Blackhawk 357 magnum 10" barrel

[CDR]

Hi everyone Craig here and i'm new to the forum. I have a Ruger, New Model Blackhawk 357 magnum that i have inherited and i cant identify it due to the barrel length (10") not matching anything i find in the books on production. I can see it was produced in 1978 (i think) serial # starts 3440 but cant find it being made in 10" barrel.

It is definitely a 357 mag not a 357 rem maximum, can anyone help?

Thanks, CDR

 

[win1894s]

welcome to the forum .

 

[mart]

I know they made a few 357 Mags with 10 inch barrels. John Taffin notes that in his book, "Big Bore Sixguns." I've never seen one but if yours is a factory original you have a somewhat rare one. Hopefully the Ruger historians will chime in on this one. I'd be curious to know how many were made with the 10 inch barrel.

 

[street]

We need a picture of that gun, PLEASE!

 

[CDR]

OK, I checked with Ruger but they said this was made 1978 before their electronic system was in place so they have no definitive record on what barrel it was shipped with. One of the responces from you guys said that some were shipped out with a 10" barrel

( this from mart on this site: "I know they made a few 357 Mags with 10 inch barrels. John Taffin notes that in his book, "Big Bore Sixguns." I've never seen one but if yours is a factory original you have a somewhat rare one. Hopefully the Ruger historians will chime in on this one. I'd be curious to know how many were made with the 10 inch barrel.")

I honestly dont know what to think at this point, any other help or input would be appreciated. Hopefully there are pics attached to this post.

Thanks again,
CDR

 

[P89DC]

Roll-mark all lined up with proper gap and no sign of bluing damage, how could it not be from the factory? Esp since it's clear the factory offered that model at the time of manufacturer (based on the serial number). Why over-think it?

 

[CDR]

Well...they offered the model but not the barrel on the model...A mystery to be solved??

 

[P89DC]

Well...they offered the model but not the barrel on the model...A mystery to be solved??

It's been said by experts here that Ruger made a few, looks like you have one. I've followed classic cars where there's lots of factory combos, they look closely at the condition of the bolts/seams/joining surfaces and make a decision. I'm using the same logic on your gun. Why would someone would go to all that trouble to line everything up factory style when it can't add but a couple of hundred $$ to the value (at most)?

 

[trapperon]

With no "inc." in the rollmark, this barrel is a vintage 357 flattop blackhawk part. It is either a take off and re installed on this new model, or came from the factory as a clean up of a left over barrel. the folks at Ruger couldnt give a catalog number?

Interesting blackhawk for sure!

Ron

 

[RPM Enterprises]

The gun has been re barreled. non INC on a new model. No warning statement? The only 10 inch 357's I can think of at the moment were the RCA guns.

 

[street]

The roll mark on the barrel was last used in 1962-63. The new model started in 1973. How many here think that gun was shipped from the factory that way. Oh! By the way! That barrel may be worth a few hundred dollars to the person that has an old model 10 in. Flattop with a bad barrel?????

 

[RPM Enterprises]

I seriously doubt that gun left the factory that way. Besides someone killed it by drilling the top strap.

 

[JStacy]

the 10" black hawks were three screw models, not the new model in the picture. It appears some one installed a first model barrel on a new model Ruger. That is also interesting because the three screw frames were smaller than the new model in the picture.
IMHO, Gun customized with Ruger parts , not factory original product. It should be a good shooter, shoot it and enjoy it.

 

[Fox Mike]

the 10" black hawks were three screw models, not the new model in the picture. It appears some one installed a first model barrel on a new model Ruger. That is also interesting because the three screw frames were smaller than the new model in the picture.
IMHO, Gun customized with Ruger parts , not factory original product. It should be a good shooter, shoot it and enjoy it.

My question is: why would anyone destroy a very unique three screw 10" and then put the barrel on a 'new model'? I would LOVE to hear that story.

 

[Kanook]

My question is: why would anyone destroy a very unique three screw 10" and then put the barrel on a 'new model'? I would LOVE to hear that story.

Could be the 3 screw was parted out from police destruction

Could be the 3 screw owner didn't know what they had and went custom

Could be somebody wanted a 10" 357 and found a pulled barrel. I was going to do the same with a 10" Maxi barrel till I found a 7 1/2" Maxi with a golf ball barrel.

 

[JStacy]

I think your #1 & #3 are most likely or some one had a pulled barrel from an old flat top and sold it for parts. I shot a 10" three screw in 1968 and thought they were too long. The owner had the barrel cut to 8". That is now a crime but in 1968 we did not know any better.