Serious question on a 4-5/8 old model with serial no 236x

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southernbuck101

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I thought that might get some attention
I came across said 357 OM Blackhawk today.
Conservatively in 85-90% condition with no box, black hard rubber grips.
Got my juices flowing.
Especially at the price I was quoted.

The negative:
It has the transfer bar kit installed.
So....here's the question that I'm sure you seasoned veterans of this site have heard many times.
What's it worth and how much estimated cost to bring it back original.
This gun is beautiful.
And it's screaming at me to buy it.
He will even let me take it on credit.
But I don't like doing that, but the option is there.
Thanks in advance for the expertise of the brain trust here.
 
Blue Book says 90% = $775.00 and it’s usually LOW.

I’d say arfmel is in the ballpark since it needs to be converted back to original.

And if the seller doesn’t know it’d been modified maybe you can work him a bit on the price. ;)
 
If I’m understanding you right it’s a 4 digit sn#, a 2nd year of production flattop (1956) this would be a early gun with the squiggles on the front sight ramp, flat serrated ejector rod button, and would have had a well curved skinny trigger, but that is with the original action parts.

Did you ask seller if he has the parts, check the box that it was sent back from Ruger. A lot forget or didn’t remember or even know there is a baggie of all them old parts…🙄

$500 is a deal even if it has had the conversion. And I don’t even care what the condition is.

Some custom smiths won’t use it as a platform,,, but thats only if one was looking for a platform.

~$150 for the original parts, and it’s no biggie to swap them out.

DONT LEAVE US HANGING SHOW BACK UP WITH THE REST OF THE STORY,,, WITH PICTURES!!!!
 
Yeah,I can't stand it.
I'm gonna tell the guy tomorrow that I will take it.
I'd been trying to buy this 1894 Marlin from him a while.
It kinda depleted the funds for this week.
It's a 44mag JM Stainless with a 91 first 2 digits.
Pics don't do the marbling in the walnut justice.

It will be a couple weeks before I can get the Blackhawk.
But I'll get pics when I do get it.
 

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It would not happen to be number 2363 for the serial number would it if so we might need to chat. I have a Blackhawk that is number 2363 but it is a 41mag and would love to have the 357 with the same number. I have and old model 357 4 5/8" but it is a 30- serial number gun. By the way I believe $500 to be a good deal as I feel all Rugers have gone up in the last couple of years and it's even hard to find a nice Single Six in that range anymore.
 
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$500 is a good deal.

But as noted,, the features of the gun point to it being a possible Type 1 Flattop. As such,, to get the absolute correct Type 1 parts may cost about $150-$200. But I'd buy it in a heartbeat.
 
It would be at home in my safe by now! Especially if it was $500. I’d be willing to abuse the credit card for that- even though I just paid it off. We need pictures when you get it home.

Love that JM Marlin. I have a .44, date code is 1975. Smooth as butter. I do like the checkered stock on yours, however. Here’s a pic of mine- the one in the center
IMG_7110.jpeg
 
Tell the dealer that it's missing the original parts and you'll give him $400 because it'll cost you $150+ to convert it back to original.
It's worth a try.... maybe he'll knock off $50...
p.s. if there is a box, and if that box was the one Ruger sent it back to the orig owner after the conversion to the transfer bar, the original parts are usually "hidden' in a "compartment" in the box (box top if I recall)....Yeah, I HATE to admit it but $500 is a decent price... :-(

J.
 
Be advised that it won't be as easy as just looking for any set of OM .357 parts to convert it back, at least if you want the original configuration. G2 mentioned the early, well-curved skinny trigger. But probably more difficult to find would be the early narrow lands base pin.

Here is a type 1 flattop showing some things to look for, the skinny trigger, the base pin with the grooves spaced close together, the capped (not drilled through) base pin latch nut (which is probably still there on your gun), and the serrated ejector rod thumbpiece (also probably still there but sometimes got changed out for the later button style that is easier on your thumb to operate)
bkh3-type1-boxed-2.jpg
 
I am going to get a Flatgate .22 Single Six fired very little with an original box. It belonged to my deceased father in law. I believe it is 4 5/8” barrel. Any idea what it might be worth.
 
Flatgates were 5.5" guns except for the early Lightweight Single Sixes. So more info would be needed. A Lightweight with the rarer box variation might be $5000. A run of the mill 5 digit boxed flatgate might be $600-800 but it could be $1500 for a type 1 or $4000 for a 2 digit serial number.
 
First we’d have to figure out exactly which model it is.

A Flat gate with a 4 5/8” barrel would have to be a Lightweight model (alloy frame and cylinder). So please confirm the serial number and confirm barrel length (measure from cylinder to muzzle).
 
hittman said:
Blue Book says 90% = $775.00 and it’s usually LOW.

I’d say arfmel is in the ballpark since it needs to be converted back to original.

And if the seller doesn’t know it’d been modified maybe you can work him a bit on the price. ;)
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Johnnu2 said:
Tell the dealer that it's missing the original parts and you'll give him $400 because it'll cost you $150+ to convert it back to original.
It's worth a try.... maybe he'll knock off $50...
p.s. if there is a box, and if that box was the one Ruger sent it back to the orig owner after the conversion to the transfer bar, the original parts are usually "hidden' in a "compartment" in the box (box top if I recall)....Yeah, I HATE to admit it but $500 is a decent price... :-(

J.
Click to expand...
This is all good but I think it was mentioned there was no box with it.......but maybe the dealer has the box from when Ruger sent it back after the conversion ?? If the parts are in that box, Bingo!
 
weaselmeatgravy said:
Be advised that it won't be as easy as just looking for any set of OM .357 parts to convert it back, at least if you want the original configuration. G2 mentioned the early, well-curved skinny trigger. But probably more difficult to find would be the early narrow lands base pin.

Here is a type 1 flattop showing some things to look for, the skinny trigger, the base pin with the grooves spaced close together, the capped (not drilled through) base pin latch nut (which is probably still there on your gun), and the serrated ejector rod thumbpiece (also probably still there but sometimes got changed out for the later button style that is easier on your thumb to operate)
View attachment 32406
Click to expand...
Great info.
Thank you ,Sir.
That's why I enjoy this website so much.
I don't post a lot but I have learned volumes on this Ruger addiction I have, in the short time I've been visiting here.

And that's a beautiful Blackhawk you have there.
 
No box and no parts is what I was told.
I'm going to get it today.
Pics on here tonite or tomorrow.
Lord willing.
Star43 said:
This is all good but I think it was mentioned there was no box with it.......but maybe the dealer has the box from when Ruger sent it back after the conversion ?? If the parts are in that box, Bingo!
Click to expand...
 
southernbuck101 said:
And that's a beautiful Blackhawk you have there.
Click to expand...
Thanks, I have other type 1 guns now, but that one was my first and that pic showed what I wanted to show about the base pin, etc.

I bought that one in 2002 from a GunsAmerica ad with just a single blurry pic of the gun and the text mentioned it had a box. I remember talking to the seller on the phone and he mentioned the box was rough, but I thought it was still a fair price at $480 shipped. Must have been $450 + $30 shipping. I couldn't believe it when I got it and found the gun to be so nice, the box (rough for sure) to be the original type with no catalog number, and the papers to include the ultra-rare Blackhawk supplement to the early Single Six manual.
 
Well,my expectations might have overloaded my appetite on my previous rating of this gun.
But all I was going by was a couple pics and what the seller told me.
But I bought it anyhow.
I could have did without the right grip being chipped.
But the seller seems to think he has another set.
We will see.
These pics are after a initial fast flitting.
Still needs to be disassembled and thoroughly cleaned.
 

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collectormzornes said:
It would not happen to be number 2363 for the serial number would it if so we might need to chat. I have a Blackhawk that is number 2363 but it is a 41mag and would love to have the 357 with the same number. I have and old model 357 4 5/8" but it is a 30- serial number gun. By the way I believe $500 to be a good deal as I feel all Rugers have gone up in the last couple of years and it's even hard to find a nice Single Six in that range anymore.
Click to expand...
Yes.
It would be #2363
 
southernbuck101 said:
Conservatively in 85-90% condition.
This gun is beautiful.
Click to expand...
I guess I'm too picky but those don't go well together. Still worth $500+ for sure. I would rather have a chipped original grip than one with no chips that is incorrect.
Very nice piece for its age.
gundog5 said:
I am going to get a Flatgate .22 Single Six fired very little with an original box. It belonged to my deceased father in law. I believe it is 4 5/8” barrel. Any idea what it might be worth.
Click to expand...
You should start your own topic with a lot more information.
RugerForMe said:
The transfer bar kit would be my walk away. If you want an old 3 screw there are enough .357 OM out there that you will find one thats not converted.
Click to expand...
Surprising considering the Tact-Cool stuff you have posted.
 
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