your own grips on it, ask me about a reduced price to sell without the grips. I'm happy to re-use them elsewhere if the buyer prefers to install his own. Thanks.
SOLD
Handgun Caliber: .44 Special
Manufacturer: Ruger
Model: Blackhawk
Barrel Length: 4.6 inches
Condition: Very Good
Metal Condition: Very Good
Bore Condition: Excellent