When Did the Ruger Blackhawk Become a $700 Revolver?

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Joined
Nov 16, 2022
Messages
132
Location
Tennessee
I believe I paid $62.50 for my 1973 Ruger [in 1973] shown in another forum here.....but, I was earning about $125 a week.
So, about 1/2 a weeks pay.
Do the math..
Wow, I was in high school then and working at Kroger as a sack boy, ha.
If memory serves me, '73 was a big year for the BH as they started adding the transfer bar and instead of the three screws holding frame together there were two pins. May I ask if yours was one of the new models with the changes or actually made prior to that and uses the old configuration??
I have a '67 model but it has had the transfer bar added later for safety.
 

schotzfyred

Bearcat
Joined
Feb 19, 2023
Messages
21
Location
Northeast
Mine has the transfer bar and two screws, so "new model"
 

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Yoter

Bearcat
Joined
Mar 5, 2023
Messages
90
Location
AZ
I'm afraid that due to the current inflated MSRP and my recent experience with Ruger customer service, I will be looking at Italian Colt clones.
 
Joined
Dec 11, 2011
Messages
388
Location
Central Arkansas
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.

I paid $700.00 (New) for my flattop .45 convertible in 2014. List price now is over $1100.00
 

Mus408

Hunter
Joined
Apr 30, 2011
Messages
2,333
Location
Va.
I'm happy with my ol'400 buck SBH .44 Mag and my recent 1499 Colt Anaconda.
 

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BloodyThumb

Bearcat
Joined
Jun 5, 2003
Messages
59
I'm afraid that due to the current inflated MSRP and my recent experience with Ruger customer service, I will be looking at Italian Colt clones.
Last summer I picked up a Cimarron "Rooster" in LC. So far I have been very impressed with it. We have shot it at least 300-400 rounds so far. Hit at POA, pretty accurate with better ammo, and not bad with the lesser expensive cowboy loads. I hesitated based on a couple of pizza shooters I had a few years ago, but have been pleasantly surprised.

I also picked up a Cimarron SAA 12 shot 22lr that has been good so far, and have an older Scofield clone (also Cimarron) in 38sp. That one has only had a few rounds fired through it. Maybe 50. I got it more as a top break example for the grandkids.

Trying real hard to impart some knowledge of older stuff to them while I can.
 

crstrode

Single-Sixer
Joined
Jun 23, 2012
Messages
268
Location
Badger Lake, WA
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.
Thanks Joe Biden.
 
Joined
Oct 20, 2022
Messages
714
Location
Oregon
Well, my $700 Ruger showed up today. .357 New Vaquero, and with a MSRP of $1049 I think $700 is a deal on today's market. I'm as pleased as can be. The front sight is straight up and down, and the action is smoooth.

Of course, while I was doing the paperwork a guy dropped off a couple of SAA Colts for consignment. There was a 1927 38WCF with ivory grips he wanted $2450 for. I was tempted, but that's just an expense I can't justify right now. It's taking everything in me not to plop down the credit card.

Pic of the Vaquero-

AF2A7560-717F-4060-A228-5E3FFC7C0FDA.jpeg
 

rammerjammer

Blackhawk
Joined
Jan 22, 2010
Messages
734
I know prices have gotten crazy when I Buy it Now on Gunbroker $900 for a Bisley 44 Special Flattop Blackhawk SS 5.5" and feel like I got a great deal. Next one that sold on Gunbroker went for $1250 pre shipping/taxes and transfer fees about a month later.
 

kooz

Blackhawk
Joined
Oct 22, 2006
Messages
577
Location
Glenwood Springs, Colorado
It is a weird time right now for revolvers , especially ruger singleactions . As much as I like the Rugers , it would be a cold day before I am paying 1-1200 for a new manufactured BH or Vaquero . Yet at the same time one can buy a NIB S&W 69 for $800-850 all day and a NIB Colt python for 1499 ? I dont get it . Maybe the gun crowd figures that the Ruger single actions will be a thing of the past soon ?
 

dannyd

Buckeye
Joined
Aug 10, 2016
Messages
1,984
Location
Florida
Colt Python's are far off the mark with inflation new in 1955 99.00 dollars that would be about 1100 dollars today.
 
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