Now Cholo,, valvalle is new here. Lets be a little nicer.
Welcome valvalle to the Ruger Forum.
valvalle,, while you may think wikipedia is a definitive reference guide,, let's look at a few facts please.
As noted,, by factory records, and well documented by many serious collectors here,, the .357 Blackhawk was introduced in 1955 by Ruger. And, many factory letter prove they were shipped to various gun shops & even individuals in 1955. Remember,, we didn't have the restrictions in 1955 that began in 1968 with the Gun Control Act of 1968 that forbade direct shipping of guns to consumers.
This is the Ruger Forum.
Many long time collectors, book authors, and historians of Ruger visit here. It's well documented by verifiable sources that as noted above,, approximately 1700 of the .357 Blackhawks were shipped in 1955. Then in 1956,, with such success AND the race to get out a (then) new caliber,, the .44 Mag,, those too began shipping,, in 1956.
And sadly,, the Ruger factory website "look up a gun by serial number" feature is often mistaken.
BUT<, if a person writes Ruger, and sends them $10,, they will get a factory letter on the gun in question. It will have the correct information, as verified by the Day Book, and the shipping information that's stored at Ruger.
In short,, Wiki is incorrect.
If you really want excellent information that's backed by serious collectors & detailed research, verified as much as possible,, then subscribe to the RENE. That's the "Red Eagle News Exchange."
Even some of the fine folks at Ruger have mentioned to me they too use the RENE to determine stuff they aren't sure about,, because it's the best information out there.
Or,, get a copy of John Dougans book; "Ruger Pistols & Revolvers, The Vintage Years." It's one heck of a detailed reference guide as well.