Super Blackhawk 10-1/2 Stainless Questions?

[RatCat454]

So, the first year of the stainless-steel Super Blackhawk (SBH) with a 10-1/2 barrel is 1982? I have one in my hand as I type.

When was the 5-inch ejector added? When did Ruger go to the screw-on front sight on the stainless 10-1/2 SBH? Partridge front sight?

What about the 10-1/2 tapered barrel?

A search, both in the forum and on-line, yields from no-joy to conflicting info...

 

[hittman]

RENE probably has that. Best reference around.

 

[RatCat454]

Is there a web site/page or a forum thread that explains what the RENE is about?

 

[hittman]

Subscribe to the Red Eagle News Exchange

By popular demand, here is a sticky with info for subscribing to RENE. What is RENE? The Red Eagle News Exchange (RENE) is a quarterly Ruger collector & enthusiast's newletter with the latest information on Ruger firearms, member articles, new Ruger variations & discoveries, selected recent...

www.rugerforum.com

 

[arcticruger]

1982 was the first year stainless SBH 10.5" with taper barrel, ramp site. Model KS410N (only about 2000 produced). This model was dropped shortly after the KS411N was released.

1983 was the first year of the KS411N SBH 10.5" with the bull barrel, target site, and the new extended 357 maximum ejector.

Here's my KS410N:

 

[TINCANBANDIT is back]

what we need is some expert to write an encyclopedia of Ruger like the one Supica and Nahaas did for Smith & Wesson.

I use my S&W one every time someone needs to know a specific model number, option, year etc.....it would be nice to be able to do the same for Ruger.

 

[weaselmeatgravy]

The blue S410N had been out for a while before the stainless KS410N came along, and shortly after, the bull barrel with the hooked front sight was introduced for silhouette shooting and the tapered barrel was dropped in favor of the S411N and KS411N. So because the stainless guns had not been around that long, the tapered barrel KS410N is a lot rarer than the blue S410N.

I sold the above when I found a lower numbered example with the shipper, but don't have pics of the replacement.

Interesting thing about the blue S410N is that the earliest examples used a "split seam" shipper reminiscent of the very first Single Six and Blackhawk shippers from the 1950s. I guess Ruger had not yet ordered the normal bookwrap shippers for the long boxes at that point. I have one of those from 1980 but the OP is correct that the stainless version came along in 1982 (and the KS411N in 1983). There is one known 1979 S410N presumed to be a sales sample gun.

 

[RatCat454]

I think mine dates to 1982 using the Ruger webpage. I will double check the Ruger webpage and post a picture. It is a gun only, no box, but is an excellent shape and appears unaltered. It was on consignment at a local gun shop (LGS) as part of an estate liquidation.

At the LGS yesterday, I noticed something different about the barrel as being somewhat thin compared to a current production 10-1/2 stainless SBH I recently let go to a friend. I had converted it to Bisley, and he wanted it. I had bought this one to convert it to Bisley as well but will leave it as is.

 

[Wyandot Jim]

So, the first year of the stainless-steel Super Blackhawk (SBH) with a 10-1/2 barrel is 1982? I have one in my hand as I type.

Man I have a hard enough time typing with two fingers. I don't know how in the world you can type with the big ole gun in your hand.
Sorry I just couldn't help myself

 

[RatCat454]

Man I have a hard enough time typing with two fingers. I don't know how in the world you can type with the big ole gun in your hand.
Sorry I just couldn't help myself

Left hand on the yoke, other hand for cockpit chores.

 

[arcticruger]

The blue S410N had been out for a while before the stainless KS410N came along, and shortly after, the bull barrel with the hooked front sight was introduced for silhouette shooting and the tapered barrel was dropped in favor of the S411N and KS411N. So because the stainless guns had not been around that long, the tapered barrel KS410N is a lot rarer than the blue S410N.

View attachment 39380

I sold the above when I found a lower numbered example with the shipper, but don't have pics of the replacement.

Interesting thing about the blue S410N is that the earliest examples used a "split seam" shipper reminiscent of the very first Single Six and Blackhawk shippers from the 1950s. I guess Ruger had not yet ordered the normal bookwrap shippers for the long boxes at that point. I have one of those from 1980 but the OP is correct that the stainless version came along in 1982 (and the KS411N in 1983). There is one known 1979 S410N presumed to be a sales sample gun.

Wow, that one looks gorgeous!

Mine is used. They are fun to shoot

 

[G2]

RatCat454,
I hate to send you go another forum but these guns were discussed with a member of the Single Action Forum "bradshaw" he was very much involved with these guns.
The barrels of the early stainless guns were a broach rifled barrel by George Wilson.

I have owned 3 personally and all 3 have been excellent shooters, The tapered barrel and the 4" ERH m as me them a sleek 10.5" gun vs the current model, bull barrel, hooked front sight kinda Bulky looking.
My 2- 44 magnums:

I think it will turn into a favorite, congrats!!!

Enjoy the reading…

Ruger Super Blackhawk, Stainless W/10.5 inch barrel? | Single-Actions

Never even considered this barrel length but it has now caught my eye. Thinking it might be a proper 100 yard Jack Rabbit slayer. From those in the know, is the gun difficult to or awkward to shoot

singleactions.proboards.com

 

[RatCat454]

Thanks for the referral to the Single Actions forum. I am a member (mostly lurker) there but missed that thread. In the selected thread, Meister bradshaw recounts that the stainless steel 10-1/2" SBH was produced first in 1983 with the KS411N (bull barrel, Bradshaw 5-inch ejector, screw-on front sight). The KS410N (tapered, standard 4-inch ejector, soldered front sight) followed. I would have thought it would be the other way around.

But, when I date my gun at the Ruger website serial number look-up, if I am not mistaken, my gun (KS410N, serial # 84-71~~~) was produced in 1982? Evidently there is a lag in serial numbers bookkeeping from production to release dates.

No matter the born-on date, it shoots "most excellent".

https://ruger.com/dataProcess/serialHistory/

84-43801	1982
84-77993	1983

Top is a KNR9 (convertible), middle is a KS9 (Star), and bottom is the KS410N. All are shooters, not pristine.

 

[RatCat454]

Weasel's and Arctic's guns are indeed unsurpassed. Thanks for the pics!

G2, I did not realize the Bisley Hunter has the long ejector. Is that a Belt Mtn base pin on the KS410N?

 

[contender]

"what we need is some expert to write an encyclopedia of Ruger like the one Supica and Nahaas did for Smith & Wesson."

That's basically what the RENE Reference Guide is. It's an EXCELLENT resource for the Rugers. Subscribe to the RENE,, and get the Reference Guide.

 

[G2]

G2, I did not realize the Bisley Hunter has the long ejector. Is that a Belt Mtn base pin on the KS410N?

I am perty sure the KS410N was the first ones out in 1982 with the bull barrels KS411N to follow in 1983, Im thinking Bradshaw had a miss spoke moment.

Yes the Hunter's do have the 5" ERH, and yes I can't leave stuff alone, added the Balt Mountain andvth3 grios are some of the last that were available from LETT.

I converted one of my previous KS410N's to Bisley, but traded it for a S6 32HRM Bisley, when I replaced that one, did it with the heavier Hunter. I prefer the heavier Bisley in 44Magnum loads and now find my self enjoying the KS410N with 44 Special's 99.9% of the time,,, no more knuckle bustin from the Dragoon trigger guard,,, like the looks, not the pain.