Super rare 1962 Flat Top .44 mag BKH46 W/XR3-RED grip

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byrnefish

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Near mint, looks unfired. Beautiful "extremely rare" gun according to Chad Hiddleson's book. Has a slight rub on the muzzle from being in the (incorrect) box for years. Doesn't have the original box or paperwork...but those are a whole lot easier to come up with than some of them!
Couple tiny flaws in the grips too small to show up with my photography skills. I finally sent for a letter from Ruger after owning this one for a LONG time. Only about 15 known to exist, this one's serial number is smack dab in the middle of the "known" guns shipped in July of 1962. Serial number 28996. I bought it from a GI who retired here at Fort Carson after living in California where he bought it...so I believe I'm the second owner. Thought it might be time for someone else to own it.
$1800 shipped from my FFL to yours, or to a C&R.
Just taking a guess on price, so feel free to make an offer if I'm out of line.
https://i.imgur.com/2NdCoxM.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/QXFzzd1.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/s0JkEBV.jpg
Finish on the grip frame matches a lot better than the pics make it look: Kind of a "matte" finish, but not faded like the photos seem.
https://i.imgur.com/rxOpCTH.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/lfmACNz.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/re8gUdR.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/NEm2LgW.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/61rpuVG.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/QTHhRZo.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/W87pWgO.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/yU3Okvd.jpg
Slight rub on the left muzzle side - no wear on the cylinder edges or other side of muzzle. Definitely NOT holster wear.
https://i.imgur.com/eApcVRc.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/J9kQUx5.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/6EnEwe2.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/vesoJ4s.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/hERsI1Y.jpg
SCREWS appear untouched...& I've certainly never removed them:
https://i.imgur.com/Yhcye8b.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/uWCGoVX.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/4EuE4Gl.jpg
 

weaselmeatgravy

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6GUNSONLY said:
how would you determine that the grip frame is original to the gun?

Only circumstantial evidence. Factory letter won't confirm parts configuration, only the model and ship date. All the XR3-RED flattops shipped in or after July, 1962.

I have two of these, neither one is in as nice of condition as this gun. One of mine shipped in Aug 1963 which is very late for a flattop. The other shipped in Dec 1962 and in addition to the XR3-RED grip frame, it has a non-fluted Super Blackhawk cylinder.

By and large, the XR3-RED grip frame replaced the XR3 in July 1962, for both the .357 Blackhawk (which also transitioned to the protected sight model) and Single Six models. But it was the end of the line for the .44 Blackhawk which was phased out in favor of the Super Blackhawk that came out in 1959 and was selling better, so the XR3-RED .44 flattops were all "cleanup" guns, using up leftover flattop frames with then-current components. Had they continued on with a protected sight .44 Blackhawk, it would have used the same cylinder frame as the Super Blackhawk and in addition to avoiding market confusion with two very similar configurations, I suspect Ruger wanted to only continue offering the Super since it was a "premium" gun that sold for a few dollars more. Plus more shooters wanted the dragoon grip framed Super to help manage the .44 recoil.

There are also a few .357 flattops that shipped in the 2nd half of 1962 with XR3-RED grip frames.
 
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One thing that I have noticed is the XR3-RED grip frames on the ones with a correct ship date have a uniform "graying " color. Not from wear just turn a grayish color completely. That has always made me feel good about the originality. Just my observation over the years. This one looks good to me.
FT44
 
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flattop44 said:
One thing that I have noticed is the XR3-RED grip frames on the ones with a correct ship date have a uniform "graying " color. Not from wear just turn a grayish color completely. That has always made me feel good about the originality. Just my observation over the years. This one looks good to me. FT44

My Single-Six that shipped in November of 1962 has the gray finish XR3-RED you describe, and it came to me like that NIB for Christmas of that year. :)
 
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Further, it seems to have gotten a little lighter gray over the years. It's still quite uniform all over the grip frame, with no "wear throughs" evident except right on the front of the trigger loop where the gun rests in a minimalist "cowboy style" holster. :)
 
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