BKH-30?

Is there anyone with up-dated info on : How many correct 8 groves serial numbers there are and list of them. Current known values 98%+ with out boxes etc.
Cheers, TSHOOTER

According to the Red Eagle News Exchange, there were 625 BKH30 Type 4s produced with 8 groove barrels. The known SN range is between 36057 - 37743.

A 98% BKH30 Type 4 will typically run around $2000-2500 without box or papers.

Is there a list of 625 serial numbers, or is that what Ruger said it released, or is it a guess ?.
I would like to see a list of known numbers.
Thank You for the fast reply
Cheers, TSHOOTER

There isn't any comprehensive list of BKH30 serial numbers that I'm aware of. (Or any other Ruger model for that matter!) The way Ruger produces guns, the serial number ranges can be fairly broad for a relatively scarce or rare gun type. Ruger was and still is VERY protective of the numbers of any/all models they have produced. Distributors will sometimes publish the number of exclusives they buy from Ruger, but it does not represent the sum total of the guns that Ruger produced... Just the ones they purchased customized as an exclusive.

Sometimes a thread will pop up when someone is looking for consecutives, and you'll find some good specific information there. But of course all you're going to get are folks in this particular circle who are willing to share their serial numbers with other collectors.

Well maybe someone from RENE can tell us how they came up with 625 number. It would be nice if there was a list, maybe someone here with a part list could start one and everyone fill in the planks.
Harley-Davidson, I started riding early 70's now I ride a custom 113cuin 200 tire that I put together.
Thanks Pete
Cheers,TSHOOTER

TSHOOTER said:

Well maybe someone from RENE can tell us how they came up with 625 number. It would be nice if there was a list, maybe someone here with a part list could start one and everyone fill in the planks.
Harley-Davidson, I started riding early 70's now I ride a custom 113cuin 200 tire that I put together.
Thanks Pete
Cheers,TSHOOTER

Click to expand...

Well, this would make another great RF sticky.

Here's what I have in my notes...

6-groove:


22559
22560
22572
22579
22583
22585
22591
22605
22610
22612
22618
22621
22636
22651
22653
22659
22667
22668
22670
22685
22693
22697
22712
22719
22720
22725
22726
22737
22738
22750
22751
22779
22790
22808
22809
22813
22819
22827
22828
22844

23137
23146
23153
23156
23160
23165
23166
23167
23182
23190
23196
23199
23200
23201
23213
23217
23218
23220
23245
23246
23264
23267
23269
23270
23279
23284
23287
23308
23309
23311
23314
23317
23329
23330
23342

30806
30810
30819
30820
30826
30834
30836
30839
30855
30856
30868
30871
30873
30875
30882

31519
31542
31548
31558
31563
A31574
A31579
31580
31585
31595
31599
31601
31606
31621
31622
31623
31624
31625
31627
31631
31632
31650
31651
31659

31854

For a total of 115 noted (updated 7/1/2012). Then, they're not known, but 31571 through 31579 are also 10" 6-groove, which mate up with the other 7 from A31571 through A31579 that aren't known.

8-groove

36057
36067
36081
36086
36093
36100
36104

37033
37058
37137
37149
37159
37169
37176
37180
37183

37301
37302-S
37312
37315
37318
37320-S
37342
37345
37346
37351
37352
37357
37358
37359
37361
37371
37372
37378
37379
37384
37439
37446
37457
37463
37464
37466
37471
37473
37480
37483
37486
37495
37500
37503
37508
37509
37513
37515
37516
37518
37519
37524
37528
37530
37534
37535
37639
37650
37654
37661
37664
37671
37674
37676
37680
37681
37682
37732
37743

For a total of 75 (updated 6/27/2012).
I thought I had over 80 8-groove reported, but lost a hard drive a couple years ago, so I may have lost a few numbers.
Ale(8)1, can you check your lists and see how they compare? I remember giving all my notes to you a few years ago, so maybe some of those lost numbers will be found.

There are a few 4-5/8" and 6-1/2" "Oddball" lengths thrown in the random 10" serial number blocks, but I can count the total of those in all blocks on two hands...so there aren't many. And it only makes sense that during production, you are going to run certain barrel lengths through at certain times. It just so happens that most of the time, the serial numbered frames come through somewhat in order, although they are still random. The oddball lengths come about when that frame was finally used up.

As far as quantities produced, I'm the one who came up with the estimates of 675 6-groove BKH30 produced and 625 6-groove BKH30. I took all the blocks of 10" guns that I knew of, totaled the number of guns in each block and divided that total by number of known guns in each block. That gives me an average estimate of how many 10" guns there are between each known 10" number. The percentage is around 15% known, which also jives with other Ruger models of known production (like the 600 6-1/2" Super Blackhawks that were made, or the 200 SC4's that were made, and the 61 4-5/8" Brass frame .41 Blackhawks that were made).

When making these comparisons, I'm pretty sure the only way my 10" quantities can be proven wrong is by actually looking at factory records.
I know...after that estimate of 50 10-inch 8-groove was made in the mid 1980's, the number was recently revised to "less than 200". But the percentages still don't add up to me, not when every other rare Ruger model comes in at about 15%. Only the Engraved Single-Six (a model with a much higher "bragging" factor) comes in with a higher known percentage at about 50%.

I also have a copy of a daybook page for .44 flattops in the 24xxx range I believe it is, that doesn't have the catalog numbers listed (i.e. BKH46, BKH47 and BKH40), but there are hand written notations beside quite a few of the serial numbers....either an "S" or an "L". I don't remember having any serial numbers in my notes that show up on that daybook page, but I've always thought the "S" is the employee note for short barrel (or BKH46) and the "L" for long barrel (BKH40). Perhaps some of the BKH30's weren't counted becase there wasn't always a "BKH30" stamp in the daybook notes???

Chet15

Bob's earliest is 36057 and the last one is 37743. It appears Bob's List is the same as yours.

Within that range there are some 6-1/2" guns and a very few 4-5/8" ones.

Ale-8(1) said:

Bob's earliest is 36057 and the last one is 37743. It appears Bob's List is the same as yours.

Within that range there are some 6-1/2" guns and a very few 4-5/8" ones.

Click to expand...

Yeah, most of the oddball lengths are between the two 10" blocks, between 36104 and 37033.
We compared notes though a few years ago. I swear I remember having 80 or 81 serial numbers on the 8-groove 10". Can you check your notes please to see if there's anything different in that listing? Same with the 6-groove.
When I lost that hard drive a couple years ago, I'm sure I lost some of my 10" numbers.
Chet15

Yeah, I'll check.

Ya know, it's kinda scary that you ask me for backup on this. I never signed on for anything even remotely resembling responsibility.



So, I went back and found the e-mail from three years ago wherein you sent me your entire file. I have sent that entire e-mail back to you, including the attached file, so you should be able to update your stuff as required.

If I can be of further help, just let me know.

:mrgreen:

Ale

I have #10xx with 8 groove barrel, what;s up with that? Obviously a barrel change, but to look at the gun you;d swear that it was born there.

It's not uncommon to see rebarrelled guns.

It can be done without leaving evidence if done properly by someone who knows what he's about.

Chet - there are only 61 4-5/8" Brass frame BKH34 Blackhawks that letter? Or do I misunderstand what you wrote? I thought there were something like 700.

Quote "The percentage is around 15% known, which also jives with other Ruger models of known production (like the 600 6-1/2" Super Blackhawks that were made, or the 200 SC4's that were made, and the 61 4-5/8" Brass frame Blackhawks that were made).

"

Maybe he was talking about the BKH41B short barrel brass frame 41mag....just a guess....RR.

CHET15, Thank you for the info on how you came up with 625 numbers. Do you or anyone know how RL Wilson came up with the approximate total of 1000 6 & 8 groove in his book?.
Cheers,TSHOOTER

TSHOOTER said:

CHET15, Thank you for the info on how you came up with 625 numbers. Do you or anyone know how RL Wilson came up with the approximate total of 1000 6 & 8 groove in his book?.
Cheers,TSHOOTER

Click to expand...

Well, most of the technical "collector" info was taken from other writer's books. But you bring up a good point as I've never seen a reference of of 1000 10" .357's before except in the Wilson book. Maybe he took JD's figures and my figures and came up with a happy medium?
If somebody actually looked at the records they would have a much closer number I would think than "approximately 1,000" in the Wilson book, so that quantity to me can mean a lot of things.
Chet15

TTT

I have #23171

just an FYI and list update I have 23303 in a 6 groove

See the new thread for 10" serial numbers.
Chet15

Here 'tis . . .

http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=221054

:mrgreen: :wink: :mrgreen: