What exactly is the difference between a Blackhawk and a Super Blackhawk?

I no longer have my .44 BH but if in the same caliber, I am sure the frames are the same. Just the trigger guard and non-fluted versus a fluted cylinder. The SBH handles recoil a little better because it is a little heavier.
The BH is offered in lighter calibers and has smaller frames for them.
I think that today, they are not making the BH in .44 mag, only the SBH and SBH Hunter.
Go to Ruger's site and look at them.

I can see the difference between the fluted and unfluted cylinder. I was curious to find out if there were any major difference between them internally, etc.

Thanks.

All the parts inside work the same but the smaller frames will have smaller parts. Ruger has the best and easiest system ever designed for the single action. Safety, strength and all coil springs.
The BFR's have identical parts too.
Buy either one, shoot the heck out of it and love every second.

Ruger has three frame sizes (not counting the .357 Maximum) the Single Six size frame, Blackhawk and Super Blackhawk. The Single Six is for .17 to .32 Mag, Blackhawk was largest Ruger frame for a while, they did .357, .44 Special (the old Flat tops are Blackhawk size) and some .44 mags. The Super Blackhawk came to be to house the .44 Mag. If you look at Hamilton Bowens book, Custom Revolvers, he shows all three side by side by side.

From Ruger web sight;

The first Ruger revolver, the Ruger Single Six®, was designed in 1953. It was followed by the Blackhawk® in 1955, the Super Blackhawk in 1959.

New Model Blackhawk®
Ruger New Model Blackhawk revolvers are ideal field guns. Their single action function makes them ideal for slow, deliberate shooting, and their solid frame easily handles powerful cartridges including the .30 Carbine, .357 Magnum, .41 Magnum, and .45 Colt.


So the sizes and weights are different.

4 5/8 barreled Blackhawk in .45 Colt weighs 36 oz, SBH in 4 5/8 .44 mag weighs 44 oz.

5 1/2 inch BH in .45 colt weighs 39 oz the SBH in .44 weighs 45 oz.

The 7 1/2 inch BH in .45 Colt weighs 40 oz the 7 1/2 .44 SBH weighs 48 oz.

There is a significant difference in the frame sizes. It is far easier to see the difference if you put them side by side and look at and handle them.

The internal parts are, for the most part, frame size specific.