Ruger 3 screw Flatops

[Capt. F.]

A year and a half ago my wife surprised me for Christmss with an unconverted Ruger 3 screw Flattop .357 4 5/8" barrel and hard rubber grips.
It was a replacement for the exact gun I sold in 1968 to help finance a car for her while I went off to play soldier.
This week the fellow she bought the gun from sent me a text saying he had a 1958 Flattop .44 magnum 6 1/2" barrel, also with hard rubber grips, he decided to sell and was I interested?
Looked like it had never been fired, no discernible turn line on the cylinder, bluing like new overall. Small scratch on the very end of the grip frame. Overall 98+. The price? Asking $850.
It now has a new home resting comfortably beside its little .357 brother.

 

[Wyo]

I also have a 1958 Flat Top .44. Of the several 44's of various makes that I have it is probably my favorite. Go shoot the dickens out of your new one. You'll love it.

 

[tt66]

You did good. Hard to find a wife like that.

And the .44 is the icing on top.

I like old Rugers, but the Flat Tops are something special.

Tim

 

[quikdraw67]

I have 1 Ruger 3 Screw, a Single Six Convertible with the box and papers.

I also have a Blackhawk convertible 45 Colt/45 ACP that's a 2 screw, but it's pre-warning and Bicentennial marked, with box and papers.

Yeah, I like old Rugers too.

 

[dsf]

A 1956 made 3 screw flat top -



I bought it because the price was right and I got to do "cash & carry" using my C&R FFL. It's a "Ross serial number" BH meaning it was made during 4 digit sequences. By accident or design two digits were added for a run of about 500 guns until #s reverted to 4 digit. Important to some I guess, the "4 click" is my liking.

Interesting to see the quality difference from then to now.

 

[Wyatt Burp]

I worked with a guy who said his wife owns a Ruger .44 Magnum with a 10"barrel. It belonged to her uncle. We wondered what it was exactly and guys started throwing questions at him. I then asked if her uncle owned it before 1971. He said yes and I knew then it was a Flat Top because the only other would be a New Model SBH. Next day he showed me a picture and it was a Flat Top. But it wasn't for sale. It wasn't as nice shape as the two pristine pieces you have here.

 

[Fishinfool]

Congrats on a couple of nice, classic Rugers. Back in the late 1970's, I picked up an original flat top cheap. Shot it some, but for some reason I let it go when offered a fair amount more than I paid.

Always missed it, and picked up a new model flat top, 6 1/2 inch .44 mag, when they did the anniversary run. It is slick, well finished and accurate, and adding thicker grips has made it a favorite shooter.

Larry

 

[s&wchad]

A year and a half ago my wife surprised me for Christmss with an unconverted Ruger 3 screw Flattop .357 4 5/8" barrel and hard rubber grips…

It now has a new home resting comfortably beside its little .357 brother.

Nice guns! Your wife sounds like a keeper too!

Factory letters probably won't tell you much you don't already know, but the "ship to" information and exact date is worth the $10 that Ruger charges.

https://ruger.com/pdf/letterOfAuthenticity.pdf

 

[Ruger 13]

Very nice pistolas!

 

[Capt. F.]

I worked with a guy who said his wife owns a Ruger .44 Magnum with a 10"barrel. It belonged to her uncle. We wondered what it was exactly and guys started throwing questions at him. I then asked if her uncle owned it before 1971. He said yes and I knew then it was a Flat Top because the only other would be a New Model SBH. Next day he showed me a picture and it was a Flat Top. But it wasn't for sale. It wasn't as nice shape as the two pristine pieces you have here.[L
The gent I bought them from also has a 10" .357 & .44, but at present doesn't want to part with them. He said IF he did part with them the price would be around $3 K. Too rich for me.

 

[sigp220.45]

I found this old boy at Cabelas about three years ago. They even took off the trigger lock so I could make sure it wasn't converted. At first I told myself I didn't need another .357, then I came to my senses and realized I ALWAYS need another .357.

The price was befitting its well-travelled condition and cheesy Franzite grips.

 

[PALADIN85020]

Here's my old model .44 mag flattop. It came from the estate of an old rancher who packed it often. The grips are factory stags. Vintage of 1957.

John

 

[Capt. F.]

Here's my old model .44 mag flattop. It came from the estate of an old rancher who packed it often. The grips are factory stags. Vintage of 1957.

John

I looked at one with factory stags, well used but not abused. Owner wanted $2300 because of the grips. Passed.

 

[KEN L]

A year and a half ago my wife surprised me for Christmss with an unconverted Ruger 3 screw Flattop .357 4 5/8" barrel and hard rubber grips.
It was a replacement for the exact gun I sold in 1968 to help finance a car for her while I went off to play soldier.
This week the fellow she bought the gun from sent me a text saying he had a 1958 Flattop .44 magnum 6 1/2" barrel, also with hard rubber grips, he decided to sell and was I interested?
Looked like it had never been fired, no discernible turn line on the cylinder, bluing like new overall. Small scratch on the very end of the grip frame. Overall 98+. The price? Asking $850.
It now has a new home resting comfortably beside its little .357 brother.

Well, that was a no brainer. Nice score!

 

[Empe]

Very nice ! ....I have been keeping my eye open for a nice condition 3 screw Blackhawk .357 with a 6.5 in. barrel . I have noticed the prices on them have been going up over the past few years. Your .44 looks to be in particularly nice condition and includes the box as well . Nice find.

 

[PALADIN85020]

I looked at one with factory stags, well used but not abused. Owner wanted $2300 because of the grips. Passed.

In the early 1960s, factory-installed stags were available for $8.50, and genuine ivory for $16.50!

John

 

[Muley Gil]

One of the guns that I inherited from my dad is a 1st year 3 digit .357 Blackhawk.

 

[bigmtnman]

You have to love those righteous 3 clicks. Your Flattops are gorgeous ! .... My .357 not so much ... BUT .... It ended up being a FREEBEE. It had a non factory brass grip frame with fitted sambar grips. The grips would not fit well on any other frame. I had a spare grip frame on hand. I sold the brass & grips for the cost of the gun. I was pretty sure I could "find" another pair of grips for it .... I think this old Flattop spent some serious time riding the range out here !

 

[Capt. F.]

You have to love those righteous 3 clicks. Your Flattops are gorgeous ! .... My .357 not so much ... BUT .... It ended up being a FREEBEE. It had a non factory brass grip frame with fitted sambar grips. The grips would not fit well on any other frame. I had a spare grip frame on hand. I sold the brass & grips for the cost of the gun. I was pretty sure I could "find" another pair of grips for it .... I think this old Flattop spent some serious time riding the range out here !

If that ever needs a new home……….

 

[bill-in-texas]

You have to love those righteous 3 clicks…

All of mine "came with" 4 clicks. I guess I lucked out!

I, too, love the Ruger single actions, "old models" in particular.
Very nice story… really nice wife!

-Bill