Buckeye history?

cedarcreek

Bearcat
Joined
Dec 30, 2010
Messages
62
I wanted to start collecting Ruger pistols and I like the convertibles. I have just started looking at the Ruger convertibles, have the Buckeyes always been popular? They seem to be on gunbroker often. What is a good price for both models?
 
They usually bring around $700 in excellent or better condition (with the box and paperwork). Here's a Buckeye set with 11 hours left at auction:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=214284530

My dad has NIB versions of each he bought back in '90 or '91. His dealer got the pair from Buckeye and couldn't move them. Think he paid $500 for the set.

If I remember correctly, 5,000 of each were made. The first few thousand probably went fast....then the rest lingered. I remember seeing them still NIB and for sale in '92.
 
Good shooters as well. I have the pair with matching serial numbers (different prefix) acquired in fall of 1988. Had the 32 H&R mag cylinder rechambered by Bowen to 327 Mag a couple of years ago. Collectors will scream I suspect, but I a shooter, not a collector. At that time came with the steel grip frame while other Blackhawks still had the aluminum grip frame.
 
Is Buckeye still in business ? Bought my SBH there on my 21st B-day. Went back for relaoding gear,etc.. Haven't been there in 20+ yrs now, its now @ 2 hrs away. steve b
 
No, Johns Sporting Goods, as well as their distributorship known as Buckeyes Sporting Goods is out of business,long time down in the Canton,Ohio area, ,I recall it was Cleveland Ave or such when the Buckeyes came out back in 1989 we were there a few times both as "dealer" and as a Ruger collector, my wife was a Field rep for the RCA back then, so we kept in touch with them on the Buckeye 'specials' 1989 32-20 /32 H&R mag, then the following year , the 38-40/ 10MM....Bianchi was also involved as they had made the Ruger flap holsters and did the same thing for John, but had a 'buckeye' leaf' on the flap instead of the Ruger logo, did them in both black and brown, but they were a bit "pricy" and John never took off with them , so only a few floating around here and there, samples?> prototypes, whatever, no, we never kept any of them, in fact closed out the Ruger flap holsters for around $12-15 back then and had dozens and dozens of them left over, mainly 'left handed' ones or long barreled models.............back then our shops did way more with S&W and Colts, than we ever did with Rugers......................
 
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For the record, acquired the 32 Buckeye in Dec. '89 and the 40 Buckeye in Aug. '90. Was an FFL dealer at the time and was thus able to get the second with same serial number, different prefix.
 
I have the Model S3840.
271110383.jpg


I'd sure like to find the .32 cal. with the "matching" serial number.......

flatgate
 
Thanks for the input. I have heard that there were only 5000 produced of each. The serial numbers range from 611-00000/611-06199. The people at Ruger records could not tell me how many were made, only that those numbers were set aside for that model. Does the serial number make much of a difference? I would think first and last?
 
Dan pretty well nailed it on the Buckeyes. As I understand it they (Buckeye) were going to come out with the .44mag /.44/40 convertable
but Jerry's Sports out of Pa. beat them to the punch with the S4440.
Terry

HPIM1153.jpg
 
I got mine in 38/40-10MM on July 20, 1992 from Buckeye Sports for $259.95. Promptly threw the box away :oops: and have been shooting it ever since.

It shoots great and with handloads it comes so close to the .41 Mg that I have never seen the need for the .41 in me battery. The downside is the lack of really good heavy bullets for it. I have been pretty much restricted to 200 Gr. bullets designed for the 10MM. For these, I use a Lee factory crimp die because the necks won't stand being crimped into a bullet that has no cannalure.

Serial number on mine is....611-04234
 
I am only using cast 200gr. bullets with a crimp groove in my 38WCF Buckeye. FWIW, when using jacketed bullets, I acquired a cannalure tool from CH Die(sic?) to roll in such and standard crimp die worked just fine.
 
I am happy to say I have both unfired with matching serial numbers. If I decide to sell I will list them here.
Charlie
 

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