I picked up my 4th single action Ruger Friday, and it's the best one yet.
To start the my journey, I always wanted a single six to toss around. I remember seeing them used for ~$125 in decent condition. Fast forward 20 years I get serious about buying one, and find they're double that price for half the condition. I finally found one for $150 that had about 10% blueing and rust pits to china. I cleaned it up and cold blued to a 70% gun. LOVE it!
Then I wanted to find a Blackhawk in .357. Well, as luck would have it, I found a local guy selling a OM 4 5/8" convertible with box. He was asking some crazy price or trade for ammo (this was back during the last crazy ammo drought). I traded him $311 worth of ammo for the gun. Woo hoo! I then found this site trying to figure out what I had really bought. (I still need to post pictures to see what I should do with it)
I was quite happy for a while, until Robb posted some pictures of a custom .41. I always wanted a .41 mag since selling a .44 mag Super Blackhawk (the only gun I don't regret selling :wink: ). I kept looking until i found the one I wanted. 4 5/8" NM, lightest of turn ring, and $350. It's mine! Now I got a big bore, and love it. I see what all the fuss is on the big, slow moving bullets. They're pretty sweet.
You'd think a guy would content. Nope. I have a couple custom guns, on different platforms, and I think the .41 could be better. Enter the latest purchase. A New Vaquero that is destined to converted to what I want. It's a blued .357 with a 5 1/2" barrel. I haven't shot yet (might not), but I absolutely love the steel grip frame (and size), steel ERH, and balance of the 5 1/2" barrel. It will be converted to a .41 mag with a Clement's pre-war adjustable rear sight, for the highlights. I'll probably dump the NM .41 when it's done, but that will free up some cash for the next Ruger custom. LOL.
You guys are a bad influence, and I appreciate it. :D
Phil
To start the my journey, I always wanted a single six to toss around. I remember seeing them used for ~$125 in decent condition. Fast forward 20 years I get serious about buying one, and find they're double that price for half the condition. I finally found one for $150 that had about 10% blueing and rust pits to china. I cleaned it up and cold blued to a 70% gun. LOVE it!
Then I wanted to find a Blackhawk in .357. Well, as luck would have it, I found a local guy selling a OM 4 5/8" convertible with box. He was asking some crazy price or trade for ammo (this was back during the last crazy ammo drought). I traded him $311 worth of ammo for the gun. Woo hoo! I then found this site trying to figure out what I had really bought. (I still need to post pictures to see what I should do with it)
I was quite happy for a while, until Robb posted some pictures of a custom .41. I always wanted a .41 mag since selling a .44 mag Super Blackhawk (the only gun I don't regret selling :wink: ). I kept looking until i found the one I wanted. 4 5/8" NM, lightest of turn ring, and $350. It's mine! Now I got a big bore, and love it. I see what all the fuss is on the big, slow moving bullets. They're pretty sweet.
You'd think a guy would content. Nope. I have a couple custom guns, on different platforms, and I think the .41 could be better. Enter the latest purchase. A New Vaquero that is destined to converted to what I want. It's a blued .357 with a 5 1/2" barrel. I haven't shot yet (might not), but I absolutely love the steel grip frame (and size), steel ERH, and balance of the 5 1/2" barrel. It will be converted to a .41 mag with a Clement's pre-war adjustable rear sight, for the highlights. I'll probably dump the NM .41 when it's done, but that will free up some cash for the next Ruger custom. LOL.
You guys are a bad influence, and I appreciate it. :D
Phil
