Mayor Al

As I posted elsewhere on this site, I recently bought a Chrome-Plated Ruger Blackhawk "Flattop" 44 magnum . I have checked the production date and have a late 1962 'birthday' for it. It is in excellent condition, but shows that it has been fired. It has poor-fitting (IMHO) fake-pearl grips with an image of John Wayne on each grip.

I want to learn more about the history of this gun. I am aware from comments made on this forum, that Ruger did NOT do a production run of this model, but they did make "some" (no number given) Special Guns for an NRA Display using a "factory Chrome Plating. I probably will never know all the details of where this gun has been for the last 50 years...but I sure would like to learn as much as I can about it.

If it is an aftermarket Chrome-Plating, how does that effect the value of the gun? Is their ANY real connection between the image on the grips, and that Great American Hero of the Western Films, John Wayne?.... or is it just another "stick-on" set of cheap plastic grips??

Here are two visuals to give you the idea of what I am asking about. I am looking for someone who can give me a decent appraisal, not charging an arm and a leg, but I am willing to pay a reasonable fee for more information than I currently have !!




ANY INFO, Or suggestions about sources of Info or appraisals will be gratefully accepted.

Thanks,
Mayor AL

Ale-8(1)

To the best of my knowledge there were no 4-5/8" .44 Flattops at all, even in the chromed factory display guns.

IMHO this is a custom gun, or perhaps one of some special run by a distributor or one of the "societies" that do this kind of thing.

Value? Kinda tough to determine. It's an unusual piece, for sure, and a conversation starter of the first order. If you're happy with it, I'd say you paid exactly the right price.

Mayor Al

Hey Neighbor, I drink your namesake frequently !

I did get an appraisal done on the Ruger. The service put a base value in the $1200 to $1600 range and then added some for the unique Chrome and John Wayne finish, bringing the "collector's" (their term) value between $1800-$2000. I sent for the Ruger Records Production and purchase certificate, but haven't got it back yet. The gun sure feels good, but I can fund a number of additions to my armory if I find the right buyer !

Thanks for the input about the shortened barrel.

BTW I lived and worked at Morehead State in KY for a few years some decades ago.

Ale-8(1)

If you come up with documentation of this gun's origin and provenance we'd love to see it.

Depending on the actual shipping date of the original gun from Ruger, some of the .44 "Flattops" are currently valued at the prices you mention in "all-original pristine collector quality" to Rugerphiles.

Modifications such as shortening the barrel and adding the chrome plating to make it a "special" gun drastically cut the value to collectors. If this gun was part of a "special run" of so-called "commemoratives" marketed by one of the after-market shops, its value will be determined by those who specialize in such unusual pieces.

I don't mean to rain on your parade, but these "specials" rarely carry much value except to a very limited market. That said, posting it for sale on an auction site with complete documentation of its "special" features and history would likely be your best bet for finding an interested buyer. Good luck.

And yes, I like the "little green bottles" myself.

BlkHawk73

I'd be curious who did this appraisal? I just do see it. Pretty much all the real collector value disappeared with the refinishing etc. It's no longer original and it's basically at shooter grade now. Unless you could document it's history of who did the work, etc, I see it as FAR less than the $1200+ appraisal.
Not the expert on these OM's so I'd certainly suggest heading to RugerForum.com and asking the really knowledgeable folks there.

Mayor Al

The Appraisal I got was from the agency that is part of GunsAmerica website--- "GunsAppraisals.com". I have no way of confirming their information, yet. I am exchanging posts with some folks at the Ruger's Collector's site, who say basically the same thing you guys have told me. If the Blackhawk was a Virgin in NIB condition it might draw the appraised value.. but --to a ruger-nut (no disrespect intended) much of the collectors value is buried now under the chrome and the circumsision of the barrel. When I get the production and sale info from Ruger, I will add it to this thread.

I am currently doing a search of the aftermarket special gun producers to see if I can find the company that did the work on my Blackhawk. That may lead to a group of buyers interested in the gun for it's Hollywood Legacy.

Meantime I will keep it clean, and show it off as much as I can to try to find a local buyer who can't pass up a buy on this piece of John Wayne Memmorabia. Lots of "Duke-Freaks" out there...but we are dying off pretty damn quickly, so I better get busy !

Here are a few More photos for your information--and to show how nice this old timer still looks.

BlkHawk73

Ummm, what's the "Hollywood" legacy aspect? Simply having grips with John Wayne doesn't really create anything. Put them on another gun, does that gun then gain the same legacy? My opinion...you'd be better of changing the grips out to some that fit and selling those ones separately . Having such ill-fitting grips will certainly deter a possible buyer or at least make it an area to margin with. That poor of a fit makes them pretty unusable as they cannot really be made to properly fit that grip frame from what is seen in the pictures.
Not trying to bring more rain to the parade, just wanting to bring the whole picture into the light.

Mayor Al

'73,
The Legacy may be just what you describe...a set of grips that would be better sold by themselves...or they may have more of a story, that some research may uncover. Time and homework will tell if the story goes any deeper.

BlkHawk73

The grips appear to be a pearl-like material with a laser etching so those themselves aren't too old. I'd look around at the various grip makers offering that material and see which offer the laser service. Would give an idea as to their potential worth.

Ale-8(1)

Great pictures. Thanks.

That serial number puts the gun right at the very, very end of the Old Model "Flattop" production in 1962. The oldest reported number is 29860 according to the information published in the Red Eagle News Exchange collectors' newsletter.

Mayor Al

I am hoping to hear from the Ruger Records Department. I postal mailed their inquiry form and $10 fee 3 weeks ago. They don't reveal who they sold it to, but they say they will establish the production date and the shipping date and the configuration of this particular gun. Any further info will help.

In 'Bill Ruger and his Guns" Ruger says that some of the early versions of this gun were made with a 4 and 5/8th inch barrel, but in another place it shows only the longer barrels were on the 44 magnums...so I am a bit confused as to if this is a custom barrel or a production prototype that was serial numbered later. Both are know to have happened in the 60's

shootist

The grips are after market I have seen them before on the internet, who ever put them on never even finished fitting them, likely the plating job is not factory, did you call Ruger and give them the SN# and ask how it was when it left the factory? they have told me on guns before over the phone without having to pay for a $10 letter.

Ale-8(1)

I'm betting the letter will reveal the gun was shipped late in 1962 as a BKH47 (.44 Blackhawk with 7-1/2" barrel). There is the slim possibility it was a BKH46 (6-1/2"), and a most unlikely possibility it was a BKH40 (10").

There were a few "shorty" 4-5/8" guns made as prototypes and "special offerings" that I should have acknowledged in my first post, but they are almost never seen and some never left the factory. Remote possibilities, however. Remember, with Ruger "never say never".

Still an interesting gun.

Mayor Al

I am hoping to add another chapter in this "Biography of a Blackhawk", shortly. I will not try to sell it without as much info as I can gather.
Ale8, If you are ever in the Louisville area, let me know and I will invite you to come across the River to check this out personally.

Ale-8(1)

Thank you, Mayor. I appreciate that.

Please be sure to let us know what your "letter" reveals.