Need some 357 Maximum education

[Dbl Auto]

A friend just picked up a very clean 357 maximum with a 10.5" bbl. It had a serial number of 600-036??ish. The blue on the gun was fantastic but had a drag line on the cylinder. It had adj. sights. According to the Ruger website, it looks like this one was made sometime during 1983. It had only a hint of a mark on the top strap where some get cut from use. The only other one I have seen was at Jaquas Fine guns and it was rough at $500. I would love to hear some facts, values, and info on this unique Ruger handgun. I have heard that about 9,000 to 11,000 were made.
Doug

 

[HerrMesser]

I had heard some years ago that there was only around 5000 of them made. I own a 10.5" that is in the 03700 range.

You must be somewhere within range of Findley to have visited Jaquas. I am about 35 mile south of there.

Rad

 

[HAWKEYE#28]

Found a mint unfired fully packaged Max last month, 10 1/2", in the 5xxx range. Nice gun! 8)

 

[Coogs]

Highest produced number 600-16314........highest number found out there so far, 600-11445 (if ya got one higher...........PLEASE let me know!)Less than 12,000 shipped. Where are the others????? I'll never tell! A good solid "beater" I would say starts at $500.00 or so, NIB, $750-850.00 seems to be the going rate..........every now and again I do find one at $700.00. More interesting to know would be how many have been altered by 'smithy's out there. Original ones probably number less than 8000. If ya shoot it, big bullets, 180, 200 grs, slow powders, 4227 is a good one. Top strap cutting will progress until 1000-2000 rds, then just seem to stop. I've seen model 19 smiths with more cut than a well shot Max!...............Hope this helps, Coogs..

 

[flatgate]

The blue on the gun was fantastic but had a drag line on the cylinder.
Doug

ALL New Model Rugers are DESIGNED to make a "Drag Line" on the cylinder.
Cock the hammer and then gently let it down six times and you have a "ringed cylinder".

IMHO, that was just about the ONLY "faux pas" that Ruger ever did.....

flatgate

 

[HAWKEYE#28]

Highest produced number 600-16314........highest number found out there so far, 600-11445 (if ya got one higher...........PLEASE let me know!)Less than 12,000 shipped. Where are the others????? I'll never tell! A good solid "beater" I would say starts at $500.00 or so, NIB, $750-850.00 seems to be the going rate..........every now and again I do find one at $700.00. More interesting to know would be how many have been altered by 'smithy's out there. Original ones probably number less than 8000. If ya shoot it, big bullets, 180, 200 grs, slow powders, 4227 is a good one. Top strap cutting will progress until 1000-2000 rds, then just seem to stop. I've seen model 19 smiths with more cut than a well shot Max!...............Hope this helps, Coogs..

Yes, it/this data is indeed helpful and I Thank You for providing it! I wonder quietly just how many the Factory still has, sitting next to the pallet of XGI's.... 8) :wink: