This Ruger Blackhawk has had a hole drilled and tapped sometime in its life. A screw was put into the hole to plug it, but it still detracts from the overall looks of the revolver.

A longer screw, loctite, a file, a stone, and some Oxpho-Blue will make the hole disappear.

The plug screw that was installed in the top strap was taken out and a longer screw was installed with Loctite 620 Retaining Compound. The screw was installed so that the top of the screw is higher than the surface of the top strap. After allowing the Loctite to set, the screw can then be milled or filed down flush with the top of the top strap.

Care must be used to keep it square and to not let the file get in to far on the top strap. When the screw is flush, or very close to flush, a stone is used to polish and blend the two parts together.

After filing and stoning to a flat, polished surface, the top strap is blued to match the gun’s finish. The hole has disappeared, and the gun looks like it originally did. Brownell’s Oxpho-Blue was used to blue the top strap.

IF you have a gun that has had a hole drilled in it that you would like to have fixed, contact Craig at Craigs Outdoor Sports.