The mysterious "missing" CCH flattop!!!

[chet15]

I read the most recent RCA Journal and saw an article in there about how there are only seven Color Case Hardened .357 flattops, serial numbers 5785 to 5791.
Here is a pic of the mysterious "8th" CCH flattop, serial number 5784...really it is not a mystery at all as there have always been 8. 5784 was the first one known outside the Ruger factory and in the 1980's made its rounds around the Ruger collector show scene with owner/collector Mike Stewart.
Ruger's earliest catalogs from about 1953 stated something to the effect that "Case coloring, plating and engraving are not available at this time."
I have always felt that Ruger produced eight of these because their NRA show display used from at least 1956 to at least 1960 had two wheels of eight guns each, chromed RST6's in one and chromed Single-Sixes in the other. I think Ruger had the intention of also putting these CCH Blackhawks in one of the wheels, but it never happened.


My notation at the topstrap is a little small to see here, but it points to a Rockwell Hardness test mark in the middle of the topstrap...another is in the exact spot on the opposite side of the frame where the tongs did the test.


And...here's a pic of #5785 CCH



Along with the packaging for #5785 below. Note the bottom pic that has the '72 era Newport proof type tape on the sleeve. This would have been applied after one of the company's periodic "inspections" to see what exactly was taped up inside these shippers.



One other item I noted in the current RCA Journal was another article that talks about the plated .22 pistols that were done from 1950 to 1955. It says that only 13 pistols were plated during this time period, including 4 Red Eagles 10000 to 10003, 9 RST6 Standard autos (eight of which were put in Ruger's famous chrome wheel that they had at NRA shows from at least 1956 to 1960) and four Mark I red eagles in the 16xxx range with the serial numbers given. The left side of a fifth chromed Mark I appears in "Ruger & His Guns" by RL Wilson on page 28, stated as serial number 15886.
Chet15

 

[contender]

Excellent info here. THIS is why we love to collect our Rugers. Lots of various things to hunt for!

 

[pete44ru]

Nice BH's there, Chet !

I think that Ruger did a pretty decent job of color-matching that beautiful CCH with the faux case colors on the Vaquero - for those who never find a hen's tooth.

 

[chet15]

Wished I owned them...but it was a highlight of collecting for me, holding one in each hand...25% of those made, at the same time. The owner had a tough time prying them away from me. Actually, he was taking a nap in his favorite chair when I was taking pictures of his Rugers...
Never have heard who did the CCH on the original Ruger flattops.
It is more small splotchy areas than Colt or Winchester CCH we are all familiar with....might have had something to do with the chrome moly steel?
Chet15

 

[rugnelli]

Very cool.

 

[T.A. WORKMAN]

Thanks for sharing this info with us.
Beautiful revolvers!

Terry

 

[Rumrunner]

Very cool. The barrels and cylinders almost look like the color of the later target gray used on the SRH 480. Is that just the lighting?

 

[UmpquaCharlie]

Are the first vaqueros that had chemical case coloring common or fairly rare?
Just wondering.

 

[chet15]

Wished I owned them...but it was a highlight of collecting for me, holding one in each hand...25% of those made, at the same time. The owner had a tough time prying them away from me. Actually, he was taking a nap in his favorite chair when I was taking pictures of his Rugers...
Never have heard who did the CCH on the original Ruger flattops.
It is more small splotchy areas than Colt or Winchester CCH we are all familiar with....might have had something to do with the chrome moly steel?
Chet15

So how many days did Ralph sleep in that chair.....

I don't think you could photograph all his NEAT STUFF in one day.....RR

Took a couple days to do them all (but that was just the Rugers), then I went over and photographed a few guns that Phil Harden had, then I went to that little shop in Illinois where I photographed the "SPEED SIX" Bearcat.
Chet15

 

[chet15]

Very cool. The barrels and cylinders almost look like the color of the later target gray used on the SRH 480. Is that just the lighting?

No, not Target Gray...the original charcoal gray blue of the original flattops and Single-Sixes.

 

[chet15]

Are the first vaqueros that had chemical case coloring common or fairly rare?
Just wondering.

Common. Ruger made nearly 400,000 Old style Vaqueros, with probably at least half having the case color finish (the other half were high polish stainless)
Chet15

 

[Ale-8(1)]

FWIW, original Vaquero 55-01XXX is blue/CCH and the CCH is fading a little in spite of being kept in the dark all its life except for shooting sessions and careful cleaning thereafter.




PS Nice reporting, Chet.

 

[chet15]

I read the most recent RCA Journal and saw an article in there about how there are only seven Color Case Hardened .357 flattops, serial numbers 5785 to 5791.
Here is a pic of the mysterious "8th" CCH flattop, serial number 5784...really it is not a mystery at all as there have always been 8. 5784 was the first one known outside the Ruger factory and in the 1980's made its rounds around the Ruger collector show scene with owner/collector Mike Stewart.
Ruger's earliest catalogs from about 1953 stated something to the effect that "Case coloring, plating and engraving are not available at this time."
I have always felt that Ruger produced eight of these because their NRA show display used from at least 1956 to at least 1960 had two wheels of eight guns each, chromed RST6's in one and chromed Single-Sixes in the other. I think Ruger had the intention of also putting these CCH Blackhawks in one of the wheels, but it never happened.


My notation at the topstrap is a little small to see here, but it points to a Rockwell Hardness test mark in the middle of the topstrap...another is in the exact spot on the opposite side of the frame where the tongs did the test.


And...here's a pic of #5785 CCH



Along with the packaging for #5785 below. Note the bottom pic that has the '72 era Newport proof type tape on the sleeve. This would have been applied after one of the company's periodic "inspections" to see what exactly was taped up inside these shippers.



One other item I noted in the current RCA Journal was another article that talks about the plated .22 pistols that were done from 1950 to 1955. It says that only 13 pistols were plated during this time period, including 4 Red Eagles 10000 to 10003, 9 RST6 Standard autos (eight of which were put in Ruger's famous chrome wheel that they had at NRA shows from at least 1956 to 1960) and four Mark I red eagles in the 16xxx range with the serial numbers given. The left side of a fifth chromed Mark I appears in "Ruger & His Guns" by RL Wilson on page 28, stated as serial number 15886.
Chet15

Interesting topic to bump, and update...
15886 described above is "not" a chromed Mark I Red Eagle, as described by the collector who just added the "blued" gun to his collection. So now, the gun pictured in Ruger & His Guns (serial number down against the table) is still a mystery. is it one of the other four listed in records, or is it another serial number entirely?
Chet15

 

[contender]

And the collecting mysteries continue.
I saw this thread,, ans as I began reading,, I recalled I'd seen it before. Then I saw the old date. DUH!

And now,, with the update,, on 15886,, we continue to wonder,,,!

 

[jussbad]

And worth noting the CCH Flattops did not have "all" the type 1 features for a gun of that s/n range should. I recall they were built after the type 1 was completed thus the later front site, trigger and ejector rod...

 

[Ale-8(1)]

Bob's List shows all eight of these, listed as Type 2, at least one noted as shipped in February of 1958. All the adjacent guns are noted as Type 1, shipped in mid-1956.

 

[chet15]

Bob's List shows all eight of these, listed as Type 2, at least one noted as shipped in February of 1958. All the adjacent guns are noted as Type 1, shipped in mid-1956.

They are all Type 2. Because these CCH frames weren't fully assembled until 1958. The two guns in the pics also show as Type 2.
Chet15

 

[chet15]

And worth noting the CCH Flattops did not have "all" the type 1 features for a gun of that s/n range should. I recall they were built after the type 1 was completed thus the later front site, trigger and ejector rod...

And interesting you mention that, because I just noticed both guns have different base pins. So either one was changed sometime in its history (extremely doubtful) or these guns were assembled about the same time that the base pin was changed from the early style with narrow lands to the later .357 style that looks like a Single-Six pin with wide lands yet still has the narrow groove just below those lands. The base pin was changed about the 10xxx range, although the early pin is known on guns a couple thousand numbers higher.
Chet15