Used blackhawk 44 mags not worth much anymore?

[target tech]

As a general rule, you buy a Ruger for life. With a few exemptions, new Rugers loose a lot of their value the moment you walk out the door.

 

[diyj98]

As a general rule, you buy a Ruger for life. With a few exemptions, new Rugers loose a lot of their value the moment you walk out the door.

Someone should have told that to the horse traders walking around the gunshow I was at today. One guy was walking around with a Ruger Redhawk 44. He was asking $1,000. Another conman had a Super Blackhawk and said he wanted $800. I'm 99% sure both guys carried their guns home. They wanted more for used guns than you can buy them for new.

 

[kaaskop49]

Someone should have told that to the horse traders walking around the gunshow I was at today. One guy was walking around with a Ruger Redhawk 44. He was asking $1,000. Another conman had a Super Blackhawk and said he wanted $800. I'm 99% sure both guys carried their guns home. They wanted more for used guns than you can buy them for new.

Lotta optimists out there. What I dislike about many of them is their refusal to haggle. Tough...

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

 

[CH4]

I like the Blackhawk but only for old cowboy cartridges like 44-40, 45 Colt and 44 spl. It’s a cowboy gun and should be chambered accordingly.

4 5/8 Bisley 44 Special, Lipseys Exclusive
3 5/8 Sheriffs Model 45 Colt/45 acp, Accusport exclusive 1 of 1000

I’d like a Freedom Arms in 45 Colt.

 

[edwardyoung]

Well acquainted with the Super Blackhawk .44 Mag, never heard of a Blackhawk in .44 Mag, nor did I find one with the help of Mr. Google. Words matter.

The cowboys of the late 19th century had the same problem with frame screws loosening, so fell into the practice of riding their horses complete with saddlery and wearing their pistols, into the nearest river to rust the screws into position. Well documented. Did you try that with your Ruger? Ha ha

Here’s my Old Model 44 magnum Ruger Blackhawk. Ask Google again

 

[DWalt]

I heard one story many years ago about how gun screws were kept from loosening in the days before Loctite. Apply a drop of Iodine. That will weld the screw threads together. I never tried that.

 

[mtgianni]

My problem has never been with screws coming loose as much as with the base pin jumping out of place. Belt Mountain pins fix that problem.

 

[max503]

I once had an inch and a half firecracker go off in my hand. It was a lot like shooting a 44 magnum.

One of the reasons I sold my Model 29 about ten years ago was I really didn't care to shoot it.

 

[Capt. F.]

I don't know about others, but it would take a substantial sum to make me even think about parting with either of these.

John

Agree. I have the same pair although my Blackhawk doesn’t have the factory stags.
I paid $850 for the flattop 2 years ago and still feel I got a bargain.
I wear a shooting glove when I shoot magnum loads. Those loads are reserved for hunting. All other times it’s “ Skeeters”.

 

[Chubbs103]

I grew up in rural Ohio. At the time, deer hunting was for slugs and shotguns. When they allowed muzzle loaders, my dad bought a kit from Sears.

At some point, Ohio began allowing handgun hunting for deer. I saw Smith & Wessons in gun stores, but the only handguns I ever saw in the field were Rugers. Blackhawks and Super Blackhawks. .44 Magnum and .45 Colt. I wanted a .41 Magnum because of a Shooting Times article I read, but never saw one until decades later. I heard of someone using a Contender, but never actually saw one in the field.

My guess is the hunters in that area were a thrifty lot. The price difference between a Ruger and a Smith & Wesson was as real then as it is now.

 

[Muley Gil]

Well acquainted with the Super Blackhawk .44 Mag, never heard of a Blackhawk in .44 Mag, nor did I find one with the help of Mr. Google. Words matter.

The cowboys of the late 19th century had the same problem with frame screws loosening, so fell into the practice of riding their horses complete with saddlery and wearing their pistols, into the nearest river to rust the screws into position. Well documented. Did you try that with your Ruger? Ha ha

The lower revolver in post #16 is a standard model .44 Magnum Blackhawk.

 

[diyj98]

Well acquainted with the Super Blackhawk .44 Mag, never heard of a Blackhawk in .44 Mag, nor did I find one with the help of Mr. Google. Words matter.

The cowboys of the late 19th century had the same problem with frame screws loosening, so fell into the practice of riding their horses complete with saddlery and wearing their pistols, into the nearest river to rust the screws into position. Well documented. Did you try that with your Ruger? Ha ha

Ruger made Blackhawks for a number of years in 44 magnum. They've also come out later with runs of Blackhawks chambered in 44 magnum.

I'd read of using varnish to prevent screws from backing out, but had never heard the rust story. It looks like the internals would rust as well.

 

[Frailer]

Well acquainted with the Super Blackhawk .44 Mag, never heard of a Blackhawk in .44 Mag, nor did I find one with the help of Mr. Google. Words matter.

To find the right answer, one must ask the right question. Try “ruger blackhawk .44 magnum -super”

 

[mtgianni]

The "super" was made when the originals started having the problems of loosening up.

 

[Model19man]

The Ruger SBH is built to satisfy a price and need. Quality is just good enough for the crowd that can't afford better. Plastic grips and poor finish are part of that.

The price of used ones has come up quite a bit lately but they are still affordable.

 

[Ameshawki]

I own a lot of Rugers. But the brand has never done well in the used market. Not sure why, but used values on Rugers are generally poor across the board.

 

[Buzzzer]

I bought a Super around 12 years ago with the 5.5" barrel. I use shooting gloves when running full house loads (my own). I had issues with screws coming loose and the rear sight moving around. Bent the rear sight pin slightly and that seemed to work but was frustrating. Screws got Loctite. Nice gun but don't run many magnums through it. Mine has the wood grips but I should have bought the Bisley model...

 

[Marcruger]

".....Much later I bought a .44 SBH and still have it. But I use only .44 Special-level handloads in it."

DWalt, there is a lot of wisdom in this comment. Two thumbs up. God Bless, Marc

 

[Wyatt Burp]

My dad bought a Super Blackhawk in the late 60's before he headed to Alaska , kept it until the mid 80's . I asked him why he got rid of it after so long and he told me it had had so many heavy loads shot through it that you couldn't keep the screws tight even with Loctite. I'd as soon have the .44 Special Flattop that I got loaded with Elmer's load as anybody's big bulky magnum. Had a 4" 29 for a while but just never could like it, too heavy.

I bought a 4” 24-3 .44 Special in 1983 when Skelton did an article on their reintroduction. A few years back I got a 4” 29-2. It was beautiful but I preferred the 24 with moderate handloads to the heavy recoil magnum. So I sold it and used the $ to get another Colt SAA. I don’t miss it at all. My old model Super Blackhawk is all I need or want in a magnum.

 

[BlackAgnes]

The Keith #5 grip frame as sold by Power Custom helps with .44 Magnum recoil pretty significantly...