4 digit Old Model 357 Help for beginer? <PICS ADDED>

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1957ruger

Bearcat
Joined
Aug 13, 2011
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Texas
I am hopefully picking this gun up tonight, so any extra information would be great. I have been learking around your site the past few days and have learned a lot already, but am still trying to get all the details of this gun...so let me here some insite. Also, an estimated value of the gun would be great. I have been looking for similar ones on Guns America and Gun Broker, but they are all over the place. Knowing exactly what I have will help...

I was about to post this and realized that I cannot post pictures, but the serial number is 7949. From the reading I have done I need to cock the hammer and listen for clicks to see if it has the replacement parts? What other things should I look for tonight? It was shipped in 1957? (I hope so because I made that my user name)
 
The working face of the standard, original hammer is flat. On a "safety conversion" hammer the working face is "stepped", and there will be a little metal "flag" kinda thing down in there between the hammer and the firing pin. Hopefully, someone will be along here soon with pictures to illustrate this.

With that serial number it SHOULD have been shipped in 1957. The only way to be absolutely certain is to call the records department at Ruger with the serial number and have them confirm it for you.

Its value will depend on its condition.

Welcome to RugerForum, and congratulations on a nice score of a "flattop" .357 Blackhawk.

:)
 
Oh, nice.

A little cleaning up and that puppy will SHINE!

Just in case you are not aware . . . to avoid getting the nasty "ring" around the cylinder, any time you cock the hammer for any reason such as loading/unloading, ALWAYS pull the hammer back to full-cock before lowering it down onto the "at rest" position.

The correct loading sequence is as follows . . .

Bring hammer to half-cock, open loading gate, load one chamber, skip the next chamber, load the next four chambers, close the gate, pull hammer to full-cock and then lower it all the way down onto the "at rest" position, where it will be positioned over the empty chamber you skipped.

:)
 
Welcome to the Ruger Forum.

Nice looking 3-screw.

Just looking at the trigger, the revolver doesn't look like it has been converted, but here's some information that may be helpful.

Here is a photograph of a blackhawk with the conversion parts. Note the "steps" on the hammer, the presence of a transfer bar in front of the hammer, and that the "root" end of the trigger is fatter.

rugerblackhawk3579mm_04w.jpg


Here is an image of what your hammer should look like. Note the flat, unstepped, face of the hammer. This is the hammer for an Old Model Blackhawk:

img_9797.jpg_thumbnail1.jpg


Also, just a little operational check for any single action. Make sure the revolver is not loaded. Cock the hammer all the way back, then without touching the trigger, push on the hammer. If the hammer falls, then you have internal issue with the interaction of the hammer and trigger (sear). Don't load the weapon until you've had a Smith resolve this issue. It is unsafe. Better still have the dealer get it fixed.
 
Don't tell me you got an OM flat top for a song....

But, hey, its a gorgeous gun. I got my 1st OM this week, but its not a flat top and yours looks to be in a LOT nicer shape than mine.

Congrats!
 
Nice gun. Be warned though finding a good deal on something like that gets harder and harder the more you know. Unspoken rule of firearms buying.
 
A great gun you have---to put it mildly :) WHAT A FINE WAY TO START ON GETTING A FEW RUGERS 8) I would stay with the old models like you got & welcome to Ruger folks forum.
 
Nice. To post your new Ruger's image on Ruger Forum you'll need to find the URL of the image from your Flicker site. I could not find it due to copywright protection. You need the URL to end in an "image tag" like jpeg, gif, tiff, etc. Then simply put the proper Forum Code in front of the URL
with no spaces.

Again, that's a nice Flattop!

flatgate
 
Well...I know this won't go over well, but I was trying to buy shooter. I will not be shooting this one. It looks like it has either never been shot or only a few times. I got there and he has the origional box and everything. I told him I would help him sell it, so I am posting it in the for sale part of the forum with more pictures. Anyone know where I should start on the price? They are all over the place from $500-$1000
 
I would say it's worth $900-1100 based on condition of gun,box and manual. A few years back it would have brought more.
 
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