And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Saturday, December 13, 2025
Was just today talking with Elmo about this book and Ruger guns. Well worth the money, and do get the hardcover if you want one.
I believe that I have that book in the hard copy version. Jush have so many books that I will have to look and see. As for the quality of Ruger guns, I will put them against any other handgun or long gun out there. I have the 13th 7.5 inch barrel 44 Magnum single action revolver they built along with the wood presentation box. I quite shooting it years ago but I do shoot the others. Great guns for sure!
They were great guns back when, including my first two purchases with my own money Blackhawk and a Mini-14. Lots since. But the last I've gotten just aren't there anymore. A revolver is meh on form and fit - function is OK, but they really should break edges after what little machining they do. LC9s for family are flimsy and feel like toys. Most recently was a bolt 308 with a warped chassis and a muzzle device that was so over-torqued it had to be cut off. I have more Rugers than any other brand - but that ratio is shrinking from now on. Probably OK if you don't mind doing careful inspection before acceptance - not something I should need to do on a NIB firearm.
In 1980 I traded a set of Koss 2+2 Quad headphones for a Blackhawk 357 6" and still have it but haven't shot it in at least 10 years. Gonna hafta change that.
My 1956 Super Blackhawk in .44 looks fantastic. I am 2nd owner. The previous owner must've spit shined it every day. It shoots better than me. It makes me look like a real deadeye shot.
Rick- If your .44 Mag Blackhawk was indeed made in '56, it would be a Blackhawk .44 Magnum Flattop and have a fluted cylinder. https://gunblast.com/Hamm_44-Flattop.htm
If it's a Super Blackhawk, it would have an unfluted cylinder and a Dragoon style trigger guard. https://www.gunblast.com/Hamm_SuperBlackhawk2.htm The Super Blackhawk was first introduced in 1959.
This book - https://www.ebay.com/itm/157541853110 goes into detail about the two original models of Ruger's .44 Magnum revolvers on pages 33 and 34.
Elmo, for some reason 1956 sticks in my mind. You reminded me that year is incorrect. The revolver does have a 4 digit S/N. I keep meaning to look it up.
It is a Super Blackhawk .44 magnum. No flutes on the cylinder and the trigger guard as you described Thanks
Beginning S/N Year of Production 1 1959 1521 1960 6222 1961 7659 1962 11089 1963
Those early Super Blackhawks had the prettiest, most highly polished blueing of any guns Ruger ever made.
It used to be that you could call the factory and they'd tell you the year of production and when your gun was first shipped. I'm not sure if they still do that or not.
Congratulations, Rick. You have a beautiful firearm that any Ruger collector would love to own. And many people think those early Super Blackhawks are the finest revolvers ever made.
I believe that I have that book in the hard copy version. Jush have so many books that I will have to look and see. As for the quality of Ruger guns, I will put them against any other handgun or long gun out there. I have the 13th 7.5 inch barrel 44 Magnum single action revolver they built along with the wood presentation box. I quite shooting it years ago but I do shoot the others. Great guns for sure!
ReplyDeleteThey were great guns back when, including my first two purchases with my own money Blackhawk and a Mini-14. Lots since. But the last I've gotten just aren't there anymore. A revolver is meh on form and fit - function is OK, but they really should break edges after what little machining they do. LC9s for family are flimsy and feel like toys. Most recently was a bolt 308 with a warped chassis and a muzzle device that was so over-torqued it had to be cut off. I have more Rugers than any other brand - but that ratio is shrinking from now on. Probably OK if you don't mind doing careful inspection before acceptance - not something I should need to do on a NIB firearm.
ReplyDeleteMy Ruger #1 was a functional work of art
ReplyDeleteI have an early '70s red butt pad No.1 in 270 Winchester. The wood on that rifle is iridescent. It's so gorgeous it's spooky.
DeleteIn 1980 I traded a set of Koss 2+2 Quad headphones for a Blackhawk 357 6" and still have it but haven't shot it in at least 10 years. Gonna hafta change that.
ReplyDeleteMeet me tomorrow morning for coffee and shooting. I'll provide the ammo and we can run to the hills and blast away.
DeleteIf I was about 2000 miles closer....
DeleteSpeaking of Elmo and Rugers, today I saw a Vaquero in .41 Bisley w/ 6" barrel. Used, in very good shape, asking $599.
ReplyDeleteImmediately I thought of Elmo.
My 1956 Super Blackhawk in .44 looks fantastic. I am 2nd owner. The previous owner must've spit shined it every day. It shoots better than me. It makes me look like a real deadeye shot.
ReplyDeleteRick-
DeleteIf your .44 Mag Blackhawk was indeed made in '56, it would be a Blackhawk .44 Magnum Flattop and have a fluted cylinder.
https://gunblast.com/Hamm_44-Flattop.htm
If it's a Super Blackhawk, it would have an unfluted cylinder and a Dragoon style trigger guard.
https://www.gunblast.com/Hamm_SuperBlackhawk2.htm
The Super Blackhawk was first introduced in 1959.
This book -
https://www.ebay.com/itm/157541853110
goes into detail about the two original models of Ruger's .44 Magnum revolvers on pages 33 and 34.
Elmo, for some reason 1956 sticks in my mind. You reminded me that year is incorrect. The revolver does have a 4 digit S/N. I keep meaning to look it up.
DeleteIt is a Super Blackhawk .44 magnum. No flutes on the cylinder and the trigger guard as you described
Thanks
Beginning S/N Year of Production
Delete1 1959
1521 1960
6222 1961
7659 1962
11089 1963
Those early Super Blackhawks had the prettiest, most highly polished
blueing of any guns Ruger ever made.
It used to be that you could call the factory and they'd tell you the year of production and when your gun was first shipped. I'm not sure if they still do that or not.
Congratulations, Rick. You have a beautiful firearm that any Ruger collector would love to own. And many people think those early Super Blackhawks are the finest revolvers ever made.
According to that mine is early 1961
Delete