Blackhawk Flattop

This is starting to become one of my most favorite revolvers. I love the steel frame. It improves the balance so, so much. The "normal" alloy grip frame makes the Blackhawk too top heavy and it wants to rotate over in my hand. And this one in particular just seems to be more accurate than my other Blackhawks. Not that I have a lot of them, but still, this one seems to be the most accurate.

It is funny though, when shooting 9mm, they shoot low. Still centered, just low. The 357's and 38's are spot on, point of aim. I guess I've had this revolver for about 4 years now. It's starting to make its way to the range on every trip now.

Nice! Wish I would have grabbed one when they were available

I have 3 rugerflatops, one is the 50th anniversary.357, one is the 50th anniversary.44 mag and one is the .44 spl flattop, they are my favorite Blackhawks, wish I had bought one of the .45 colt flattops.

My three Amigos

Enjoy! Your talking to the choir here... My set of 'favorite' tuned NM flattop revolvers .357 (in front), .44 Spec, and .45 Colt.

I have an OM .357, and a new model.45 convertible. Neither one is going anywhere.

32shooter said:

Nice! Wish I would have grabbed one when they were available

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I found this one used. The box was marked "U." Which I found out from here that it was a gun that had been returned as a display sample. If I remember correctly.

I don't think it was ever shot outside of the factory test firing. It looked brand new when I bought it.

Kevin said:

The box was marked "U." Which I found out from here that it was a gun that had been returned as a display sample. If I remember correctly.

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Yeah, it could have been a display gun or an evaluation gun, etc., but any gun that goes out on loan from stock (whether to a writer, or just internally like for a NRA show display) and is then returned is considered Used. In the old days the serial number would be altered by adding a U or S, then later they started using a sort of asterisk marking, but nowadays they just mark the box and leave the gun alone.

Love my NM Flattop's. These also have the original XR3 Colt Style grip, which feels and points WAY better in the hand than the "improved" XR3-RED version...At least to me anyway.

weaselmeatgravy said:

Yeah, it could have been a display gun or an evaluation gun, etc., but any gun that goes out on loan from stock (whether to a writer, or just internally like for a NRA show display) and is then returned is considered Used. In the old days the serial number would be altered by adding a U or S, then later they started using a sort of asterisk marking, but nowadays they just mark the box and leave the gun alone.

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And of late, they aren't even marking the boxes/cases with the "UGB" or "Factory Blemish" stamp, they may be now using a code printed directly on the model label….but I have not been able to determine that for sure, as you would need another of the same model sold as new to compare the labels. I have noticed an "s" and a "b" on the printed labels that MAY suggest that is what they are doing….

weaselmeatgravy said:

Yeah, it could have been a display gun or an evaluation gun, etc., but any gun that goes out on loan from stock (whether to a writer, or just internally like for a NRA show display) and is then returned is considered Used. In the old days the serial number would be altered by adding a U or S, then later they started using a sort of asterisk marking, but nowadays they just mark the box and leave the gun alone.

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Great info! Thanks. I didn't know this.

Does it add anything to the value? I bought this from Cabela's Gun Library, before they switched over to Bass Pro way of doing things.

I'd have to look to see what I paid, but it was definitely less than $600. Probably $550 or so.

Normally a collector likes to find a "U" or a "S" or a "D" gun. But condition is also very important to a collector. So shooting it, (seeing the turn lines) doesn't help the collectors pricing.
Enjoy it for what it is,, and later on, IF,, IF,, you needed to sell it,, I'd mention the "U" marked box.

Kevin said:

It is funny though, when shooting 9mm, they shoot low. Still centered, just low. The 357's and 38's are spot on, point of aim.

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Lightweight or faster bullets will impact lower. Heavier or slower bullets will impact higher.
Try some 147 gr . 9mm ammo and I bet it comes up to where it ought to be.

Hey did someone say Flattop???

357 converted to 45 Colt, 5 1/2" barrels and cylinders with black powder bevel.


357s with black powder bevel cylinders.



Just a couple of stock 44s

Hi...
I have a couple of flat top BlackHawks in .44Special.
Wonderful sixguns, very well made and accurate. I would probably buy another if I came across one for sale and had the financial wherewithal to make a deal.

I bought 2 stainless flattop BH's back in 2016.
357 mag & 44 spl. Both with 4-5/8" barrel!
Love them both & shoot em more so these days...

One large frame convertible & a mid frame flattop convertible here. Both in .45 Colt/ACP. I really liked the way the flattop handled but, unfortunately, so did my ex. It's hers now.

Kevin said:

This is starting to become one of my most favorite revolvers. I love the steel frame. It improves the balance so, so much. The "normal" alloy grip frame makes the Blackhawk too top heavy and it wants to rotate over in my hand. And this one in particular just seems to be more accurate than my other Blackhawks. Not that I have a lot of them, but still, this one seems to be the most accurate.

It is funny though, when shooting 9mm, they shoot low. Still centered, just low. The 357's and 38's are spot on, point of aim. I guess I've had this revolver for about 4 years now. It's starting to make its way to the range on every trip now.

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Sweet......! I'd like one in 44 mag & shoot 44 Spl!

I have a Lipsey's special 4.5" stainless FT 357/9 - a real sweet shooter. 9s shot low for me too, but I'm gonna try 147gr on the next outing! Thanks needsmostuff

Back in the 90s I had a 4-5/8" stainless .357 Blackhawk. I bought it used for $250. I liked it very well, but it had one chamber with a machining defect that caused cases to stick when firing magnum loads. It was fine with .38 Specials. I didn't know how good Ruger's warranty was back then, so I traded it on something else. I never stopped thinking how much I liked it, though, and kept looking for another just like it. I never found one at a price I liked or with the short barrel or in stainless. Earlier this year I asked the LGS if they could get one and the owner just laughed at me and said I should just tell Ruger to send me one. (He's a friend of mine, so he wasn't being ugly.) Even though he was poking fun at me, I took his suggestion to heart and instead emailed Lipsey's about the availability of their .357 / 9mm convertible flattop. Turns out they had one and they person I was talking to asked me what gun store to have it sent to.

I had the last laugh on that one. I got a humbled text from my buddy asking how I did it. I said, "I did what you told me and called them and asked for one." Since he is a Lipsey's dealer, he even got to make a few bucks on the sale.