OM RUGER SUPER BLACKHAWK .44

[LRB]

  I am thinking of selling, or maybe trading this off. Could someone give me a ball park value? It is 98% condition, serial # 19XXX. Perfect bore. Has been fired very little. The cylinder bolt races are still blue. I want to replace it with a OM Ruger .45, with 6 1/2", or 7 1/2" barrel in about the same condition. I have been out of the loop for a long time, and have little idea what either of these guns are worth today.

[Lloyd Smale]

I dont know serial numbers so ill ask. Is it a flattop? a non flattoped 3 screw super will usually fetch between 500 and a 1000 bucks in that condition depending on what the demand is at the time of the sale. Id say if its truely 98 percent that 700 is a fair price. If its a flattop then id start it at a grand. Little advice on sell old model rugers. Dont list them in the clasifieds for a set price. Put them on the auction sights. It truely amazes me sometimes what people are actually willing to pay for those things.

[LRB]

Thanks Lloyd. I did not think it would be worth that much. I will look into the auction angle.

[WNY_Whitetailer]

According to the Ruger website, your OM Super Blackhawk was manufactured sometime in 1965.  You've got a 43 year old revolver there...

[mtnjack]

Lloyd i could be wrong but Ruger never made a super blackhawk as a flattop.The old .44s were flattops and these are the ones that bring the money.Supers were a later issue.Om supers in 98 percent are a dime a dozen and unless they are a special run, long grip frame,boxed, or the rare 6.5 barrell,they seldom bring big money.They are fine guns as that is what i carry.Do a search on GB and see what i mean,what they sell for and not what they are listed at,my saved auctions confirm the above. Good luck Mtn Jack  Ps. If you have the box and all the papers this helps also.

[Graybeard]

I wonder about that?

Mind you I'm NOT saying you are wrong. I'm not even a Ruger fan much less a knowledgeable collector however.... I seem to recall seeing an old Ruger SBH with 10.5" barrel that as I recall it at least was a flat top. Now I might be remembering it wrong. I wasn't sufficiently interested to buy it so don't have it at hand to check but it sure seems to me it was a flat top. But maybe not.

[Flint]

A Super Blackhawk is NOT a flattop.  Although the top of the strap is flat rather than rounded like a Vaquero, the Super (as are all non flattops) is distinguished by the raised rear sight protection.  A flattop is flat all the way to the rear with no change in thickness.

A 10 inch Ruger 44 OM is more likely a flattop than a Super, 10 inch barrel lengths were not a catalog item for 3-screw Super Blackhawks, but was for the flattop.  I see that Ruger shipped at least 2 10 inch Supers, but not more than ten, as there were only ten 10", Brass framed 6-1/2 and 12 inch altogether, where 92,450 of the S47's were made.

Values are not far off current model prices in many cases, usually less.  The value of a 10 inch SBH might be more than we have in our pocket, however.

[Graybeard]

The revolver I mentioned was originally sold in the same shop I was looking at it in and was still in the original configuration in which it was sold according to the dealer who is a friend and the fellow I buy all my guns from. It had the square back SBH trigger guard when it left Ruger and when I looked at it. If I am not mistaken that "should" make it a SBH.

I am less than 100% certain but am "almost 100% certain" it was a flat top as well without the wings protecting the rear sight. I do at times suffer from CRS so it's not 100% certain but that's sure the way I recall the gun. I almost bought it really but just couldn't justify it since I already have .44 Magnums from both S&W and Freedom Arms around to shoot. That long 10" barrel is the ONLY reason I was considering it and that did make it tempting I must admit. I think it was only the third of the 10" Rugers of the type I've seen one of which was owned by a cousin of mine and the other was at a gunshow years ago. They don't seem very common around here for sure.

[mtnjack]

Thanks Flint pretty much what i thought,i have studyed them for awhile but you know anything could be possible.A fellow can get a letter from the factory if a gun is in Plenty of them have been customized as we all know.Grey beard do you remember if the cylinder was fluted,because that would confirm the model.SBH would not be, in an old model, and would be, in a flat top. I think the gun would have been cool though ,but not quite a holster peice. Mtn Jack

[Graybeard]

No I honestly cannot say that I recall if the cylinder was or was not fluted. The things I do remember for certain are 10" barrel with a front sight that I don't recall having seen before on it and the square SBH trigger guard that I hate and detest. I'm pretty sure I remember it being a flat top as well but am a little less than certain on that. The cylinder tho I just honest have no recollection at all about. Sorry I'm not much of a fan of Ruger guns and it just plain didn't stick with me. As I said I almost bought it just because of that long barrel and if it had not had the trigger guard it had I likely would have. I could have walked out the door with it for $300 and it sure did sell fast as the next time I was in there I asked about it and it was gone.

[Flint]

Someone may have put the SBH gripframe on the flattop.

[Graybeard]

The store owner who sold it originally assured me it as as he sold it. I have no reason to doubt him. But as you say I really cannot know with certainty. Kinda wish now I'd bought it just so I'd have it in hand to discuss it further.

[mtnjack]

Gray Beard thanks for the response i am sortta new here in posting but have been around awhile reading,i just would like to thank you for the wonderful site.  Mtn Jack