Shoot or not..........

[Hawgleg44]

I'm buying a NIB, 2 digit SN Ruger Blackhawk in .30 Carbine tomorrow. It even has the original shipping box that it was sent it. Not even a turn mark on the cylinder. Factory oil all over it still, too.

I'm not a collector at all. I'm a fan of the .30 Carbine in my USGI M1 Carbines and have shot a Blackhawk in that caliber before and figured I needed one to go along with them. A friend of mine offered me this one out of his collection.

So, am I doing a big disservice to a collector's grade Ruger Blackhawk by shooting it, or is there not much of a demand for a it? Is there really any added value to it by being such an early gun, NIB, with the original USPS shipping box, too?

I'm really a shooter and want to shoot it, but if it's really a desired collector's item, I don't want to ruin that.

Help me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Sugar River]

Sell it to a collector. Then you can buy a shooter grade and have significant money left over.


Pete

 

[mindustrial]

So what's the value of a 2 digit unfired? $500, $600? And what a 95% .30 in MA going for/ how easy are they to find. What's it worth to you to have a brand new gun in hand, versus go hunt down another buyer and seller.

Won't hurt my feelings if you shoot it. It's only (your) money.

 

[Hawgleg44]

So what's the value of a 2 digit unfired? $500, $600? And what a 95% .30 in MA going for/ how easy are they to find. What's it worth to you to have a brand new gun in hand, versus go hunt down another buyer and seller.

Won't hurt my feelings if you shoot it. It's only (your) money.

The good thing is that the .30 Carbine Blackhawk is MA "Compliant", so we can buy new ones here. It's not a rare, hard to find handgun like some are here. Also, I live in the "free" part of MA (Western MA), where gunshop owners don't price gouge you every time you do a transfer. The guys out in E. MA have it rough.

 

[protoolman]

It isn't gold plated, shoot it and enjoy it. Just keep it nice and put away the box and accessories. You may lose a bit of value if you ever sell it but not that much and you will have the vaalue of years of enjoyment.

 

[44shootist]

It isn't gold plated, shoot it and enjoy it. Just keep it nice and put away the box and accessories. You may lose a bit of value if you ever sell it but not that much and you will have the vaalue of years of enjoyment.

+1 shot it, enjoy it, forget that collector value crap, whats your enjoyment of shooting it worth? priceless!

 

[Wyandot Jim]

Well my 3 cents worth.
You can buy a nice 3 screw 30 for $350-400. You know how much you paid for yours. So do a little research on what it would sell for.
Since there are only 90 of a 2 digit guns out there and how many with all the stuff you say. I don't have a clue what it's worth.
Me I wouldn't shoot it if I could make a few $$$$$ on it.
Jim

 

[BlkHawk73]

If you simply want a .30 carbine shooter, let this pristine 2-digit stay that way. Better to let it be as it is and bring a to a collector's face so that you can have NM, or most any other OM, in the same chambering, money left over and a yourself.

 

[jeffnles1]

You could always just send it to my FFL dealer. I'd be happy to take it off your hands.

Seriously, if you can sell it to a collector and make a couple dollars, do that and buy an new (or newer) Blackhawk 30 carbine to shoot.

Otherwise, shoot the snot out of it and enjoy.

I have a 30 carbine blackhawk and it's a fine shooting revolver and just a ton of fun to take to the range and shoot.

Jeff

 

[Wyandot Jim]

Oh Yea We could work out a trade :wink:
Need any ammo to go with it :roll:

 

[jeffnles1]

Oh Yea We could work out a trade :wink:
Need any ammo to go with it :roll:

I have pretty much the same setup except mine is not an OM Blackhawk. I even have a couple M1 Carbine magazines that are wrapped in the cosmo coated paper to go with the carbine.

Carbs are just a ton of fun to shoot.

Jeff

 

[TiteGroups]

Post it here for a trade, it wont shoot any better than a used one and you'd just be throwing money away.

 

[OldRugerMan]

I assume you have a two digit Old Model and not a New Model. Pics would help alot. Take a look in the Auction Link department at the BH 2 digit 30 advertised on GB. His price is about $400 too high imho but it will give you an idea of value. If its a New Model just shoot and enjoy. Old Model? you might want to check your options.

 

[buckshot]

+1 shot it, enjoy it, forget that collector value crap, whats your enjoyment of shooting it worth? priceless!

I agree 100%.....Guns were made to shoot.

 

[Hawgleg44]

Oh Yea We could work out a trade :wink:
Need any ammo to go with it :roll:

I have pretty much the same setup except mine is not an OM Blackhawk. I even have a couple M1 Carbine magazines that are wrapped in the cosmo coated paper to go with the carbine.

Carbs are just a ton of fun to shoot.

Jeff

I'll post some pics tomorrow when I pick it up.

Yeah, I have a few setups like that. My QH Carbine has all the old features and is in a repro Paratrooper stock. My Inland has an adjustable rear sight, bayonet lug and is in an older, non-potbelly stock. About 20 years ago I picked up a lot of the M1 Carbine mags that Northridge had still wrapped in the cosmoline paper. I probably have 20 of them still wrapped up and 10 or so of them unwrapped so I can use them. I never had much luck with the 30 round USGI mags.

My Dillon 550B has been cranking out .30 Carbine reloads for the past few nights. I'm out of jacketed bullets now so I'm going to tap into my gas checked cast bullets. My QH M1 Carbine is just as accurate with those as it is with jacketed bullets. I hope I have the same results with whatever .30 Carbine Blackhawk I end up shooting, whether it's this one or a used one after this one is living in a collector's safe.

 

[Wyandot Jim]

I hope I have the same results with whatever .30 Carbine Blackhawk I end up shooting, whether it's this one or a used one after this one is living in a collector's safe.

IMHO GOOD choice

 

[rugerguy]

yessir, it is a 'crap shoot" and it all depends on how much are YOU gonna have to pay for it?? if he's a collector, then he';ll know what its worth, so keep it "as is" and put it with your 'favorite' M-1 as a top notch "collectible", there are only, what is it, 90 2 digit guns??
or as said above, they were made to be shot, just don't ride it hard and put it away wet, BUT you KNOW something is gonna happen to its finish in one way or another......................as often said here, if the chance comes, take it, keep it and buy another one as a "shooter" they are pretty easy to find and come across and at fairly decent prices, ......yes even other 'old models; if that floats your boat....nice situation to be in my opinion...EXCEPT for knowing the price, that would be the deal breaker...PUCKER FACTOR :roll:

 

[Hawgleg44]

yessir, it is a 'crap shoot" and it all depends on how much are YOU gonna have to pay for it?? if he's a collector, then he';ll know what its worth, so keep it "as is" and put it with your 'favorite' M-1 as a top notch "collectible", there are only, what is it, 90 2 digit guns??
or as said above, they were made to be shot, just don't ride it hard and put it away wet, BUT you KNOW something is gonna happen to its finish in one way or another......................as often said here, if the chance comes, take it, keep it and buy another one as a "shooter" they are pretty easy to find and come across and at fairly decent prices, ......yes even other 'old models; if that floats your boat....nice situation to be in my opinion...EXCEPT for knowing the price, that would be the deal breaker...PUCKER FACTOR :roll:

He owes me a favor, so I'm not paying collector price for it at all.

 

[contender]

If it's an Old Model, and in LNIB condition, the collectors try & try to find examples like this.
Yes, it's your gun, but you will lower the value of that package by shooting it & allowing wear on it. Even just a little bit.
Personally I'd love to see the OM 2 digits stay pristene to be admired as excellent examples of what Ruger used to build.

 

[Hondo44]

Just post a trade for a used one right here on this forum in the classified area; it'll cost you nothing.

You'll know immediately on the offers you get, how much difference in cash that you'll be throwing down the sewer by pulling the trigger on it. If there's not enough difference in cash on a trade for a used one, then keep and shoot it.

 

[mattsbox99]

"Collector value crap..." I can't believe dipshits are allowed to post that.

Just recently a Hawkeye that sold for $78.50 new sold for $3894... and it wasn't a 2 digit.

Obviously your gun isn't a Hawkeye, but its not like they make 2 digit OMs anymore.

Keep yours tucked away and pick up a shooter.

 

[Quattroclick]

Just a note on prices for old model 30 Carbines. For the last month or so I was looking for a 4 digit shooter. On GunBroker, two nice guns with no box or papers sold for right around $630 each. I would expect a new in the box 2 digit to be worth at the very least a $300 premium to someone. Probably more.

 

[flatgate]

Well, here's what I'd do.

Post the serial number so we collectors can be informed as to what has "surfaced".

Be prepared to receive multiple offers of $ and/or similar valued merchandise.

I would certainly believe that keeping the gun pristine is the way to go.

I don't have a "two digit" s/n .30 Carbine in my collection, but I have "as close and one can get" example.....

flatgate

 

[rugerguy]

Hey one of the '899' 3 digit guns.......nice one, I sold my #51x last year for $450 to a "friend"......

yessir, flatgate hit it on the head, you post or picture the gun and it's serial number, and just sit back and see what happens....yep, you should end up with a bunch of money AND a NICE shooter, BUT , then what would your friend 'think', hell he could do the same thing...........don't burn ANY bridges, a friendship is far MORE valuable than a pocketfull of spending cash,which will be gone....soon :wink: Me, Don & Bill have been wheeling, dealing, trading ,back and forth, nobody keeping score, and often little or NO money paid,...........

My final .02 cents worth :roll:

 

[Rclark]

Just a hunk of metal guys . My motto is "Every gun I buy, will be shot". I don't believe Sturm & Ruger ever meant their guns to gather dust, but to be used, and used, but not abused until they are finally shot out. I 'admire' how they shoot, not admire them behind a piece of glass or hung on a wall. Just one man's opinion.

 

[Hawgleg44]

OK, this thread is pretty much all for nothing. It's not an Old Model like he originally said it was and there is a slight turn line on it. Still unfired, but not NIB, either.

It's a 2 digit serial number, but a New Model 2 digit SN.

looks like I have a good shooter after all, which is what I was looking for anyway.

 

[CraigC]

"Collector value crap..." I can't believe dipshits are allowed to post that.

I must be a dipshit too because if I can't do what I want for significantly less money, I'd shoot a collectible any day of the week. If I found a 1st generation Colt SAA that I could buy for $500 and sell for $2000, that might be a little different. I'd sell it and buy an engraved USFA Pre-War. I wouldn't go to too much trouble offloading a collectible Ruger and than finding a suitable replacement to save $200. Especially when an equally nice "shooter-grade" sixgun cannot be easily procured. Nice guns shouldn't be reserved for self-righteous collectors who think their purposes are somehow more noble. :roll:

 

[Tommy Kelly]

Well I have been a gun trader most of my life and a gun nut all my life. If it were me I would get the carbine and put it up and go out and buy a new 30 carbine to use and enjoy. A gun is worth whatever you can get for it. You could run some pictures on the classified's here and see what kind of offers you get or just sit on it for a while. I have played all these games and had some really rare guns in the past I have had consecutive # guns and all that. A early # gun is a good thing but if your gun serial # is 99 there are 98 that are worth more in the same condition. Personally I don't own safe queens if I have a gun I shoot it. Come to think of it I don't even own a safe. To the right collector your gun is a rare find but finding that guy is like finding a needle in a haystack. I have 2 shooter 30 carbine rugers one I bought brand new and wanted to have a 4 5/8" but ruger didn't offer it so I cut the barrel and made what I wanted. Then a while back I found another 30 carbine blackhawk and bought it. I haven't gotten around to having it cut yet but I plan on getting it setup just like the other one. I prefer the short barrel and love shooting my cutdown one. So I will do the same with the other one. The one I cutdown looks almost perfect with no wear at all the other one is about a 75% gun with wear and blueing loss. I buy my guns to use and enjoy.

 

[mattsbox99]

"Collector value crap..." I can't believe dipshits are allowed to post that.

I must be a dipshit too because if I can't do what I want for significantly less money, I'd shoot a collectible any day of the week. If I found a 1st generation Colt SAA that I could buy for $500 and sell for $2000, that might be a little different. I'd sell it and buy an engraved USFA Pre-War. I wouldn't go to too much trouble offloading a collectible Ruger and than finding a suitable replacement to save $200. Especially when an equally nice "shooter-grade" sixgun cannot be easily procured. Nice guns shouldn't be reserved for self-righteous collectors who think their purposes are somehow more noble. :roll:

Yep, I'd say you qualify.

On the other hand, you make my collection more valuable. I have lots of guns to shoot, so I don't need to shoot the collectibles. I have a friend that collects WWI era 1911s. Since none of them are unfired, he always shoots one magazine full through each gun he gets. Obviously he is very careful when doing so.

 

[CraigC]

Thanks for clearing that up. I didn't realize that I had just fallen off the turnip truck or that buying a gun and shooting it made one a "dipshit". I'm just glad I really don't care how self-righteous blowhards feel about what I do with my money or my property. How about you do what you want with yours and I'll do what I want with mine? I won't judge folks who buy guns and put them on a shelf if you 'try' to show the same respect to those who choose to actually shoot them. :roll: