45 Colt Super Blackhawk ser# question

Feel the 'Pane

Feel the 'Pane

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A question for the heavy hitter collectors:

I have a chance to fill a grail gun slot & can't remember what the serial number range that these S47 'mistake' guns fall into. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
 
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I'll be the first one to say that when it comes to the New Models,,, my knowledge is much more limited.

That said,, I can't recall any .45 Colt Super Blackhawks. The S47 is the model designation for the .44 mags.

The Red Eagle News Exchange Guide doesn't show any Super Blackhawks in .45 Colt. New Model or Old Model.
 
There was a "mistake" Flattop in .44 Special with Bisley grip frame and 7-1/2" barrel. The mistake guns had serial numbers in the regular 520- New Model flattop serial number sequence. They should have had a special SH25- prefix (Ruger eventually built those as well).
Chet15
 
I'm confused.
It seems the OP is asking about OM super Blackhawk (S47) 7.5" chambered in .45 Colt. A quick look in the Bible this morning I could find no mention of such an animal, mistake or intentional by the factory. There was a mention of at least one in .44 Special iirc.
Am I wrong in understanding what the OP is asking or did Ruger actually produce some number of S47 old model super Blackhawks in .45 Colt?
 
Similar to the confusion over PC9 PC40, PC Carbine, etc. Details matter.

It's like when folks say "SS".
SS in Ruger terms is a blue Speed Six.
Others use it for Single Six, Stainless Steel, and others.
 
Sorry for any confusion.

I am referring to the small batch of S47 OM (<423) that got 7.5in Blackhawk barrels in 45 caliber by mistake.

I've seen 2 of these unicorns in the last 40yrs. 1 was actually for sale but I didn't have the $$$ at the time.

I once had great discussion about my unicorn with a very knowledgeable Ruger collector at a gunshow in Denver about 15yrs ago. He even knew the serial number range to look for which is my question above.

Told me about a gun forum that I ought to join that talked about everything and anything concerning Ruger. That was back before the split and I seem to remember reading a thread with all the information about these guns. Called himself Flatgate.


Rip Carl...
 
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I believe he has his "information" ( story) wrong, he is meaning the use of the barrels that had been cut down to 6 1/2inch , by the worker who thought he was cutting the 45 cal Blackhawk barrels, and screwed up,,,so they did NOT go to waste (scrapped) Ruger put these shortened .44 cal. brls on the S-47, thus becoming an "S-46"?:unsure:;)
 
Feel the 'Pane,, I have to agree with rugerguy about the confusion on the "mistake" OM S-47's. Yes,, there was a portion of the .44 barrels that were mistakenly cut to 6-1/2". Instead of scrapping them,, Bill had them installed on a gun & sold. He didn't like waste. But they were not in .45 Colt.
The RENE Guide has a listing of these.
But the RENE Guide does not have ANY reference to any in .45 Colt.

Carl, aka "Flatgate" was a friend to many of us here. He truly made this Forum a great place. In fact,, my recent display was a tribute to (2) great guys. Carl & Mike. Look at the display pictures, & you will see a portion of my display has Carl's "Ruger Bearcats" title board, as well as his mounted disassembled parts of a Bearcat.

If a Super Blackhawk,, Old Model does have a .45 Colt barrel,, it'd HAVE to have the Factory letter to prove it. But none have ever been put forth by any collectors.
 
rugerguy said:
I believe he has his "information" ( story) wrong, he is meaning the use of the barrels that had been cut down to 6 1/2inch , by the worker who thought he was cutting the 45 cal Blackhawk barrels, and screwed up,,,so they did NOT go to waste (scrapped) Ruger put these shortened .44 cal. brls on the S-47, thus becoming an "S-46"?:unsure:;)
Click to expand...
The OM 45 Colt Blackhawk didn't exist until 1971 and the barrel lengths for them were never 6.5". They were all 7.5" or 4 5/8". So this doesn't make any sense.

I think you meant to say the worker thought he was cutting 41 mag Blackhawk barrels which is the presumed correct story behind the S46.

Still doesn't explain the 45 Colt angle by the OP.
 
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I'm working on finding the pictures from an old GB auction page I saved from several years ago. I've been a Ruger collector 40+yrs and have only seen 2 (neither of them in person). I also may have my producton numbers off.... it may have been less than 50, hence the rarity.

And I agree Contender, a letter is a MUST!

Stay tuned.
 
I always wanted to build a ,45 Colt Superbackhawk. Take a 71/2 45 Bisley with the non fluted cylinder, swap the grip, hammer and trigger
 

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Feel the 'Pane said:
I'm working on finding the pictures from an old GB auction page I saved from several years ago. I've been a Ruger collector 40+yrs and have only seen 2 (neither of them in person). I also may have my producton numbers off.... it may have been less than 50, hence the rarity.

And I agree Contender, a letter is a MUST!

Stay tuned.
Click to expand...
If in 50 years collecting added to the fact that most all of the worlds most informed and comprehensive ruger collectors are on this site and NO ONE either has one or has even seen one leads me to the conclusion that what you are seeking simply does not exist. A gunbroker ad from years ago is certainly not evidence. A gun plumber could probably cobble together such a thing and claim 1 of 50 factory unicorns. Doesn't make it so.
 
yessir, as they always say "Buy the gun , NOT the story...." see that ALL the time, go into about any shop, or look at something on a table at ANY gun show..............:unsure::rolleyes:

"....and so it goes,,," Wil Terry RIP ;):cool::rolleyes:
 
I too have my suspicions about using a GB ad over the RENE Guide for proper info on a gun. As rugerguy alludes to,, is something MANY custom gunsmiths have put together over the decades. Often a person wants something the factory didn't make.
Looking in both the RENE Guide & John Dougans book I see NO reference to an OM Super Blackhawk in .45 Colt.
 
I have been a Ruger Blackhawk owner for almost 60 years, and I do not think there is any thing such as a Ruger Super Blackhawk .45Colt. The Super Blackhawk I believe refers only to the .44 Mag. I purchased my Ruger Blackhawk in 1965, and it has a 6.5" barrel.
 

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"I purchased my Ruger Blackhawk in 1965, and it has a 6.5" barrel."

A 6-1/2" Blackhawk,, with that fluted cylinder if made in 1965 would be either a .357 or a .41. The .45's didn't come out until 1971,, and had 7-1/2" barrels.
 
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