Ruger Blackhawk in .30 Carbine
I know pictures are necessary for even a casual evaluation but I'm only looking for approximation, actually just a warm fuzzy that I didn't screw up too bad.
I just walked out of a pawn shop with a Ruger Blackhawk, old model 3 screw with a 7-1/2" barrel in caliber .30 M1 Carbine. The serial number is only 4 digits, 21xx, which makes me think it is a very early made gun from 1968. Condition is exceptionally nice, no turn ring on the cylinder, very slight bluing loss at the muzzle, one small nick on the top strap and then it's ruined by some idiot scratching his AZ DL number across the top strap. Everything is tight and locks up nicely, no wear or nicks in the handles and a bright shiny bore. It is unaltered with no transfer bar, has no box or papers just the gun as it is.
I also walked out with a really beat up walnut stocked Ruger 10/22, rusty barrel but no pitting on the outside, bright and shiny inside and clean looking action. Looks like it sat in a closet for a lot of years, Aluminum butt plate and trigger guard, walnut stock but heavily nicked and scratched. It was made in 1975 and will clean up to be a decent knock around truck gun.
I carried the two guns out and left 4-100 bills in their place. I think I did okay but reinforcement is always nice.
Also, any thoughts on the drivers licence number. It's pretty lightly scratched and I expect will easily sand off, it's flat and easy to re finish and in fact would be mostly covered up by a scope mount. Would the sanding off and re-bluing (cold blue probably) be more detrimental to any collector value than just leaving the scratched on numbers ? I actually bought it as a shooter but then noticed the low serial number and unaltered state and .....\\\
Appreciate any comments
Dan R
I just walked out of a pawn shop with a Ruger Blackhawk, old model 3 screw with a 7-1/2" barrel in caliber .30 M1 Carbine. The serial number is only 4 digits, 21xx, which makes me think it is a very early made gun from 1968. Condition is exceptionally nice, no turn ring on the cylinder, very slight bluing loss at the muzzle, one small nick on the top strap and then it's ruined by some idiot scratching his AZ DL number across the top strap. Everything is tight and locks up nicely, no wear or nicks in the handles and a bright shiny bore. It is unaltered with no transfer bar, has no box or papers just the gun as it is.
I also walked out with a really beat up walnut stocked Ruger 10/22, rusty barrel but no pitting on the outside, bright and shiny inside and clean looking action. Looks like it sat in a closet for a lot of years, Aluminum butt plate and trigger guard, walnut stock but heavily nicked and scratched. It was made in 1975 and will clean up to be a decent knock around truck gun.
I carried the two guns out and left 4-100 bills in their place. I think I did okay but reinforcement is always nice.
Also, any thoughts on the drivers licence number. It's pretty lightly scratched and I expect will easily sand off, it's flat and easy to re finish and in fact would be mostly covered up by a scope mount. Would the sanding off and re-bluing (cold blue probably) be more detrimental to any collector value than just leaving the scratched on numbers ? I actually bought it as a shooter but then noticed the low serial number and unaltered state and .....\\\
Appreciate any comments
Dan R
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Based on your description of the condition of these 2 guns it does'nt sound like you got an especially good deal. The 10-22 in the condition you describe might be worth $100 tops. I would not even buy a gun with someone's DL number scratched into it.
I have an older Ruger Blackhawk in .30 Carbine. They are nice guns. If you have to sand or buff off the number then re-finish it, it will always detract from its value.
They might be good project guns since they sould like they are in OK mechanical condition.0 -
Wear good hearing protection when you fire that 30 carbine revolver.
Muzzle blast is severe.
10-22 used barrels in excellent condition are available as many owners "upgrade" to premium barrels. They install easily with an Allen wrench.
Mine shoots well enough with the stock barrel.0 -
Any real collector value on the Blackhawk went away the second the idjit engraved his DL number(why folks did this is beyond me--if you HAVE to do it, remove the grips and inscribe it under them.) Having said that you are the proud owner of a Pre 73 Blackhawk that hasn't had the safety upgrade--it will make a fine shooter and it's worth at least $200. Personally $300 would have been around max for both since the 10/22 is rusty(you can of course scrap the barrel and stock for the new looking .920 barrels & laminated stocks.) Whatever you do, don't send the .30 back to Ruger for repair-they WILL install the transfer bar and you will have to put it back the old way if you decide you want it done-most gunsmiths will not change it back to the old style either once it has already had the upgrade.
Just make sure you carry it with the hammer down on an empty chamber!
You can always send the Blackhawk to Ford's & they will reblue it good as new without the DL #--Ruger will too but they will do the transfer bar.0 -
The correct "gunsmith" can remove the # and you won't even know its been done,,I have had a couple of the 30s,,,and as stated muzzle blast is awesome...huh,,,what did you say? 0 -
I had a BH in 30 Carbine - I think the 30 was the 2nd caliber Ruger offered, it's been around for a while. I used a Weaver clamp on handgun scope base, it is solid and will of course cover any scratching on the top strap. Excellent mount, got it from Grafs on line.
I used the Hornady 90 grain JHP when reloading, I did find one or two chambers had hard as hell extraction with all ammo - as in, remove the cylinder, tap it out with a nylon rod.
Fun gun. I didn't find the blast to be excessive, but my comparison is to braked Encore pistols in rifle calibers so I may be used to such stuff. [:D]0 -
I had some extraction stickiness on a BH. Just take a bore brush, wrap it with 0000 steel wool, chuck it into your hand drill and spend a few minutes running it in and out of each chamber until they shine like mirrors. Problem solved. 0 -
Four bills ain't that bad a deal, you got a shooter and a truck gun; now you have to decide which is which.
I've used 85gr short jackets, all the way to Rem. 125grainers; you'll have to see if your gun wants to shoot heavy bullet-light load or vise versa.
Can't wait for the 200 new brass I won from DCS; I'm thinking of loading the rest of the 110gr spire points!0
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