Stainless Blackhawks?

Looks like I learn something new every day. Picked up a NM Blackhawk .357 with a 4 5/8" barrel yesterday in stainless, and figured it was a mid to late 80's gun. I'd always assumed that Ruger didn't start building stainless Blackhawks until sometime in the 80's, had no idea they were making them in the 70s. Looked up the serial number when I got home, found out its actually a '78 model...had no idea!

Are there any "pre-warning" New Model guns in stainless floating around?

I have a pre warning stainless single six with an unfluted magnum cylinder. Not sure what year it is. I can look it up in a few minutes...

Just checked, it's serial number 65-53xxx made in either '77 or '78.

My stainless NMBH .357 is 1977 by the S#.

I bought my first Ruger Black hawk new in 1979 it is Stainless, still have it too I Have never looked up the date of manufacture guessing 1978 since I bought it early in the year.

yes--the only stainless pre warning new models are the single six and 357 blackhawk. The warnings started sometime in late 1977 and it was the early 80's before the stainless super blackhawk was released.

Ron

I have a 200th year "Liberty" (1976) stainless 357 Blackhawk short barrel, and a Single Six 5.5". I believe they started making stainless in 1973.

The 1st warning stamped 357 is reportedly # 34-06874 from 1978.

I have a 1975 dealer price sheet & stainless Single sixes & 357 BH's are listed in it.

FWIW......... the stainless BH retailed for $149.75 & had a dealer of $113.81

I have a 200th year in a BH and a SS both Stainless. I paid $265 for the BH in 1981 in excellent condition.
I paid $275 for the SS in 1991 with mag cylinder in very good condition.
John

I have a 76 357 Blackhawk. It was the first centerfire handgun I bought for myself. Still have it.






I thought it would be neat to have a SS convertible also from 76 but could not find one so ended up buying a 77. Here it is with a Colt 22/22mag convertible from 66 I think.

Per RENE Early Stainless KBN s/n 32-52346 puts it in the year 1974. Chad doesn't say what the barrel length is.