Mystery Ruger???

[Eddy'sShootingSports]

Is this a mystery Ruger? I just received this from a customer that said he bought it at a gun show in 1967. It is very unusual and I am hoping some folks here might be able to help me identify exactly what it is. Here are my observations:

"looks" like a Ruger Blackhawk
.44 Special
4 5/8" barrel
solid rib
pinned on front sight ramp
three screws like an old model Ruger, but screwed in from the left and the holes do not go through
no screw heads on action screws
no transfer bar
looks like a Ruger rear sight
two piece grip frame like an SAA
ejector rod housing soldered to barrel
pronounced cylinder pin latch with checkered face
recessed crown
Bisley style hammer
pronounce step on top of receiver with very sharp corners
no markings except "07" serial number on bottom of frame (like SAA) and an "8" on hte face of the cylinder

It looks like some sort of prototype or one off custom piece. It is very well machined and seems tight except for bad timing and the grips are funky.

Can anyone help me solve this mystery???

 

[No-1]

Chinese knock off? Norinco copied all the good guns.

 

[Jim Puke]

You got me....although, I would almost guarantee that it is imported.

That top strap is VERY unique...

 

[Poco Oso]

Does that have any B/C gap at all? That cylinder looks real close. I'd say knockoff also.

 

[Eddy'sShootingSports]

No import marks. No other markings. Doesn't have that "Chinese" look and feel.

I'm thinking domestic "one off", but who knows...

 

[Jim Puke]

No import marks. No other markings. Doesn't have that "Chinese" look and feel.

I'm thinking domestic "one off", but who knows...

Describe that ""Chinese" look and feel"...never had the pleasure of handling a Chinese single action.

 

[eric conrad]

What's with the trigger guard?? Does it have a serial #?
Eric

 

[mic214]

It kind of looks similar to a Mossberg "Abilene" single action:

http://www.sixguns.com/BookOfThe44/bot44c29.htm

 

[Hondo44]

Welcome to the forum.


Looks like the 7th built of a custom made, very low production gun using some Ruger parts. Grip frame in an XR3, pre 1963 Colt size. In the 50 years that customers wanted 44 Spls on a mid frame and Ruger was asleep, gunsmiths made many things to fill the need. In this country and Europe.

More info needed:

Same size as large or mid size Ruger?
Four clicks when the hammer is cocked?
Photo of hammer cocked and with grips off?
Alloy alum grip frame or steel?
Is rib one piece with barrel or also soldered on?

 

[Eddy'sShootingSports]

Good questions.

I think it was four clicks.
Steel frame.
Rib soldered on barrel.

I will compare frame tomorrow, but it was very close to a regular Blackhawk in size.

More tomorrow when the gun is in front of me...,

 

[k22fan]

I don’t have a clue what it is but if the customer’s story about buying it in 1967 is correct you can rule out a couple of the previous suggestions. Albline was just a name Mossberg applied to revolvers assembled out of parts they acquired form one of the companies that could not stay in business making single actions of the U.S. Firearms/El Dorado/Seville design. The first of those did not exist in 1967. That early date also rules out Chinese manufacture because the U.S. and China were not trading partners before Nixon’s historic visit in 1972.


It being an Albline can also be ruled out by design differences. Unlike the mystery revolver Alblines are “two screw” single actions, their base pins are retained by a screw through the front of the frame and except for round trigger guards their grip frames copied the Super Blackhawk.

 

[rugerguy]

without taking measurements ( comparing) to the actual Ruger frames, except for the 3 screws the rest doesn't "jive" or appear "Ruger", short rear (recoil shield) lack of hole for the cylinder pin latch on the left side, too thick ( heavy) top strap ,ears near the rear sight,obviously the solid ribbed barrel...easy enough to refinish ,remove, any and all markings, BUT the real DUMB move is the 'hex head' bolt holding the grip panels together........pull the grips look for other markings, to me it is NOT "ruger".................look up all the various Hy Hunters, Saur & Sons, and on and on and on....

 

[s4s4u]

NOT a Ruger

 

[19ontheslide]

OP states (and shows) that it has a 2-piece grip frame. I don't think that would be an XR3.

 

[Ale-8(1)]

Dunno what it is, but it's certainly interesting. Nice pics.

How 'bout a couple of pics with it side-by-side with an Old Model 4-5/8" Blackhawk?

:)

 

[Eddy'sShootingSports]

After looking at the six guns.com article linked above, I see a strong resemblance to the Mikkenger Grizzly. I wonder if this might be one of their early pieces? The sight wings and solid rib are very similar. Differences are that the piece I have does not have the screwless frame with removeable side plate, but that could have been a later development.

I mess with it so,e more today at the shop if I have time.

Until then....

 

[Hondo44]

OP states (and shows) that it has a 2-piece grip frame. I don't think that would be an XR3.

You're right, I didn't either; "Grip frame is an XR3, pre 1963 Colt size." Emphasis on the word SIZE, not a Ruger XR3.

 

[chet15]

I'd be worried about putting any rounds through it until a rockwell hardness test was done.
Chet15