Custom Ruger® 44 Special Blackhawk® Sixguns by Tyler Gun Works

I first met Bobby Tyler of Tyler Gun Works walking the aisles of the 2017 SHOT Show in Vegas, where he was carrying around and showing a custom engraved Ruger Bearcat Shopkeeper sixgun that he had created. These Shopkeepers were limited to a total run of 200, with 20 of those to be beautifully hand-engraved; as our conversation continued, I learned that he only had one slot left of the 20 engraved examples, so I immediately put my order in for the last engraved one available, as well as a non-engraved version. Thus began a friendship which has transcended the firearms industry; Bobby has become one of my very dearest friends, and his star has continued to rise professionally as folks have become aware of the quality of both the man and his work. Bobby now runs a full-line custom gunsmithy, does custom finish work for many manufacturers, employs a staff of engravers, and keeps his fingers in many other pies; I don't see how Bobby can complete his day in only 24 hours, but he manages to do all these things while maintaining a wonderful family life. Bobby also buys, sells, and consigns gun collections, personally handling all aspects from appraisal to transportation and sales, which is a great service for grieving families who might not know how to handle liquidating the collection of their departed loved one. Bobby handled the estate sale of my brother Jeff's sizeable gun collection (which is now long-sold), and is an integral part of my own estate planning; this shows the level of trust I have in him.

I have been blessed over the past few years to be able to buy several Tyler Gun Works custom guns (article and video links can be found on our Archive page), as well as having varying degrees of custom work done by Tyler Gun Works. At any given time, I usually have at least one gun in his hands, either for custom finishing/engraving, custom work such as caliber conversions, or more mundane general gunsmithing, but the subject of this article is a pair of Tyler Gun Works custom Ruger Blackhawk "Flattop" 44 Specials which are, regrettably, not mine. They are basically two sides of the same coin: the first being a fully-engraved, "dressed-to-the-nines" functional work of art, and the second being a more workmanlike example which is beautiful in its own right. Both of these sixguns are based on Ruger's 44 Special New Model Blackhawk Bisley "Flattop" model with 4-5/8" barrel, which is available exclusively through Lipsey's distributors. Already a fine sixgun, Bobby takes these sixguns in two different, but similar, directions.

We will begin with the most obvious difference between these two sixguns: the first is beautifully hand-engraved by Rocky Sharp, who regularly does engraving for Tyler Gun Works, and has become one of the most respected engravers in the country. The engraving is accomplished in the classic American Scroll style, and pretty much covers the entire surface of the sixgun: frame (top, sides, and recoil shield); loading gate; ejector rod housing; barrel (top and sides - bottom of barrel has the Ruger "Read Instruction Manual" roll mark); cylinder (rearward of the bolt locking notches and over each chamber); and grip frame (sides, "shovel head", backstrap, butt, and bottom of trigger guard). This engraved sixgun is one of the finest modern examples you will find of the custom gun-maker's craft. It is a visually stunning, yet practical and functional, work of art, but is still obtainable by the shooter of average financial means.

To the Lipsey's-exclusive Bisley 44 Special, Bobby adds a wonderful brass modified-Bisley style grip frame from Ronnie Wells at RW Grip Frames. Ronnie Wells has been making custom grip frames for over 30 years, and has made a name for himself in the custom sixgun market by offering a wide variety of grip frame styles and materials. For this sixgun, Bobby opted for Ronnie's "Potato Judge" grip, made from brass. The Potato Judge, named for the CAS handle of the gentleman for whom Ronnie originally developed it, is a modified Bisley grip style, with rounded butt and toe, and some subtle but noticeably effective changes in angular geometry and trigger guard shape. The Potato Judge is simply one of the best and most natural-feeling grip shapes I have ever had the pleasure of handling.

To the RW grip frame, Tyler Gun Works has fitted a set of figured fancy walnut grips. These grips are not just beautiful as only figured walnut can be; their shape is wonderful, with just the right amount of palm swell and butt flare to compliment and maximize the grip frame's handling qualities. These grips are perfectly fitted by Tyler Gun Works, conform superbly to the shape and size of my large hands, and also create a stunning visual compliment to the brass grip frame.

The sights on this sixgun are significantly upgraded from the standard Ruger sights. The rear sight is by Hamilton Bowen of Bowen Classic Arms. Hamilton is the Dean of modern custom revolver makers, and his "Rough Country" rear sight is the standard by which all others are judged. The Rough Country rear sight offers a crisp sight picture and precise click-adjustments for windage and elevation in a rugged, reliable package.

The front sight is a wonderful creation by Fermin C Garza's Customized Shooter's Resources. Fermin is a close friend, a Shootist, a talented machinist, and one of the most knowledgeable sixgunners I know. From his one-man shop, Fermin offers a great variety of custom-made sights to fit many different sixguns and situations. His sights are expertly machined from solid steel, and offer rugged reliability tailored to suit the individual shooter's needs. For this sixgun, Bobby chose Fermin's "2Dogs Custom Mirror" front sight. The 2Dogs Mirror Sight perfects the concept of the wonderful old King's Gun Sight Company from over a century ago: into the sight base is mounted an angled mirror, which reflects ambient light directly onto the front sight blade, maximizing available light and really highlighting the sight picture. The front sight blade is serrated to reduce unwanted glare, and a brass bead is set into the sight blade to further maximize visibility. The result of all this is a highly-visible, glare-free sight that gives a fast and precise sight picture. This is as good as it gets!

The base pin is a #5 Style by Belt Mountain Enterprises; these pins are elegant in appearance, but enhance function by allowing the pin to be easily grasped, even with gloved fingers. Our friend Kelye Schlepp of Belt Mountain makes his base pins very slightly oversized to eliminate lateral movement of the cylinder around the base pin, increasing accuracy by aiding in proper chamber / bore alignment. Available in a variety of styles, a Belt Mountain base pin is an easy and inexpensive way to improve any Single-Action revolver, both Ruger and Colt / clones, and is a welcome component of this Tyler Gun Works sixgun.

The hammer & trigger on this sixgun are factory stainless steel Ruger Bisley parts, fitted and tuned by Tyler Gun Works. Along with the hand-fitting of the hammer and trigger, both of these sixguns (as do any guns put out by Tyler Gun Works) include Tyler's Action Job. Bobby specifies a maximum trigger pull weight of 2 pounds, 8 ounces (2.5 pounds), with a trigger that breaks like a glass rod; this sixgun's trigger comes in at less than half that, at 1 pound, 3 ounces, with a perfect surprise break. Superb.

This Tyler Gun Works engraved Flattop Blackhawk will shoot as well as the best guns available from any custom maker - theoretically, at least. Since neither of these sixguns belong to me, I abstained from shooting the engraved version in deference to its eventual owner. But these sixguns are made to SHOOT, and I do hope the eventual owner will put it to its intended purpose. There is no reason NOT to shoot a fancy sixgun as long as you treat it with proper respect and care, and this one will outlast your grandkids. As my brother Jeff used to say, "Which would your heirs prefer: a pristine 'Safe Queen', or Grandpa's favorite old sixgun?".

Build Sheet: Engraved Tyler Gun Works Custom Ruger® Blackhawk® Flattop 44 Special

Base Gun	Lipsey's-Exclusive Ruger Bisley Flattop 44 Special - Model #5236
Caliber	44 Special
Barrel Length	4.625 Inches
Engraving	Full-Coverage American Scroll Type by Rocky Sharp
Grip Frame	Brass "Potato Judge New Model" by RW Grip Frames
Grip Panels	Fancy Walnut by Tyler Gun Works
Front Sight	2Dogs Custom Mirror with Gold Bead by Fermin Garza
Rear Sight	"Rough Country" Heavy-Duty Adjustable by Bowen Classis Arms
Base Pin	#5 Style by Belt Mountain Enterprises
Hammer / Trigger	Ruger Factory Bisley, Stainless Steel, Hand-Fitted and Timed by Tyler Gun Works
Action Job by Tyler Gun Works	Adjust Timing & Polish Internals; Polish and Adjust Trigger Engagement & Set Trigger Pull to specified 2 Pounds, 8 Ounces Maximum (Actual Trigger Pull 1 Pound, 3 Ounces); Free-Spin Pawl; Check Headspace & Adjust Firing Pin Protrusion
Accuracy Package by Tyler Gun Works	Crown Barrel; Adjust Cylinder / Bore Alignment and Concentricity of Forcing Cone; Set Barrel / Cylinder Gap; Set Forcing Cone to 11 Degrees; Check and Adjust Chamber & Throat Diameters

The second Tyler Gun Works custom Ruger Blackhawk "Flattop" 44 Special sixgun under consideration is much like the first, with some significant differences in aesthetics and handling qualities. First, this sixgun has not been engraved, but it is still a beautiful sixgun in its own right. This does not make the non-engraved example any less special than its engraved sister, and it would give up nothing to its counterpart as a shooter.

The non-engraved example also sports a brass grip frame by Ronnie Wells at RW Grip Frames, but this one is of a different pattern. Called the "Dealer", this grip frame is more of the classic "plow-handle" shape, with significant differences in dimensions and geometry that elevate it far above the familiar Colt style. The grip shape is longer than the traditional style, allowing all of my fingers on the grip, but has a more precipitous drop to the back-strap: imagine something between the classic 1860 Colt style and the Bisley. The grip shape feels as good as shaking hands with an old friend, but it is in the shooting where this grip shape really shines. I can say that I was pleasantly surprised and impressed by the Dealer's pointing qualities, and although the 44 Special is not exactly known for severe recoil, the Dealer grip was a joy to shoot.

Like the engraved version, Tyler Gun Works fit the non-engraved sixgun's brass grip frame with a beautiful set of fancy walnut grip panels. These grip panels are a bit thinner than those on the engraved example, just as I prefer, and as on the engraved example, the fit of the grip panels is absolute perfection. There is something about fancy walnut that visually stirs the soul, and the contrast of the walnut with the brass of the grip frame is very pleasing.

The sights on the non-engraved example are also excellent, consisting of the Bowen Classic Arms Rough Country rear sight, along with Freedom Arms' front sight design. These sights are precision-crafted by Fermin Garza by permission of Freedom Arms, and are not available directly from Freedom Arms. The front sight blade's rear face is nearly vertical and serrated to eliminate sun glare, offering a crisp and easy-to-acquire sight picture. The front sight design also features the ability to use interchangeable blades; changing sight blades is an easy task, using a plunger in the front of the sight base. Replacement blades are available in a variety of heights and configurations, and are quite inexpensive.

As on the engraved version, this sixgun also features Belt Mountain's excellent #5 base pin, hand-fitted by Tyler Gun Works. The hammer and trigger on this sixgun are factory stainless steel Ruger Super Blackhawk parts, also hand-fitted by Tyler Gun Works. Also featuring Tyler's Action Job and Accuracy Package, the action is similarly superb, with a crisp and clean trigger pull of 1 pound, 4.5 ounces.

This Tyler Gun Works custom Blackhawk is everything its engraved sister is, dressed in "work clothes". Shooting this sixgun was a joy; as mentioned, the grip shape handled the moderate recoil of the 44 Special like a champ, and the sixgun is capable of one-hole accuracy. As Col. Townsend Whelen said, "Only accurate guns are interesting"; I am sure he would have appreciated this exceptional sixgun from Tyler Gun Works.

Build Sheet: Tyler Gun Works Custom Ruger® Blackhawk® Flattop 44 Special

Base Gun	Lipsey's-Exclusive Ruger Bisley Flattop 44 Special - Model #5236
Caliber	44 Special
Barrel Length	4.625 Inches
Grip Frame	Brass "Dealer New Model" by RW Grip Frames
Grip Panels	Fancy Walnut by Tyler Gun Works
Front Sight	Freedom Arms Style Base with Interchangeable Blades by Fermin Garza
Rear Sight	"Rough Country" Heavy-Duty Adjustable by Bowen Classis Arms
Base Pin	#5 Style by Belt Mountain Enterprises
Hammer / Trigger	Ruger Factory Super Blackhawk, Stainless Steel, Hand-Fitted and Timed by Tyler Gun Works
Action Job by Tyler Gun Works	Adjust Timing & Polish Internals; Polish and Adjust Trigger Engagement & Set Trigger Pull to specified 2 Pounds, 8 Ounces Maximum (Actual Trigger Pull 1 Pound, 4.5 Ounces); Free-Spin Pawl; Check Headspace & Adjust Firing Pin Protrusion
Accuracy Package by Tyler Gun Works	Crown Barrel; Adjust Cylinder / Bore Alignment and Concentricity of Forcing Cone; Set Barrel / Cylinder Gap; Set Forcing Cone to 11 Degrees; Check and Adjust Chamber & Throat Diameters

The Cattleman holster from my pal Rob Leahy of Simply Rugged Holsters in Prescott, Arizona is ideal for everyday carry and light work with a sixgun. The Cattleman is tightly molded to the sixgun, thus offering secure retention, and is available with or without a hammer thong. The top of the holster is flared to aid in re-holstering, and the holster rides low on the hip for a pleasing, traditional appearance; because of these qualities, the Cattleman has proven quite popular among Cowboy Action Shooters. The Cattleman is made from highest-quality leather, available in tan, black, or oxblood. It is available in either right or left-hand configuration to fit a wide variety of Single-Action and Double-Action revolvers, as well as many semi-automatic pistols. Starting at a very reasonable $120.00, a variety of fancy stamping and carving options are available, from border stamping to full floral carving; mine features a large, carved Ruger emblem that looks very cool and modern, as befits a state-of-the-art Single-Action sixgun. The Cattleman pairs very well with Simply Rugged's Chesty Puller Suspension System, which is a rig I use almost all the time; the Chesty Puller allows any pancake-style holster to be carried as a chest rig, and is very comfortable, rugged, practical, and economical, selling for only $70.00. To accommodate a holster with a conventional belt loop, such as the Cattleman, a Conventional Adapter for the Chesty Puller System is available for only $30.00, which allows almost any holster from any maker to be used with the Chesty Puller System. This makes Simply Rugged's Chesty Puller System a very versatile and cost-effective way to carry almost any holster as a chest rig, and I highly recommend it.

Astute readers will note that I have not discussed prices on these Tyler Gun Works custom sixguns; that is because every custom gun Tyler Gun Works produces is a one-of-a-kind project, built to YOUR specifications, so pricing will of necessity vary. I will tell you this much, though: the price will be less than you'd expect. Contact Bobby Tyler and let him know your heart's desire; you will be glad you did!