Clapp Ruger SP101!

[Tokarev]

I've kind of wanted one of these ever since I picked up a used blued Clapp GP100 a couple years ago. Unlike the standard SP101 that has sights out of the 19th Century, the Clapp has a cute little version of the Novak. Front is a dovetail gold bead.

Otherwise I don't know if there's much difference in the Clapp and the standard SP. I guess the only thing I'd change is the finish. I'd probably do a bead blasted stainless finish rather than the semi rough surface polish that's on the gun now. Maybe a bobbed hammer would be a nice feature too. Neither is probably too hard to accomplish and would help further offset this from a stock SP101.

Overall, nothing earth shattering. Just kind of a nice example of a modern all steel pocket blaster.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190714/65aaa5187aaf400be59d4513d8d164ad.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190714/9341c86fab90440616dfa07b501749a4.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190714/db94ed922ed6a7a40e13732c2ee1502d.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190714/cd93af208dc1515f7ddcfcfb4908401f.jpg

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[Hizzie]

Loctite or vibratite that rear sight screw.

[Tokarev]

Loctite or vibratite that rear sight screw.I was wondering about that.

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[Hizzie]

Sights and the “black powder cut” chamfer at the front of the cylinder. Notice it isn’t square?

[Tokarev]

Sights and the “black powder cut” chamfer at the front of the cylinder. Notice it isn’t square?

I thought the chamfered cylinder was a standard configuration now, no?

[BillSWPA]

I agree that a spurless hammer would be an improvement. I wish that revolver makers would have used sights that nice when revolvers were more commonly used for serious purposes.

[cjb1911]

Does ruger still not sell the bobbed hammers as a stand alone part?

[entropy]

Enjoy!

That’s been pretty much my daily carry for the past 3 years. I added a shim kit and Pachmayr boot grips. I use the GoldDot 135gr +P (23921). Holster is the rattiest, most sweat stained Galco Tuck imaginable. Magnums not all that bad, but prefer the .38s

40120

[Bigghoss]

Those WC's are nice looking guns. I wish every fixed-sighted revolver had dovetailed sights as an option.

[Tokarev]

Does ruger still not sell the bobbed hammers as a stand alone part?

I don't see anything on the Shop Ruger webstore. I'll call tomorrow and see if they might sell me one.

[entropy]

Would it need to be fitted?

I’d be interested in that too. I don’t think I have ever thumbed back the hammer on mine...

[Tokarev]

Would it need to be fitted?...

Maybe. I'll see what I can find out.

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[SeriousStudent]

Does ruger still not sell the bobbed hammers as a stand alone part?

Nope, they don't. They say it is a fitted part, and won't do it. You have to send the pistol to them, and they will not give you the spurred hammer back.

I have that exact pistol. I hope they have changed their minds on the DAO trigger swap.

It's a nice shooter. I added the the phosphor bronze shims and the Wolff spring kit to mine, which makes a very nice upgrade. I also polished the innards with some 4000-grit Japanese waterstones.

[bofe954]

I don't see anything on the Shop Ruger webstore. I'll call tomorrow and see if they might sell me one.

If they sell you one I'd like to know. Mine may be headed for a trigger job and if I could get a spare hammer to go in it at the same time...

[Dave T]

I wonder if anyone besides me thinks Ruger really missed an opportunity by not making the 101 a 6-shot, on the scale of the D-framed Colt? It's almost that big already and a 6th round would sure make them more appealing to me.

Just sayin',
Dave

[Tokarev]

I wonder if anyone besides me thinks Ruger really missed an opportunity by not making the 101 a 6-shot, on the scale of the D-framed Colt? It's almost that big already and a 6th round would sure make them more appealing to me.

Just sayin',
DaveA snub nosed Security Six?

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[BillSWPA]

I wonder if anyone besides me thinks Ruger really missed an opportunity by not making the 101 a 6-shot, on the scale of the D-framed Colt? It's almost that big already and a 6th round would sure make them more appealing to me.

Just sayin',
Dave

My Detective Special fits SP101 holsters perfectly.



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[Dave T]

A snub nosed Security Six?

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The Security-Six is a K-frame.

As heavy as the 101 is it should at least be a six shot. Look at the Kimber and the new Colt. They aren't K-frame size but get you a half a dozen chances to get out of trouble.

Dave

[Jared]

I always thought they missed the boat on the Clapp SP101 a little. I wish it was 3” barrel, DAO, Spurless hammer. That’d be my ideal SP101, with the Novak Sights of the Clapp model.

[Tokarev]

I always thought they missed the boat on the Clapp SP101 a little. I wish it was 3” barrel, DAO, Spurless hammer. That’d be my ideal SP101, with the Novak Sights of the Clapp model.

I have a 3" SP101 in 327 FM and prefer the balance and feel of the Clapp with its 2.25"

[Tokarev]

The Security-Six is a K-frame.

As heavy as the 101 is it should at least be a six shot. Look at the Kimber and the new Colt. They aren't K-frame size but get you a half a dozen chances to get out of trouble.

Dave

Just for our reference, the SP101 measures 1.350" at the cylinder. The cylinder on my new model Cobra is 1.404". Granted the Colt is a .38 and I don't have one of the new 357 models to measure.

The Ruger weighs one pound 9 ounces. The Colt weighs one pound 11 ounces.

Triggers (DA) are 8.5 for the Colt and 12 for the Ruger.

So it sounds like what we might need is a Clapp Colt Cobra.

[KPD]

I have a blued WC GP100 and it has been one of my favorite guns ever. So much so that I sold it and pestered the person I sold it to for almost two years until they sold it back to me.

The WC SP101 sights are easier for me to see than the WC GP100. I have been keeping an eye out for a used WC SP101, but they have usually been priced at MSRP or higher if the hammer has been bobbed or any kind of work done on it. These are great revolvers, but a bobbed hammer, tritium front sight and blued steel would make it perfect IMO.

[Chuck Whitlock]

I have a 3" SP101 in 327 FM and prefer the balance and feel of the Clapp with its 2.25"

Concur. I traded my 3" for a 2.25".

[Tokarev]

These are great revolvers, but a bobbed hammer, tritium front sight and blued steel would make it perfect IMO.

I imagine the tritium front sight would be easy enough to add. I have not looked into it but I assume someone makes a sight to fit the Ruger dovetail.

The bobbed hammer shouldn't be too big a stretch either. If Ruger won't sell a factory bobbed it should be fairly easy to saw the spur off and clean things up so the work looks intentional.

The blued finish will take a bit more effort. Cerakote is one option but I'd probably have the external parts nitride treated. Otherwise, as mentioned, I think a matte bead blast finish should look good in stainless.



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[Chuck Whitlock]

These are great revolvers, but a bobbed hammer, tritium front sight and blued steel would make it perfect IMO.


I imagine the tritium front sight would be easy enough to add. I have not looked into it but I assume someone makes a sight to fit the Ruger dovetail.

The bobbed hammer shouldn't be too big a stretch either. If Ruger won't sell a factory bobbed it should be fairly easy to saw the spur off and clean things up so the work looks intentional.

The blued finish will take a bit more effort. Cerakote is one option but I'd probably have the external parts nitride treated. Otherwise, as mentioned, I think a matte bead blast finish should look good in stainless.

One could start with a blued gun:
https://ruger.com/products/sp101/specSheets/15702.html

Tritium front sight:
https://www.brownells.com/handgun-parts/sights/front-sights/index.htm?avs%7CMake~~Model_1=Ruger__SP101

Numrich is out of stock on the spurless hammer, but it can be bobbed...my I bought my used 3" that way.

[Tokarev]

One could start with a blued gun:
https://ruger.com/products/sp101/specSheets/15702.html

Tritium front sight:
https://www.brownells.com/handgun-parts/sights/front-sights/index.htm?avs%7CMake~~Model_1=Ruger__SP101

Numrich is out of stock on the spurless hammer, but it can be bobbed...my I bought my used 3" that way.No way that I'm aware of to machine the factory top strap for a Novak.

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[Chuck Whitlock]

https://www.novaksights.com/Products.aspx?CAT=9510

And while Novak offers tritium, I doubt that a blued WC SP101 is on the horizon from Ruger.

Then again, the blued-steel model is only a recent thing, so time will tell.

[Tokarev]

So now that I own a standard 3" stainless SP101 in .327 Federal and a 2.25" .357 Wiley Clapp I want to revisit the idea of having the Clapp converted into a 327.

I talked to JRH Advanced Gunsmithing this morning about such a project. He said it should be a fairly straightforward deal to swap barrels and cylinders between the two guns. He says he can actually take the 3" 327 barrel and cut and thread it from the back end and preserve the factory front sight slot and profile. Afterward I'll have him take the 2.25" Clapp barrel and 357 Mag cylinder and but these parts in the 19th Century SP101 frame. Might keep the gun afterwards or, more likely, sell it to help offset the costs.

Here over the next few days I should be able to write him a letter with what I'd like done with the two guns. Then I'll get them boxed up and shipped off. This should be a fun little project.

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[MDFA]

Well it would go with my WC 1911..... Must resist.... Must Resist..... So how many of these threads have cost us all money?

[Tokarev]

Well it would go with my WC 1911..... Must resist.... Must Resist..... So how many of these threads have cost us all money?I didn't ask about price....

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[41magfan]

To any one that knows first-hand, what loads do these Clapp 101's shoot to POA with the Novak sights?

[Zeke38]

Gold Dot SB 357s work in mine. Haven't tried the Golden Saber 357 125grain 1225fps load as of yet.