Ruger Blackhawk Old Model Price Check

[keithpip]

I found a Ruger .357 Blackhawk Old Model at my local pawn shop. It's in very good condition, has a 4-5/8" barrel with box and spare cylinder. The spare cylinder appears to be another.357 cylinder which I don't understand. The tag says it dates to 1970 which I can believe. It definitely doesn't have the transfer bar safety. It's priced at $799. I don't know much about the Ruger OM market so I was hoping for some guidance here. Thanks in advance.
Keith

 

[Riposte1]

I found a Ruger .357 Blackhawk Old Model at my local pawn shop. It's in very good condition, has a 4-5/8" barrel with box and spare cylinder. The spare cylinder appears to be another.357 cylinder which I don't understand. The tag says it dates to 1970 which I can believe. It definitely doesn't have the transfer bar safety. It's priced at $799. I don't know much about the Ruger OM market so I was hoping for some guidance here. Thanks in advance.
Keith

Sadly, I'm a bit out of touch with the market. I did buy a first year of production Flattop .44 a few years ago for $700 but even then the typical price at gun shows was around $1500.

Three screw Rugers seem to be bringing a premium these days, even in .357 - my best guess is $800 would not be grossly out of line depending on the area you are in.

I did own a Flattop .357 back in the 70s but sadly traded it off.

Riposte

 

[s&wchad]

The spare cylinder could be 9mm.

 

[desi2358]

If it's a 1970 manufactured gun with a transfer bar then it was sent back to Ruger for the update. Any chance the original trigger/hammer parts are in the box? Ruger used to return the original parts and having them makes the gun more appealing to collectors (and more than a few shooters as well). It should have a 357 and a 9mm cylinder as that is what the convertible versions came with. If both are 357 then it's likely a previous owner had more than one and mixed the cylinders up when selling them.

 

[keithpip]

This particular Blackhawk has no transfer bar. It's definitely an old model but not a Flattop. When cocking the hammer it makes the distinctive three clicks. The box is the standard Ruger yellow/black. The only thing in the box is a spare cylinder contained in a red drawstring bag. I looked at this spare cylinder carefully and it looks exactly like the cylinder in the gun, .357 length, not 9mm. Does anyone have an idea of what it's worth?

 

[s&wchad]

I looked at this spare cylinder carefully and it looks exactly like the cylinder in the gun, .357 length, not 9mm. Does anyone have an idea of what it's worth?

9mm cylinders look exactly like a .357 cylinder externally. The difference is a shoulder inside each chamber that properly headspaces 9mm cartridges. Drop a 9mm cartridge into a chamber and see it sits a little proud.

 

[Wyo]

$799 seems about $100 high for my area, even with the box and spare cylinder. I would probably pay $799 and not feel too bad about it if I really, really wanted the gun.