Update on 44 spl Blackhawk

[Revolver-Time]

As you all may recall, I sent my new Lipsey's 44 special back to Ruger in October. After saying they were going to repair it and refinish it they decided not to repair it but replace it. They called and offered to replace it with a Vaquero. I didn't want a Vaquero, I wanted my 44 Blackhawk. They said they would send one when they became available.

Today, I called to inquire about the status. They said none were available and they could not tell me when a production run would be made. I asked if they were privy to a production schedule and they said they did not know when the 44 special Blackhawks would be produced. I was not satisfied with that answer and asked for a supervisor to call me. A very well spoken lady called me back in less than an hour and said they found a blackhawk in the warehouse and would have a tech check it out and ship it in about another week.

Today was my fifth call to Ruger about this matter. To me however, Ruger should have been able to carry out this process without my prompting. The people there are great, it is the process that needs work.

 

[mattsbox99]

Now, I want to verify that the 2010 catalog 44 Special Blackhawks are the large frame and not the Anniversary framed guns that were built for Lipsey.

 

[Hammer]

.

If they offered you a 44 Special Vaquero I would jump on it.


.

 

[maxpress]

WOW, ARE .44 SPECIAL VAQUEROES COMING OUT.

that would save me the $700 for a conversion

 

[Revolver-Time]

WOW, ARE .44 SPECIAL VAQUEROES COMING OUT.

that would save me the $700 for a conversion

I didn't let them get to the caliber. I said I shipped in a 44 special Blackhawk and that is what I wanted back.

 

[BlkHawk73]

WOW, ARE .44 SPECIAL VAQUEROES COMING OUT.

that would save me the $700 for a conversion

$700 to go from ? to .44 special? :shock: I'd check with Clements and/or Gallagher.

 

[Yosemite Sam]

WOW, ARE .44 SPECIAL VAQUEROES COMING OUT.

that would save me the $700 for a conversion

And this is how rumors get started...

Now, I want to verify that the 2010 catalog 44 Special Blackhawks are the large frame and not the Anniversary framed guns that were built for Lipsey.

That is far from resolved. Most people are assuming they're going to be the mid-frame guns due to the model numbers matching the numbers used for the Lipsey's guns.

R-T, sorry to hear about your troubles. I agree 100% that you should not have to "push" to get decent service. Unfortunately, that seems to be ever more the case these days.

-- Sam

 

[CraigC]

They will be mid-frames. John Taffin called them and verified this.

 

[mattsbox99]

I wasn't trying to hijack RT, I thought the Lipseys was a limited run and they might try replacing your mid framed gun with a new production large frame gun, although if the new production is going to be a mid frame design then they won't.

 

[maxpress]

the statment that i have heard from "the magazines" is that ruger said if the lipseys sold well then they would add it to there lineup.

yes right now it is just wishfull thinking. but i do wish.

the gun claiber would be a .357 vaquero 4 7/8 stainless bumped up to .44spl. the only one i havnt been able to get a quote from is gallagher. googled him but his contact info dosnt pop up. the rest do a really good job but it comes in a package deal. trigger job, end shake washer ect. which wouldnt be bad.

 

[maxpress]

well, nevermind. i just checked the ruger site and they have the .44spl blackhawk as a regular item it would appear. at least it dosnt say dealer exclusive.

 

[M'BOGO]

They will be mid-frames. John Taffin called them and verified this.

Thanks for sharing that. There has been some lingering doubt.

 

[DPris]

Both Ruger & Lipsey's told me if the .44 Special flattops sold well they'd be added to regular production status.
That would be/is the same frame.
The demand created in one configuration would hardly carry over in another configuration, just because of caliber.
Denis

 

[Xrayist]

Be a pest and keep going up the ladder, so to speak, and get the gun replaced with the same. Ruger has the worst customer service of any firearms manufacturer I have dealt with. I posted under the rifle section my experience with a Ruger RSM. In a nutshell it did not feed. I was told by Ruger that the causes were as follows:
I was using an after market magazine---doesn't exist. by the way, although she assured me that aftermarket magazines are available for EVERY firearm Ruger makes...still looking for the one for my Ruger No. 1!
The new recoil pad I added caused it to mis feed.
The horn forend cap I put on caused the problems.
Good luck!

 

[mattsbox99]

That is a very rare report, most often it is quite the opposite. I have only had one encounter with Ruger customer service, they replaced a cracked stock without question on my M77. S&W Customer service is pretty awesome too, they repaced a barrel, slide, & recoil spring on my Sigma and paid shipping both ways, only cost me a trip to the FedEx office.