Bill,
A dandy gun!
I often wonder how much different the .44 Blackhawk might have turned out had Bill Ruger stuck with the top-quality, beautifully-grained grips.
While functional, the later 'straight-grain' walnuts sure lacked panache!
Same story with the first SBH's...great grips and case.
Evidentally, the price-point was more important, and hey...Ruger sold tons, didn't they?
Don
