When Did the Ruger Blackhawk Become a $700 Revolver?

Ruger always catered the the working man with reasonably priced quality firearms. My first hunting pistol was an old model Ruger Blackhawk 357 Magnum (paid $200 in 1981). Carried that on the ranch with a Ruger Mini-30 7.62x39 rifle (paid $250 in1985).

I sold the Blackhawk long ago. I wanted to purchase a new one in 357, but cannot believe the current prices ranging from $650-700. I remember them being around $500 pre-Covid. That's about what I paid for my 45 LC/45 ACP convertible Ruger Blackhawk several years ago.

Is Ruger producing fewer single action revolvers now and driving prices up? I don't expect 1980's prices but hope pre-Covid prices will return.

Not to mention $600-700 Ruger single sixes and $750-900 Ruger Vaqueros!

MSRP is in the $850 to $1000 range. More for a Super or a Hunter.
Bidenflation.

… along with GAS, FOOD, AMMO, PRIMERS, Yadayada, Yamadadadoda.

It's a shame my Social Security didn't catch up with this kind of inflation.

I'm more concerned over $4 a gallon gas and $5 a dozen eggs. I have lived long enough to see gas go up from 19.9 cents a gallon and eggs from 40 cents a dozen. Ruger inflation? Mild by comparison...

I'd bet that a very substantial portion of Ruger's cost is the sum of their huge liability insurance policy and litigation costs - arising from gun sales. You'd be surprised how much that might be.

In the big CPA firms, litigation costs make upwards of 25% of the total firm costs. Doctors' associations and hospital groups are similarly saddled by those costs. Big Law Firm litigation costs are inching closer to that level (karma IS an adult female canine).

In other words, litigation/liability costs might easily account for $100-$150 of the total price of each firearm.

Thats just insane and disgusting to think about! Why no deterrents for frivolous law suits "on the books"?

The simple answer,, inflation on everything.

Materials, labor etc have risen a LOT.

At the current prices, I will do without. I even looked at Italian Colt clones and they are fetching $500-650 now. It seems CAS has become a sport for the rich.

You might want to look at places that sell used firearms; you might get lucky and get a better deal.

It's just the times, things will come back to some sort of normal over time. I'm just glad that there is nothing that I really need right now.

I've gotta think it's demand that's driving prices up, at least higher than MSRP. There's a lot of new shooters, and a whole lot of existing shooters that are buying more than they normally would due to perceived scarcity. I bought a nice used .45 Blackhawk last year for $500, and currently I'm working on getting a New Vaquero for $700. Used prices, even for poor condition guns, is close to MSRP for new. And new has a couple hundred dollar premium- unless it's a lever gun. Those are few and far between, and on GB there are so many for almost double MSRP it makes me sick.

Also, it's interesting if you look at the firearms market across the board. Prices on AR platform rifles are down, prices on Tupperware guns are down. Tactical has become affordable. Now quality firearms are going the opposite direction- single actions, lever guns, revolvers, and yes, high quality semi's are on the rise. Collectors and those wanting quality are buying big time.

Also- states like mine (Oregon) have legislation pending that stands to make firearms purchasing a huge hassle. Guns are flying off the shelves as people try and buy whatever they think they might want in the future. I'm one of those. I think I've brought 4 or 5 home since November.

Maybe Ruger isn't making many S/A Revolvers & instead are turning out plastic & AR stuff.

Guy I used to work for has a huge gun shop, over 4000 guns. Told me the other day that he had not been able to get a Vaquero in over two years. He was offered one the other day by one of his distributors. His price was over $800!! Dealer price! Insane!

sign of the times, and we are NOT going back to the days I passed on a 1965 Ford GT-350 Shelby Mustang from Marshall Ford for $2995.....gas was 16 cents a gallon or so, and cigarettes were 19 cents a pack....my first job was 50cents an hour and my first months pay in the US Air Force in 1965 was $112 a month.........

"....and so it goes......" rest in Peace Wil Terry

Guns are bad, try to buy a decent car. One I was looking at and actually had a deposit on, was $42,995 before taxes and such in 2020. The same car now is about $62K. If I had bought it 3 years ago and driven it normally, I could sell it now for as much as I bought it for new.

(paid $200 in 1981) equals $658.24 today

Well, I got lucky and no one bid against me. Won a 5.5" Vaquero for $700. No CC fee either. It is a new gun but has a crack in the grip panel. No biggie, I was going to change that anyways. Now for the waiting game.
So yes- $700 guns if you're lucky!

I think a ruger revolver that will work for you for the rest of your life and then work for your heir for their lifetime is a BARGAIN at $700, especially considering "cheap" hamburger is $5 a pound and eggs are $5 a dozen! Those both work for a couple of hours and end up in the toilet.