Ruger history, facts

[bigbill]

Back when the s&w m29 was being sold on the black market and over priced during the Dirty Harry movies I sent colt and ruger letters (was no internet) about making a revolver in 44 mag. I told colt to blow up a python size wise and ruger to super size a security six. Colt answered me that they had no intentions of offering a revolver in 44 mag. Ruger answered me that they have intentions of offering a double action revolver in 44 mag. Soon after the Redhawk was offered. I been enjoying my RedHawks ever since ruger offered them. So much for colt lagging behind bringing up the rear. Lol

I’m a ruger guy first and always.

 

[TRanger]

Colt has made a lot of bad decisions. It’s unfortunate they didn’t see fit to get in the .44 Magnum game until it was too late.

 

[Rook]

They could have sold Colt Pythons in 44 Mag. like pancakes had they made them during the Dirty Harry days.

 

[loaded round]

I do remember that Colt did come out with the Anaconda in 44 Mag around 1990 and made for 5 or 6 years if my memory serves me correctly. It was a Python look alike on the outside but different lockwork inside. I always wanted one, but couldn't afford one back in those days.

 

[gramps]

I still can’t afford a Colt! Just like I can’t afford a FA anything! There are others who can and do. Nice that we have choices.
gramps

 

[gunzo]

The model 29 (pre Dirty Harry) didn't sell all that well & was not heavily produced. Then first, the gun control act of 1968 started the scarcity of Smith & Wessons across the model line. During this confusion, in 1971 the DH movie came out & caused the demand for the 29 to sky rocket, as if it wasn't scarce enough already.
S&W upped production several times till 24-7 was about all they could do. By 1974 when I jumped into gun buying, a 44 mag Smith was $500 if or when you could find one, almost double S&W's retail price. They were allocated to dealers with the highest sales numbers. Ruger Super Blackhawks were no less than retail plus tax "when" they were found. This would be about $200 total & was what got me started in the 45 Colt business. One of those on a standard BH could be bought below retail, appox. 125-135 tax incl. So, about a weeks pay difference between the street price of a big bore BH & a SBH that housed the magical 44. A lot of .41 BH's were sold due to these price differences as well.
No doubt all this got Rugers attention, & if they hadn't been designing already, they started. In 1980 I sold the first Redhawk to hit my small town for $500 including tax. Thinking the retail on those were still about the $300 mark or just a bit more, but not sure. Demand for a double action 44 was still that high.
Ruger must have been ready with plenty RH's in stock before they started shipping or supplies of Smiths, along with the Ruger soon met demand & prices started going down, quickly. Things went to normal after that & mostly stayed that way, no more double priced guns, well,,,, unless you count in Colt who had their head up their - - - for over a decade & decided they would build a 44. Typical, a day late & dollars high............. Colt.
High Standard advertised a nice looking 44 double action called Crusader. Some were built as I've seen a few for sale, but not many, & the market had gotten saturated anyway. Production didn't go far.

And now we can get pretty much what we want when we want it for nearly wholesale prices. Ahh, the numerous 44's I've owned, some used for hunting or back up, others? Probably from the allure & scarcity of the things from the earlier days.

 

[Paul B]

I got to shoot a Colt Anaconda. That is one sweet piece of handgun. The only problem for my is it's a very large gun and my hands are too small to shoot it double action. Single action works just fine. FWIW, I have the same problem with the Python. My Smith 629 is OK though. Redhawks? I have two, a 5.5" and 7.5". Those things need wheels. :lol: Again, they're just a bit too large for my small hands. No problem with the Blackhawks whether Regular or Bisley. Always was a single action loonie anyway. :roll:
Paul B.

 

[mohavesam]

Bought an Anaconda when they first came out. It was a four incher and as I recall was under $400 at the time. I liked it a bunch but it wasn't ccurateenough for hunting, so I bought a six inch. That one was sweet, and shot as well as I could.

About as accurate as my best 686-2 six inch if I recall correctly. I still have both but haven't fired the 4" Anaconda in 30 years! Fine guns, but not the most accurate 44M I've ever owned. One drawback(at the time) was that the only grips available were factory rubber and near-identical Pachmayr grippers.

Today of course Colt's revolvers have ridiculous pricing, mostly due I think, to speculators who don't even shoot!

 

[RSIno1]

44mag hit my bucket list with the Dirty Harry movie too. In 1976 my wife bought me a Super Blackhawk for our 5th anniversary. Still have it today and have probably put less than 100 rounds through it. Why? Because shortly after I got it I got one with a split cylinder thrown in on a car trade from a guy at work. He didn't think it could be fixed. I sent it off to Ruger and they sent it back with a new cylinder for free. I sold that one a couple years ago for $350. I have a guy at work I keep begging to sell me his 8 3/8" 29-1 in the wood box. 29s must have been scarce when they shot Dirty Harry because it's said they used the 6incher because they couldn't find an 8 3/8.