4 digit 3 screw Blackhawk 357- to buy, or not to buy

[NoDak]

Theree is an old model 3 screw 357 blackhawk at my local shop for 600 $.
Mechanically the gun feel very good, the bluing is very worn down, and it appears to have been dropped.

The gun was made in '56.
Is is worth it?

Second question- since the grip friend is already pretty boogered up, wouldn't be complete sacrilege to have a brass frame installed?

 

[NoDak]

--and no, it doesnt have a transfer bar.

 

[NoDak]

Oh--- and its a 4 5/8 with wood grips
Sorry

 

[toroflow]

I would say not worth it. There was a nice flattop for sale on Gunbroker for weeks at $625, and it was in 99% condition. Granted, it wasn't a 4 digit serial #, but who cares?

 

[NoDak]

I also want to appologise for my grammar and spelling- I am testing out my "talk to text".

 

[Ale-8(1)]

Sounds like a bit much for a semi-beater shooter.

That said, you don't find 1956 flattop shooters every day, and that one could be refinished and re-gripped to your taste without worrying about losing its "collector value".

Your money, your choice. I'll certainly not criticize you for going that route.

You could even have it re-chambered to .44 Special and really have something unusual and nice.

 

[gramps]

Yeah, I would pass at that price. Offer $300.00 and see what happens?
gramps

 

[Hondo44]

That's high. How much too high depends on the damage from being dropped.

 

[KWYJIBO]

The gun would be worth considerably more if in excellent shape, because of its age and low serial number...

BUT, whereas location is everything when it comes to real estate, with guns condition is everything.

Nobody would fault you for putting a brass frame on this one, or for having it reblued. It's just an old Ruger; it's not sacred. The cost of those two operations would run around $300 to $500. If you were to pay the $600 they're asking, you'd be into it about a grand. Granted, you'd have one very nice refurbished Blackhawk, but for that money you could probably find an original one in 98% condition (albeit without the brass).

It'd be one thing if this serial number were all you needed to complete a special collection, if the gun belonged to Elvis Presley, or something like that. From the way you describe it, I think 600 is a bit high.

One more consideration: does it have the original box and printed materials? I'd guess not since you didn't mention them. These things can add quite a bit to the value of a collector-grade gun. They wouldn't be as important for this "shooter-grade" one, but still worth considering in assessing the value.

 

[Hondo44]

The last one sent back to Ruger just for re-finish was $165.

 

[Ale-8(1)]

Sort of an "off to the side" question . . .

One assumes this gun has the proper XR3 grip frame. If sent back to Ruger for a refinish, wonder how they would handle refinishing that grip frame? I kinda doubt they would/could re-anodize it in the original style, and they almost certainly do not have any new XR3's in stock, and perhaps not even any Old Model XR3RED's, for that matter.

Also, if you sent this one in, would they refinish the original "working" bits even though they would replace them with the "safety conversion"?

 

[HAWKEYE#28]

PASS! As an aside, quietly observe this LGS and see what else "seems to go on...". The asking price on this (he must assume)"rare" Ruger is absurd. Just sayin' 8)

 

[smith1961]

Seems high to me for something "worn" and "dropped" I'd wait it out and see if somebody else buys it, or the price gets reduced. Sounds like it's something you don't NEED, and probably don't want either...

 

[smith1961]

ooops double hit...

 

[T.A. WORKMAN]

What's the number?