| Ruger Single Action Grip Frames |
| Over the years, Ruger has used three basic grip frame designs. While there have been a few oddities, the basic shapes can be described best as the XR3, XR3-RED, Super Blackhawk Dragoon style, and "New" XR3. - XR3 - Ruger introduced the XR3 grip frame in 1953 with the introduction of the Blackhawk revolver. This grip frame remained in production until 1963 when it was replaced with the XR3-RED (redesigned) grip frame. - Super Blackhawk "Dragoon" - Ruger designed a larger, square-backed trigger guard, grip frame for the Superblackhawks in 1959. Today, the Super Blackhawk Hunter model uses the same grip frame, but with a rounded trigger guard. Grips made for the "Dragoon" grip frame will only fit the 7-1/2" and 10" barreled Super Blackhawks and Super Blackhawk Hunters. This grip frame is still in production. - XR3-RED - Ruger introduced the XR3-RED grip frame design in 1962 and uses variants of the original design still today. This is by far the most common Ruger grip frame since it has been used on a variety of single action revolvers. Grips made to fit the XR3-RED grip frame will fit the following Ruger single action revolvers: Blackhawk, New Model Blackhawk, Vaquero, Single Six, Super Single Six, Old Army, and 4-5/8" and 5-1/2" barreled Super Blackhawks. - "New" XR3 - Ruger replaced the Vaquero in 2004 with the New Vaquero. The New Vaquero was designed to better suit the needs of the action shooters out there and was equipped with a slightly modified version of the XR3 grip frame. The grips are not directly interchangeable between the two grip frames. Ruger also used this grip frame on the 357 Magnum 50th Anniversary Blackhawks in 2005, the 44 Magnum 50th Anniversary Blackhawks in 2006, and finally on a special production run of 44 Special Blackhawks for Lipsey's in 2009. |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |