bigbillyboy
Hunter
Good deal
3 Screw Blackhawk, 357 Mag
- Thread starter OMCHamlin
- Start date
OP
OMCHamlin
Blackhawk
Well, she IS coming home though.
Here:
Someone ELSE needs this Model 18...
And this is my (soon) to be BlackHawk...
Hondo44
Hawkeye
Congrats! That’s the best steal I’ve ever seen that wasn’t illegal.
I just saw this, and my advice was “Buy It”. But now that you have…I would not even consider refinishing it, or any part of it! If it bothers you too much, I’ll gladly trade you for a beautiful new model .357! Heck, I’d even trade my Bisley Super for that!
OP
OMCHamlin
Blackhawk
The forcing cone could use some love from a Lewis Lead Away tool (no, sonny, those aren’t screens for my pipe!), and the sight pin needs a tap back in from the left side. The ejector rod housing screw snugged up fine, and besides some edge wear at the muzzle (and the spot on the cylinder as noted), that’s where it’s at. Oh, and it was $449, not 499, I forgot. S/N: 17253…. HOLY CRAP 1958???? Seriously? This thing’s older than ME? Oh, and it’s “un-modernized”.
OP
OMCHamlin
Blackhawk
Sorry about the smudgy finish in the pics, but can you guys see what I mean about the S&Ws top strap? Shiny bluing? That’s a refinish.
I’m sure you guys know more about an old Blackhawks finish, does this look like an old reblue? I did not think so. Give me your input, anything to pick apart?
I also don’t believe I’m going to be able to keep it on layaway very long…
I’m sure you guys know more about an old Blackhawks finish, does this look like an old reblue? I did not think so. Give me your input, anything to pick apart?
I also don’t believe I’m going to be able to keep it on layaway very long…
Ya done good!
Hondo44
Hawkeye
That serial number makes it a Type 2 Flattop.
OP
OMCHamlin
Blackhawk
Okay, come on? That means???
When changes are made they are different types. Ejector rod and trigger changes are 2 of the different things changed
Likely shipped late in 1958. At serial number 17253 it could be either a Type 2 or a Type 3. The Type 2 has the "offset" ejector rod housing while the Type 3 has the "straight slot" housing. Can't quite see the full length of the housing on the left side of the barrel.
There was a mixture of both of these from about 17000 to about 18600 . . . give or take a few.
There's no factory record of which style housing was shipped on any particular gun, and they are easily swapped out . . . thus dubbed by Bob C as "screwdriver variations".
There was a mixture of both of these from about 17000 to about 18600 . . . give or take a few.
There's no factory record of which style housing was shipped on any particular gun, and they are easily swapped out . . . thus dubbed by Bob C as "screwdriver variations".
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that would be a Birth year gun for me ,, Very Nice catch
OP
OMCHamlin
Blackhawk
Well, I'll have to see if I can find some good chronological info on changes on these now. Finding some random thing like this (I'm not a Ruger collector, but I KNEW this one was a find), I like learning about stuff like this. A chance deal on an M1A, and old single barrel 16 and this tired old Enfield No 4 led me to find that that "tired old Enfield, with the funny looking steel blocks screwed and pinned to the left side and a couple of holes in the comb of the stock", turned out to be a 1942 Savage that had been selected for sniper rifle conversion at Holland & Holland, and got far enough along in the process to have the scope blocks and raised comb installed. I wore out a handful of bronze brushes and finally got a decent bore out of it, cleaned it up, got checking into the cost to "finish what H&H started", and auctioned it off instead, bringing enough to pay for all three (and the old spam can of 30.06 that mysteriously came with it!?) You can't necessarily follow every thing down the rabbit hole, but that "adventure" was fun and I learned a bunch about that old Enfield. I WILL learn more about early Blackhawks out of this deal...
John Dougan wrote a great book about Ruger single actions. It's worth getting a copy
Yes! Buy the books and immerse yourself. Dougan wrote a book. I think Huddleston (sp?) did too. And there’s this:https://www.rugerforum.com/threads/subscribe-to-the-red-eagle-news-exchange.30544/
And use the search feature for other threads here:
https://www.rugerforum.com/threads/ruger-blackhawk-3-screw.309788/
https://www.rugerforum.com/threads/1973-non-3-screw-357-blackhawks…-collectible-or-just-cool.309935/
https://www.rugerforum.com/threads/taking-3-screw-blackhawk-back-to-original-status.310004/
https://www.rugerforum.com/threads/my-“new”-3-screw-blackhawk.309937/
https://www.rugerforum.com/threads/ruger-old-model-3-screw-357-loading.306377/
And keep picking the brains of members here. Congrats on your excellent start.
All of what hittman said!
OP
OMCHamlin
Blackhawk
Yep, I read a good bit last night, and you can see I have no problem asking questions, either.
And keep picking the brains of members here. Congrats on your excellent start.
Hey, so this is how my day went, after checking those two out and putting $ on that 3 screw, I went over to the Flea Market (quickly becoming "El Mercado de Fleas", to get some... (wait for it, Mr King Red Neck went for....) bacon flavored pork rinds....! Them durn things is goot, I tell ya! Anyhow, walking past any number of junk knife hawkers, towards bacon nirvana, I stop and see this pearl among the poops: (he wanted $10 for it.)
So at THIS point, I thought about lottery tickets, but I know MY luck only stretches so far.
ETA: Dang, I just checked these on flea bay, if this was "mint in the box", I'da covered near half of that Blackhawk!
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Ain't nothing wrong with a redneck liking bacon flavored pork rinds! Nice new pigsticker to go with your Blackhawk!
Hondo44
Hawkeye
The Types are established years later by collectors, not by Ruger. It’s how we keep track of the many minor factory variations and parts design updates. By using the serial numbers to provide the volume of guns with each change it determines the relative scarcity of each variation. These are all documented in books about Ruger’s firearms. The best is Reference of Ruger Firearms by Chad Hiddelson a member of this forum.
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Chad Hiddleson is amazing when it comes to Ruger information.
OP
OMCHamlin
Blackhawk
Well, yeah, but really, it was more of a "good day" story, then a knife tale, tho I may have one or two of those...
southernbuck101
Single-Sixer
OP
OMCHamlin
Blackhawk
Easy does it! Not ready to part it out yet, but I’ll keep you in mind!
Sgt Duncan
Bearcat
I agree wit mrs50sls56 above. This 1959 flat top .357 was acquired by my dad around 1960 and passed to me around 1970. The only thing I’ve changed on it was the grips and grip frame. Never really cared for the aluminum frame so a few years ago I swapped over to a Power Custom Colt style two piece steel frame with one piece walnut grips. For me, it balances much better.
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OP
OMCHamlin
Blackhawk
Those grips...
southernbuck101
Single-Sixer
Well,are you ready yet.Easy does it! Not ready to part it out yet, but I’ll keep you in mind!
OP
OMCHamlin
Blackhawk
Paid second layaway payment on it today...
Hankus
Buckeye
Nice- I love my Benchmade autos, fell in love when I was issued an original AFO in the 90s. It was stolen out of my Jeep more than 20 years ago so I bought an AFO 2 Tanto and more recently picked up the smaller one for “only” $120 at a show.
