stainless Super Blackhawk .44, 10 1/2"

[Doc Mark]

Greetings, All,

I posted this in another thread about my new Bisley .41, and thought it might work better if I copied it into a new thread, to stand alone. Here goes:

Along those lines, the FFL has what looks like a nice Ruger Super Blackhawk, New Model, "Long Tom", with a 10 1/2" barrel, also in stainless. This is a used firearm, but seems to be in good condition. It has some interesting grips, that look like simulated "ivory" Lett models, but they have an insert of what appears to be rosewood, as a shim, right next to the gripframe. These have a small crack, unfortunately, but otherwise look nice. The FFL's asking price is $450. This seems a tad high to me. What to you all think? I've never owned one of those, but this one looks nice to me. Back when I was a youngster, I shot an Old Model Super, out in the desert, that belonged to a friend of mine. He had failed to tell me that his loads were CHOCK filled with 2400 and that the gun would kick like a mule!!! Upon firing it, the gun swiveled up in my hand, digging the hammer spur deeply into the web between thumb and forefinger!! Yeah, I was bleeding, and wanted NO more of this gun!!! Fast forward to now, and I have guns that are far more powerful than that one, and have learned how to properly hold and shoot them, to keep from bleeding anymore!! Cool Laughing Laughing

So, now, I'd like to own a Super BH of my own, and this one seems to be calling my name. The only other thing I can find that seems a bit odd, is that the ejector rod housing seems a bit loose to me. Might be as simple as tightening the screw, but I'll have to check that out and see.

So, is it worth buying a gun like that, for the price asked? OR, should I dicker a bit on the price? Any problems with those Super BH's, of which I need to be aware? I'm thinking $400 would be a good price for something like that. Thanks, for any and all comments, thoughts, suggestions, and advice, you wish to share with me. IF this gun comes to hand, it will be the FOURTH Ruger I've bought since I joined this forum!! You are all a very bad influence!!! (But, I thank you, very much, for that!!) Take care, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc

 

[flatgate]

Doc,

Those stainless 10-1/2" Super Blackhawks were first introduced with a standard "taper" to the barrel. The Silhouette shooters squeeked about wanting a "bull" (non-tapered) barrel. Ruger listened and soon thereafter introduced a heavy barreled version.

So, if the gun has a tapered barrel it's rather scarce and it's value is above the "current production" design.

JMHO,

flatgate

 

[Doc Mark]

Hi, Flatgate,

Many thanks, Sir! Do you have any idea what the actual taper was, back to front? I guess I can go back and measure it with calipers, and see how it looks. I still have to wait before I can buy it, anyway, as we have a stupid "one gun a month" law here, now. Just another reason to get out of this sinking State, before it's too late.....

Thanks, again, for the info. Much appreciated! I'm behind in keeping my promises for photos of the recent Rugers which have come to live here, but hope to catch up before too long. Our small business has been keeping us very busy, which is good and a real blessing! Take care, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc

 

[Ruber]

I really dig mine:

http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=102928&highlight=

Mine needed a severe cleaning and came with pachmayrs on it, so it was quite a bit less, but have seen them priced in the range you mention, especially in CA.

Two other ways to figure out if it is a tapered barrel version are by serial number or by length of the ejector rod housing (the bull barrel version has an inch (?) longer housing which looks quite different and you might remember that). Might be able to get serial number from a call to your ffl (but don't let me dissuade you from a trip to the gun shop).

Ps. If it's a consignment gun, it might not fall under the one gun a month rule...

 

[bigbore45colt]

Usually, the tapered barrels had the standard ramp front sight while the bull barrels had the hooked front sight.

BB45C

 

[G2]

Another eye spy too look for,

Tapered barrels have the ~4" Ejector Rod Housing, a little less than half the barrel. whereas the Bull Barrel has the ~5" ERH,
Half the barrel length.

 

[Doc Mark]

Greetings, All,

Outstanding info, Guys! Many thanks for the education! I seem to remember that this SBH has a ramp front sight, but can't recall if the ejector housing is half the barrel, or not. I called the FFL and found out that it's not just "one gun a month", but rather "one gun in 30 days"!! So, I can't actually buy this one until the end of next month. However, I did ask about a layaway program, and the seller does offer, interestingly enough, a 30 day layaway program! So, I may have to go and look at it once more, make some measurements, and then, if all seems well, plunk down a deposit for this one. Never thought I'd want one, after my initial experience with a blued version OM. But, after shooting my FA .454 Casull for many years, and loving it, I now want to get a version of the big bore that started it all for me, even though this one's a NM, and stainless. Thanks, again, for the great info, Lads, and I'll let you know how this turns out. Take care, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc

P.S. gun shop owner isn't too keen on negotiating the price, but he's going to check into it for me, and let me know. Might be $450, in the end. We'll see.....

 

[EDK]

It is a great gun to shoot. The one I owned had the hook front sight. It was super accurate, with a decent trigger out of the box. If you do most of your shooting at a shooting range, it is a great gun; also for hunting purposes. BUT it is awkward to carry a lot.

Mine got about 500 rounds in the first month. Another 500 in the next year or so. Less than 100 in the following two years. It became part of a trade for a MARLIN 1895 Cowboy rifle in 45/70 when they first came out AND I don't shoot that gun much more than the 10.5 inch SUPER BLACK HAWK!

 

[mattsbox99]

I don't think $450 is a bad price for one, new they are nearly $600 for the stainless models.

 

[Doc Mark]

Happy Easter Sunday, one and all!!

For Sweet Bride and me, Easter is one of our most favorite celebrations!! In church today, we enjoyed a wonderful and uplifting experience, and that is very satisfying, indeed.

On our way home from church, we passed our little local gun store, and found the door open, which is odd, because they are not open on Sunday!! I pulled over, and went up to the door, just to make sure everything was OK, which it was. They were just taking inventory, but since they were there, they decided to allow any passing customers to come in, if they wished.

So, I got another look at the SBH, and after having learned the great info that you all have shared with me about this venerable pistol, I saw it with new eyes, and now know that it's not the early version, with the tapered barrel. It is, indeed, the later model with the bull barrel, longer ejector rod housing, and hooked front sight! Even though I was thinking that this was the earlier SBH, I 'm just as happy with the bull-barreled version!! The shop owner is going to consider his pricing, and see if he can lower it a tad. And, he will allow me to put in on layaway, so as not to possibly lose it during the time before I can legally purchase it.

So, if all turns out well, I may well jump on this one this coming week! I'm excited about it, and find it very interesting, and not a little odd, that I will now have TWO Ruger pistols in the same gun store safe!!! :shock: :shock: 8) 8) :lol: :lol: I'm luck that Sweet Bride has always been easy going when it comes to such things!! Thank you, Lord!!

I'll keep you all posted, and if this comes to pass, will add this pistol to my list of Rugers that need shooting and photographing. Thanks, again, for all the great info, and Happy Easter Sunday to one and all!! God Bless you and yours on this special day!!

Every Good Wish,
Doc

 

[G2]

I'm perty sure you can buy all the guns you want in KKKalifornia, BUT you can only pick-up/take possession of one every thirty days.

I have a friend lives in San Diego that has about ~2 years of pick-ups waiting... :roll:

It's quite interesting that PPT's there is no limit.

I think the Dealers do the "LayAway" thing to get around the purchase 1/30 rule.

And you wonder why California is Broke. The 1/30 rule only hurts a FFL's Business.

Good place to visit tho... :wink:

 

[Doc Mark]

Greetings, G2,

I'm with you all the way, Sir! CA used to be a great place to call home, actually, and fairly gun-friendly. But, since our legislature went to the far Left, in the '80's, it's been down hill in just about all things relating to firearms ownership, fiscal responsibility, and common sense.

We will very probably end up in AZ, or UT, both places we like very much. But, for now, we love our home, and will ride out the foolishness a bit longer.

In any case, I'm really excited to have a "two-fer" in the works, with my new Bisley .41 already "official", and possibly this SBH waiting in the wings!! I'm a dyed in the wool .41 Mag Man, but I do have one lovely M29 Smith .44, nickel-plated, 8 3/8" barrel, and it's a fantastic shooter. It's great to add another .41 to my family of favorites, and my second .44, too, if all works out as I hope. I guess the $450 asking price is not too bad, but I do hope the seller cuts it just a bit, since it will be bought so soon after having bought my Bisley. Again, I'll keep you posted as to how it all turns out, and will (eventually) post a bunch of Ruger photos of the new ones that have come to live here with us!! Take care, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc

 

[Doc Mark]

Evening, All,

Well, I've been down to the gun shop quite a few times, and today I went in with my large Brownell's gunsmithing screwdriver set, and asked the owner, who is a good guy, if I could mess around with the SBH I'm considering. He said for me to go for it, and so I took the pistol, screwdriver set, and a bore light, and went into his shop to have some fun. I found out that this gun is basically solid, and in fairly good, but not perfect, condition. Here's what I found:

- The trigger pull is not bad, at all, actually, and with a bit of use and some action, I think it will get even better.

- The grips, which are a combo of faux ivory, and laminated rosewood (or so it appears), look nice, but don't fit the gun perfectly. The screw is too short to hold them tightly, and and owner says he'll order a new screw in the proper length, if I buy the gun. One side of the grips has a small crack in the faux ivory. It doesn't look like it will grow, but I guess you never know for sure.

- There is a small gap in the fitting on one side of the frame to grip mating. Nothing horrible, but it's there, nonetheless. Looks like some small scratches in that area, like someone tried to pry the two pieces apart (?). Don't know, for sure, but it looks like the scratches will polish out with a little work. Two of the three screws which hold the grip to the frame are buggered up just a bit. Fairly easy fix, in any case.

- The gun locks up OK when cocking it, but not "bank vault tight", like some of my pistols do. It has a small bit of side to side, and fore and aft play in the cylinder, when locked up. What do you think about that?

- Last, the owner will not dicker on the price, as he says he has too much into it to go lower than his asking price, which is $450. So, I guess, if I want it, it's $450, or nothing.

So, with all that said, here are some photos which will show you what I'm considering, along with it's faults. Don't know if any of them are deal breakers, but please let me know what you think. The serial number on this gun is: 86-00xxx. Don' t know when it was made, but I'm guessing after 2000. I could most certainly be wrong, however. Any guesses??

Here are the photos:

I would appreciate any comments, suggestions, or information that you can share with me on this one. I want to "want" it, but I wonder if, for the price, I should look around for a better one. Or, for a used pistol, is this one a fair buy at that price? I certainly like the feel and the overall look of this pistol, and if I didn't buy this one, would very much like one just like it, or as close as I could get. I want to give the local shop owner some business, too, so that's part of the deal, I'm thinking. He helped me bring in my brand new .41 Bisley, which I bought from Mike, in AZ, and I appreciate that. So, please let me know your thoughts, Folks! I can put this gun on layaway so that it can be paid for when I pick up the Bisley, which is next week. Then, when my 30 day wait is over, for the "one gun in 30 days" BS under which we have to suffer out here, I can put this one into the works, and get it in early June! Thanks, as always, for the outstanding comments and education that you Folks always share!! MUCH appreciated! Take care, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc

P.S. Does anyone recognize the grips, or know who might have offered them? I'd like to know more about them, if anyone can ID them for me, please. Thanks!

 

[rugerbh73]

Those grips remind me of Jay Scott grips. I have a set of similar Jay Scott fake ivory grips without the wood backing. I also have a set of Jay Scott fake stags that have the wood backing like that. The grips I have with the wood backing are a little thicker than factory SBH grips and the ones I have without the wood backing are a little thinner than factory.

I'm always looking for a good deal but, like you, I don't mind paying a slight premium to do business with a local gun shop. I want them to keep their doors open for as long as possible.

I've never regretted paying a little too much for a gun I really wanted. I have, however, regretted letting some get away while looking for a better deal.

 

[tulsamal]

So he wants $450 and then he is going to charge you sales tax on top of that?

Considering that price and the fact that you seem to have a lot of reservations about the gun..... I think I would walk away.

Unless I'm overlooking it, Bud's doesn't seem to have a stainless model listed. But you can buy a brand new 10.5" blue model for a grand total of $513 including shipping. You pay for it online at Bud's and then you don't have to pay tax. Find a local who will do the transfer for $20 and you are in the new gun for $533.

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/21_49_118/products_id/70180

Gregg

 

[tulsamal]

I've never regretted paying a little too much for a gun I really wanted.

I agree with that. Witness the $950 I just paid for a .480 Alaskan. But the OP doesn't _really_ sound like he is in love with the gun. He's spent many paragraphs listing out flaws. If he was 100% sure he wanted that particular gun (rather than just that model) then it might be worth the price. But how can it be worth a high price for an example that even he seems to have reservations about?

I can argue the other way though: You can never have too many guns and the value of the green pieces of paper is going down every day. I would rather have my extra money tied up in guns than sitting in a bank earning 0.5% interest. While gas goes up day after day and 1970's inflation is just around the corner!

Gregg

 

[Bucks Owin]

Two of them went for $338 and $350 on Gunbroker lately. (The latter a SS version!) Sometimes "long toms" go really reasonably there...

 

[lark63]

I say go for it.
Here is why:
Local shop. Sounds like a good dealer- How many would let you bring in your tool kit to do a partial take down. I have never met one that would allow this. I would not allow it.
The blemishes are minor to me.
Price is fair.
Lay away.
It is a gift to yourself.
I have a blued model from the late 90's era and zero issues with it and the dang this can shoot better than I can.
Keep us posted

 

[Ruber]

Well, as mentioned above, getting a new one, especially in CA, will run you close to $600. So you are looking at a savings of $150 to get some buggered up screws, an aftermarket grip and whatever box/papers situation. One way to look at it is to ask if it is a 75% condition gun?

Me, I've got enough spare parts that if I were looking for a bull barrel model, I'd be real tempted. But you are the one who is going to be shooting it, what's it going to take for you to be happy with it?

In my experience, the cylinders do have some movement when locked up, it's hard to tell how much over the net, there is play and there is slop, you might be able to check a few other Blackhawks at the shop for a relative feel, look for some from the same time period (comparing it to a new Bisley hunter may be a little unfair).

If what you really want is the tapered barrel version, let your ffl know and thank him for letting you look over the gun (not many are that accommodating). If you want one that's NIB, have him look one up, Davidson's gave me some quotes in th $600 ballpark.

If you want a fun shooter at what looks like a fair price, I'd sure support a local shop that let's me take a set of tools to one of their gun....

 

[Doc Mark]

Morning, Guys,

Many thanks for the comments sent so far, and please join in, if you haven't tossed your two cents into this topic.

Regarding the grips, I actually like the way they fit my hand, and as one poster comments, they do seem a little thicker than regular SBH grips. The fact that they don't fit perfectly is not a huge deal to me, as long as they feel good, and these do.

As to my posting this guns "flaws", I mainly did that so that everyone could see this thing for what it is, both good and bad. I don't think that any of the problems are bad ones, though, and could certainly fix a few of them myself, quite easily.

I want to want this gun, and a huge part of me does, indeed, want it. But, I also hate to waste money, and don't want to end up with a firearm that has problems that might crop up later. The point made about the seller being somewhat rare because he let me bring in my own kit and spend time in his own back area taking the gun down a bit, for inspection, is a very good one. It's for reasons like that, and the fact that he is local, and that he helped me bring in my brand new Bisley .41, which I pick up this coming Monday(!), all makes me want to give him some business. His store is fairly new, and he does seem to be busy all the time, so I very much hope he makes it and stays in business. Unless we locals buy from him, instead of just using him for transferring less expensive guns, he probably won't make it. So, all that makes me want to go down and plunk down my money for t his big .44 Ruger!

I am sure I could find a brand new gun like this, with a little looking around, for less. But, then our local store wouldn't get a sale, and with the price of gasoline, I would easily spend the amount I'd save, in the tons of driving around to check out other gun stores in our area, most of which would be an hour, or more, away.

Not having a bore alignment gauge, I do wonder about the bit of play in the cylinder. The side to side seems OK, but I wonder about the fore and aft play. Unfortunately, I cannot get to any of my other single action pistols to check them out, or I would definitely compare them. I know how they all shoot, and if they have the same bit of fore and aft play, when locked up for shooting, I could better gauge whether this bit of play will cause the pistol not to be an accurate shooter. What are your thoughts on this, if any? Experiences?

Thanks, very much, for your continued information. I'm leaning, fairly heavily, to getting this one, but want a day of more to read what others might say, then I'll make up my mind. The gun shop owner said he could tell I was "a fastidious person", which means he was telling me I was "picky, picky, picky", I'm thinkin'!! :wink: 8) :lol: :lol: :lol: Talk to you all later, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc (who certainly doesn't mind a few warts on a used gun, but doesn't want to make a mistake in spending his coin)

 

[Doc Mark]

Well, as mentioned above, getting a new one, especially in CA, will run you close to $600. So you are looking at a savings of $150 to get some buggered up screws, an aftermarket grip and whatever box/papers situation. One way to look at it is to ask if it is a 75% condition gun?

Me, I've got enough spare parts that if I were looking for a bull barrel model, I'd be real tempted. But you are the one who is going to be shooting it, what's it going to take for you to be happy with it?

In my experience, the cylinders do have some movement when locked up, it's hard to tell how much over the net, there is play and there is slop, you might be able to check a few other Blackhawks at the shop for a relative feel, look for some from the same time period (comparing it to a new Bisley hunter may be a little unfair).

If what you really want is the tapered barrel version, let your ffl know and thank him for letting you look over the gun (not many are that accommodating). If you want one that's NIB, have him look one up, Davidson's gave me some quotes in th $600 ballpark.

If you want a fun shooter at what looks like a fair price, I'd sure support a local shop that let's me take a set of tools to one of their gun....

Morning, Ruber,

Your comments make a lot of sense. I see that you live around San Diego, as did I, quite a few years back. Used to frequent all the gun shops back then, and did business with a few of them. El Cajon Gun Exchange, The Gun Company, Southern California Gun, San Diego Police Equipment, and a few more, some of which are no longer in business, all got their fair share of my money in those days! In all those years, I can only think of maybe two shops that would have let me take one of their guns apart so I could better check it out, and I know that both of them are long out of business, now. Both were small shops, and after doing well for many years, decided to get out of the business, as CA regs were driving them crazy, and the economy was further keeping away the once booming business.

So, your point about supporting a local shop where the owner allows such things, is well taken. Now, realize that this fellow very probably wouldn't let just anyone do that, I'm sure. But, he's seen me around town for many years, and we get along very well. I have stopped in his shop to ooooh and ahhhh over his new and used guns, often, since he opened up for business, and like to stand around and shoot the bull about guns, politics, and other such things. I think he judges folks for what they seem to be, and makes his decisions on who gets to play around, and who doesn't, based on his feelings about them. I'm glad that its seems I've "made the cut", on such things.

Do you ever go out to the South Bay Rod and Gun shooting range, out in Duluzura? I was a Range Safety Officer at that range for over 8 years, and always enjoyed the long and peaceful drive to get there, and all the great folks that were members of that club back then! I also very much enjoyed all the great shooting I got to do back then!! Man, was that fun, and my skills were certainly improved through that much regular practice. I miss those days, that's for sure!

Anyway, good talking to you, and thanks for tossing in your two cents on this topic. Much appreciated. Take care, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc

 

[Ruber]

Do you ever go out to the South Bay Rod and Gun shooting range, out in Duluzura? I was a Range Safety Officer at that range for over 8 years, and always enjoyed the long and peaceful drive to get there, and all the great folks that were members of that club back then! I also very much enjoyed all the great shooting I got to do back then!! Man, was that fun, and my skills were certainly improved through that much regular practice. I miss those days, that's for sure!

A great range, been a member and RSO there on and off since the mid-90's, probably crossed paths more than once. I used to do the CMP matches there and some of the black powder shoots. Ever seen a guy show up with a M1 and a Rem new army, good odds on it being me. Getting more into practical shooting these days. It's had it's ups and downs recently, but has some good momentum going right now. Dulzura's been hit, the cafe closed...

The shops down here have really changed in the past three years, some of the old guys are still around and work with you, but a lot of the younger guys act like they've never even handled a revolver.

Good luck however you decide!!

 

[Doc Mark]

Hi, Ruber,

Very cool! I'll bet we DID cross paths in those days. I was there from the late '80's, through the late 90's, before moving to the mountains and leaving San Diego. Back when we used to shoot in them, those rifle matches were still called "DCM" matches, and my wife ended up winning one, with a box stock Ruger stainless Ranch Rifle!! I was very proud of her! We both got our M1 Garands from the DCM after shooting in those competitions. My wife also won the "Housewife's Revenge" shooting match at the SBR&G range barbeque, once, shooting my S&W M29, nickel-plated .44 with it's 8 3/8" barrel! The shooting was at pots and pans, hung up on the target frames on the 100 yard line, and she was shooting standing up on her own two legs, and smacking those pots with regularity, with magnum loads!! Oh, yeah, I was very proud of her that day, for sure!!

Sorry to hear about Dulzura losing the cafe, and the range having it's problems. I had heard, a while back, that politics was rearing it's ugly head out there, and that lawsuits were flying around between certain members and other members. Don't know anything more about it, but if true, that's certainly not how it was back in the days when I was a member and RSO.

Again, good talking to you, and maybe we'll cross paths, again, when we visit SD, which we do a few times a years, to see family and friends. Take care, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc

 

[Ruber]

...and my wife ended up winning on, with a box stock Ruger stainless Ranch Rifle!!

Very nice... I shot my first matches with an H&K, that got some looks, like a heathen just walked into the Garand temple :lol:

Ya, politics came and went with the housing market, the range is back on track now, really made some big improvements in the past couple years.

We'll, if you don't wind up with that hog leg, we'll have to meet up next time you are down there and give mine a whirl...

 

[Doc Mark]

Hi, Ruber,

Sounds great, all around. Next time we head down that way, I'll send you a PM, and maybe we can plan to meet up. When there, we don't always have a ton of time, and we want to spend what we have with my wife's Mom, as she isn't getting any younger, nor are we. But, we can certainly arrange a bit of time for some Ruger fun, in any case, even if we just meet for lunch, or something.

Glad to hear the range is back on track, as it was a great place to make friends, and new shooting buddies, back in those days. Talk to you later, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc

 

[cruzerlou]

A friend of mine bought a SS SBH w/ a 10 1/2 " bbl way back in 1983 and after shooting that beast I just had to have one .The only problem was I was straped for cash and couldn't afford a new one .I found a used ,blued 7 1/2 " mag-Na-Ported one at a killer price and snached her up .Theres a lot of history between me and this gun ,but thats another story .Heres a pic of her.
Lou

 

[Doc Mark]

Evening, All,

Well, here's an update on what happened today. I had to drive down the mountain for business, and whilst there, decided to stop by another gun store, much larger then our local one, to see if they had a SBH in stainless, with a 10 1/2" bull barrel. Turns out they did not, but they did have a brand new SBH stainless with a 7 1/2" barrel. I asked to see it, to check for tightness of lock-up, and WOW was I impressed at how tightly that pistol was when locked to fire!! That particular Ruger lived up to the oft overused expression of "bank vault tight"!! There wasn't even a hair of movement, of any kind, once it was locked up tight!!

I also went online, on my cell phone, to check Buds guns, Davidson's and a few other places, and so far, have not found a single NIB SBH like I'm seeking that's in stock. And, for the places that might offer them on order, including Buds, the price is not $513, as Bud's quotes for a blued version of this gun, but closer to $700!! Hummmm.....

So, I sez to myself, "Self, can you live with a used gun that isn't as pretty as the one you saw today, and doesn't lock up as tightly, if it saves you a huge chunk of change in the deal"?? And, myself answers, "Well, I 'think' so"! :wink: :wink: 8) :lol: :lol:

I'll tell you what my main concern on the used gun is, Folks: It looks like this gun was made in 1989, and it has seen some use in the years between then and now. As many of these guns were used to shoot "burn the hair off the bear and burn down the barn", super-heavy loads, in silhouette shooting, and hunting, I hope I would not be getting a gun that has been shot loose, and therefore will never be as accurate as it should be! That's it, in a nutshell. IF this used gun can be a little loose in the lock-up, and a tad care-worn, and still shoot with great accuracy, I'll happily buy it, and be glad for the deal. But, if it's best days are behind it, then I'd rather save my ducats, and put them down on a brand new one, or a tighter used one, some place down the line.

I'll be looking at the local used SBH tomorrow, one last time, and then making up my mind. A huge part of me wants to buy local to support our home town gun shop, and deal with whatever turns out to be the accuracy of this particular stainless SBH, even if I have to rebuild the innards of it to tighten it up a bit. But, a small voice keeps asking, "Wouldn't you be happier with a brand new one, for a little more money"? YES! BUT, I don't see such a deal falling into my lap, to tell you the truth, and think I'd have to pay quite a bit more than a "little more money" in order to get a new one. The new one I handled today, with the 7 1/2" barrel, was $599.99, or to us normal folks, $600. And, it doesn't have the longer barrel, which rather intrigues me. I'll let you know what I decide.....after I decide!! :wink: :wink: :lol: :lol: Take care, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc

P.S. By the way, no box, nor paperwork with the used local SBH, for what that's worth.....

 

[cruzerlou]

New inturnals won't cost you that much I have some new stuff for the SBH that I'll sell you cheap ,hammer spring,hammer paw ,transfer bar ,trigger ,hammer ,and a few other parts [I'll have to look to see what else is in my gunsmithing box] I think I even have a cylender stop .Heres the problem ,if the guns been fed a diet of super hot heavy bullet loads ,the frame it's self may be streached and theres no fixing that .Also the forceing cone may be eroaded and there could be flame cutting on the top strap .Will this guy let you take the gun to a gunsmith to have the tolenrances checkedout .Maybe if you leave him a small deposit that will go twoard the purchace of the gun if you buy it ,or will he take it back if you buy it and find that it's worn beond repair .
If parts is all you need I'll help you all I can and even what I don't have there still cheep .Just let me know if I can heip in any way .
Lou
P.M. sent

 

[Ruber]

Lou's right on. I'd check barrel/cylinder gap, look for excessive flame cutting and worn/cracked throat. Just an FYI: my 2008 Blackhawk has that tight lockup and my 82 super is loose by comparison. The newer has thicker base pin and cylinder stop than the older one, but the older one has a smaller gap. Personally, I'd take the smaller gap, base pins and stops are easy to replace.

 

[Doc Mark]

Morning, Lou, Ruber, and All,

Your suggestions are good ones, and today, I'll return and give that SBH another, closer look. I'm sure the owner won't mind if I measure the B/C gap, and check out the forcing cone and top strap. I'm also going to dig out my other single action pistols, two .41 Blackhawks, one .45 stainless Blackhawk (which is already out), my OM Single Six Convertible, and my new stainless Bearcat, as well as my Freedom Arms .454 Casull, and check their measurements, as well. As I recall, and I could be wrong here, you slip fired cases into the cylinders, and then measure the B/C gap. Is that right? What would be a good measurement for a Ruger pistol? .002-.004? I'll also check cylinder lock-up on all the guns I currently own. After having done that, and then checking the local SBH stainless 10 1/2" pistol, I should know what way to go. If this one doesn't work out, I'm sorely tempted to drive back down the mountain and get that brand new 7 1/2" stainless SBH that I handled yesterday. Felt good, looked good, and tight as a drum. $600 is $600 bucks, though, and that is a serious consideration for me.

Thanks, again, Guys, and please let me know what I should be seeking in a good B/C gap measurement, and if my technique is right. Take care, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc