Ruger Dilemma

[Dave T]

Despite owning and shooting a long list of Ruger Single Action & Double Action revolvers, plus a number of No1s and 77s in years gone by, I was out of the Ruger business until a couple weeks ago. I discovered Ruger had made the one Blackhawk I always wanted, a 44 Special. Got one of the 5-1/2" versions and was pleased with it and myself...until I started working the action. I'm old enough to have been in the 3-screw era and all my SAs were of that model. My favorites were the Flat-tops of which I owned quite a few, both 44s and 357s. This New Model 44 Special re-kindled my love of the Flat-top but I just can't warm up to the New Model's action.

The "Dilemma" is...have you seen the prices on Old Models, let alone Flat-tops? Good heavens! If I still had all those long gone guns I would have a retirement nest egg that would put my current savings to shame (LOL).

Ah, the things we do to re-capture our youth. (smiley face goes here)

Dave

 

[contender]

Dave, Welcome to the Forum!
We all have some form of seller remorse as there are plenty of guns I wish I'd kept. That's why I made a promise to myself several years ago. I will not sell any Ruger that I bought for myself. Guess who has several Rugers now,,,???

 

[flatgate]

Yup, we all have those "I wish I'd not sold that one" stories.....

Once one gets familiar with the New Model Lockwork and learns how to "detail and tune" the workings then it becomes a lot more "user friendly"....

JMHO,

flatgate

PS One can easily add a smilie to the post. Just look for the "Add Smilies" pop up link!

 

[29 Wheelgunner]

Welcome to the group Dave.
As you see, most of us have let one or two pass through our hands at sometime in our lives.
What gets me is that once a favorite is passed on, I will find myself looking for another. Now that I'm older, I do my best to not repeat a mistake.

 

[Sonnytoo]

A situation that I was in many yrs ago involved me with no money and several mouths to feed. Guess what? All of my guns got sold.
End result. Not too long thereafter, I was broke again...and no guns.
I suppose that this is realism, but a fellow needs to say..."Sure, I guess I'll have to sell my guns, but...I'm going to keep just this one...and this one...
Sonnytoo

 

[rugerguy]

Dave, and thats why I don't "collect " them...I find 'em and pass 'em along to other collectors, and not many get out of here in Ohio if we can get 'em....and yes, for the most part, they come to us, and I have learned to never say "no"............a couple of phone calls and they get 'adopted'.... :wink:

 

[Dave T]

PS One can easily add a smilie to the post. Just look for the "Add Smilies" pop up link!

flatgate, I know that. Trouble is I've always hated that silly smiley face but the sentiment behind it is useful. Just my way of poking a little fun and sticking up for us computer illiterates. (smile)

Also, I knew there would be lots of others with the same kind of "I should never have sold it" stories. Just joining the crowd.

Dave

 

[tulsamal]

flatgate, I know that. Trouble is I've always hated that silly smiley face but the sentiment behind it is useful. Just my way of poking a little fun and sticking up for us computer illiterates. (smile)

That's a sentiment I can understand. I've been posting on computer boards since 1985 and _somehow_ I've managed to limp along without ever including one of those little animated faces/icons that are everywhere now. I figure that Hemingway managed to write a lot of without them so the rest of us should be able to do so as well!

Gregg

 

[Dave T]

This is getting expensive! I have a FT 44 on the way and just found a 357 to put on layaway in a local shop. And, I still haven't found a buyer for that NM 44 Special. (LOL)

Dave

 

[Dale53]

DaveT;
Bite your tongue :lol:

I can't IMAGINE anyone wanting to sell their .44 Lipsey Special. I had to wait several months for mine as I heard about them a bit late. I ordered mine in May and it was delivered in July.

The throats on mine are correctly sized and the chambers and throats are SMOOOOOTH. I did a little trigger work and I REALLY appreciate the new pawl. It is MUCH more user friendly than the original Black Hawks.

I also got a new 50th Anniversary Flattop .44 Magnum (what a deal! :lol: ) and both of them are excellent examples of what Rugers SHOULD be.

A week or so ago I got a new Ruger SS Bisley .45 Colt/.45 ACP convertible. Much to my surprise, it has the old pawl in it (not near as user friendly as the new flat tops are). Further, the cylinder thoats are undersize and will require reaming the throats. Oh well...another "do it yourself, Ruger"...

FWIW
Dale53

 

[Dave T]

Dale,

I'm such an old geezer I don't even know what you mean by "new pawl". Heck, I didn't know they had an "old pawl" - LOL.

If I can't find someone locally to buy this 44 Special maybe I'll have to shoot it and get used to the New Models. For now I'm counting my luck in finding both a 44 and a 357 Flat-top 3-screw Blackhawks.

Dave

 

[smoke-eater]

Ah, the things we do to re-capture our youth. (smiley face goes here)

Dave[/quote]

Dave, I know exactly what you mean. My first Ruger was a M77 'tang safety' model in .270, with a 2-7X Leupold, that I bought new when I was in college, in 1978. Foolishly sold it when I was getting married a couple of years later. I've owned other rifles since then, but always longed for my little Ruger. Finally bought its twin this year from a fellow Rugerforum member, and mounted the same model scope on it (also purchased from a fellow forum member). It does rekindle warm memories from long ago.

Welcome to our "lil' family" here, Dave.
Jeff

 

[Dave T]

My first Ruger was a M77 'tang safety' model in .270, with a 2-7X Leupold, that I bought new when I was in college, in 1978.

Jeff,

Can you believe, I bought the exact same gun, and put the same scope on it, the first year the M77 was available (can't remember what year that was now). LOL - guess the old saying about it being a small world is not just a song title.

And, you handle makes me think you might be a firefighter. I spent 5 years as an arson investigator with the Sheriff's Department. Worked with a bunch of firemen back then. They were good people.

Dave

 

[smoke-eater]

DaveT, PM sent.

Jeff