pawn shops and ugly ducklings...

[Joe S.]

went back to look at that sheriff's model today and still couldnt bring myself to pull the trigger... sigh...

but its all good...

one will turn up.

to console myself on my way home i started to stop at a pawn shop that is right off the interstate, but decided not to because i needed to get on home because we had company coming over...

so to the house we went.

well while company was here, a buddy called me.

"hey man, lemme call you back we have company." i say...

"cool man, but lemme tell you why i was calling so i dont forget. there is a 3 screw 357 at the pawn shop right off the interstate you may be interested in." he says....

great... this is the SAME pawn shop i WASNT gonna go to today...

so now, i am itching for company to leave (not really)... soon as they leave, i kiss the wife and follow them out. i get there, walk up to the counter and there it is... man, it is rough... man it has some butt ugly grips on it! plastic stags... ugh! why would anyone... this is all going through my head.

may i see the blackhawk, i ask the guy at the counter. so he hands it to me...

BIIIIIGGGG MISTAKE for me to put my hands on that thing...

first thing i notice is it is definately a 3 screw, but it is also a flat top! a PLUS!

the metal has some pits, but isnt TERRIBLE, finish is almost non existant on one side.

the grips have mass to them. are these real stags? they are loose. i grab a screwdriver and off comes the grips. they seem real... the little nut thing is stripped out tho.

the bore is SUPER CLEAN! PLUS!

the action is tight and smooth! PLUS!

so anyway, i fill out the 4473 and out the door i go.

i now have this rough Blackhawk with what seems to be some real stags that are butt ugly... (im a wood guy).

I get it home and tear it apart and clean it up. polish on the barrel a little bit and put some cold blue on it til i can figure out what i am gonna do with it. i think it has ridden under the seat of the truck most of its life. it is rough, but mainly on one side. the frame is boogered up pretty bad tho. i think it got dropped along the way.

but i am proud to have it. i saved it from a possible bad fate.

15xxx serial puts it around 1958 according to Ruger.com.

what yall think? ever seen such ugly grips? ;D

did they make 3 screw birds heads? that would be sweet!

 

[Ale-8(1)]

If ya got it for the right money it's a heckuva project gun. I like it.

Can't quite make out the serial number . . . care to share it with us?

 

[Joe S.]

think it is 15981

 

[Ale-8(1)]

That's what it looked like to me, too. Thanks.

Guns in that serial number range on Bob's List shipped in mid-1958.

Another Ruger rescue. Ya done good!

 

[Joe S.]

good deal! i think so too... gonna lose these grips tho...

wonder what they would bring? someone told me a couple hundred bucks???

 

[Ale-8(1)]

All I know about stags is they seem to bring more money than you'd think.

I'm sure you'll hear from somebdy before too long.

 

[Cholo]

What you found is a "Buffalo Woman". I guess you had to see the movie Death Hunt with Charles Bronson. She may not look like much, but she'll keep you warm all night :wink: Nice rescue!

 

[Snake45]

I'd love to own that thing. I love solid guns with "character."

And I'm not even a particular SA fan! :wink:

 

[Joe S.]

[

What you found is a "Buffalo Woman". I guess you had to see the movie Death Hunt with Charles Bronson. She may not look like much, but she'll keep you warm all night :wink: Nice rescue!

i like that!

 

[GasGuzzler]

I like it. A different grip frame would help the appearance some. It's old. The stags are gross to me but someone else will give at least $100 for them I'd bet.

 

[contender]

Nice snag of a good shooter grade Flattop. I'd clean it up, maybe have it re-blued & get a good set of stocks on it.

 

[Joe S.]

i have a friend who has access to cut up old government siezed and destroyed gun parts. he is gonna bring me some barrels and stuff to play with. i think i am gonna try my hand at rust bluing. if i can figure that out, this blackhawk will get the treatment. that is a big if tho! lol

 

[Chuck 100 yd]

Cool, I would love to have it! :wink:

 

[Hondo44]

Hi Joe,

Cooll find! Definitely worth some restoration. And I don't see any damage that can't be sanded/polished out and reblued. You can adapt BH grips very easily.

The grips are genuine India Sambar Stag and just need some restoration. Some fine sanding and shaping and then buffed with white rough. They would then be worth $250 - $300. These looked similar to yours when I found them:

 

[Joe S.]

Hey whats your address Hondo? I will send you the grips and some rouge! Lol

If mine looked like that id hold onto em probably! Ha

Is it common for the two sides not to match tho?

 

[Joe S.]

I have started working on the grip frame on the side but i cant file a straight line to save my life.

I have gotten most of the gouge out and it is smoothed but there is a lot of meat missing...

 

[Joe S.]

Wonder if Ruger will reblue it. I would send them just the frame and barrel. No guts if i did it...

 

[Hondo44]

Hi Joe,

If you want to send to me, I'll be happy to spruce them up. Just PM me.

Since they are a natural product they seldom match but most match a little better. The natural dark color from the velvet on the right grip has been worn off. But that can be improved.

 

[Joe S.]

Pm sent

 

[Tradhunter]

Nice find! Good luck with the restore. Please post pics when done.

 

[stantheman86]

That Blackhawk could be a Vietnam veteran, lots of Blackhawks were privately purchased or mailed over and carried by grunts, pilots, and anyone else who wanted some backup. It's a longshot but the timeframe is right, for a family member to have bought it used or already owned it and sent it to someone in Vietnam.

Either way, I own Rugers much rougher than that that Blackhawk would be a safe queen in my collection

 

[Joe S.]

Man that would be cool. Wonder if there is a way to find out...

 

[Ale-8(1)]

A "letter" from The Factory would give you the ship date . . . that might help.

 

[luedersj]

I am a great believer in the saying, "If you think something, probably lots of other people do too, but just don't say anything." So here goes. What's the problem with the grips, Ivory and bone change color, and generally the older (yellower) looking the better. I know it's just a matter of taste, but am I alone on this.

 

[Joe S.]

Probably not alone... But im sure not a fan. Ha.

 

[Colonel Daddy]

Love the Stag! Will sure be glad when some of mine start to show such a nice patina!

 

[Joe S.]

Well yall may not like em how they look now. Lol

Gonna post pocs when they make it back from the west coast.

 

[Joe S.]

Man how awesome! Hondo44 really hooked me up! Thanks man!

Here is my stripped gun with the panels laid on top. Cant wait for the Ruger call tag to make it so i can get this thing sent back in for a factory refinish.

Before Hondo44:

After Hondo44:

 

[GasGuzzler]

Stripped huh? He is very helpful.

 

[Joe S.]

Hes a great guy. Yea stripped. No hammer or trigger.