
Ruger Pre-Warning Blackhawk .357 Magnum Three Screw Revolver, 1959 C&R
SOLD FOR: $4980
LSB#: 230714PJ030
Make: Sturm, Ruger & Co
Model: Blackhawk
Serial Number: 23165
Year of Manufacture: 1959, C&R
Caliber: .357 Magnum
Action Type: Single Action 6 Shot Revolver with Side Loading Gate
Barrel Length: 10”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a ramped & serrated blade attached to a base, the rear sight is an adjustable square notch attached to the top strap.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two piece smooth checkered plastic with Ruger medallions. The grips show light to moderate handling and storage marks. There are scuff marks and scratches. The grips rate in about Good to Very Good overall condition.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright, the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, this bore rates a 9 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 98% of its metal finish. The balance of the finish shows light wear from handling and storage. There is a turn line through the finish on the cylinder. There are a few minor scuff marks and scratches, notably on the alloy frame. There is old oil and residue in a few places. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol rates in about Very Good Plus condition.
Mechanics: The action functions Correctly. The cylinder locks with a little play on each chamber. We did not fire this firearm. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This Ruger includes its original shipping box.
Our Assessment: The Ruger Blackhawk is a popular single-action revolver manufactured by Sturm, Ruger & Co., an American firearms company. It is a modernized version of the classic Colt Single Action Army revolver, also known as the Colt Peacemaker. The Blackhawk revolver has been in production since 1955 and has gained a reputation for its ruggedness, reliability, and accuracy. The Blackhawk is available in various calibers, including .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum, .45 Colt, and others. Ruger has also introduced convertible models that can shoot multiple calibers. The Blackhawk typically has a capacity of six rounds, although there are some models available with five-round cylinders. The Blackhawk revolver features a solid frame construction, typically made of stainless steel or blued carbon steel. The grip frame is usually made of aluminum alloy or stainless steel. The revolver has a traditional western-style design, with a distinctive shape and a prominent ejector rod housing.
The 1955–1962 Blackhawks are known today as the “Flattop” models, because their adjustable rear sights were not protected by “ears” extending up from the frame as later became standard. From 1962 through 1972, Ruger made the “Three Screw” Blackhawk in various calibers, so called by the number of screws visible on the side of the revolver. In 1973, in order to eliminate accidents occurring from the hammer jarring against a round loaded in the sixth chamber, Ruger introduced the New Model Blackhawk. The New Model Blackhawk did not require the hammer to be half-cocked for loading and unloading, and it employed a transfer bar mechanism which prevented the cartridge under the hammer from being fired without the trigger being pulled. The New Blackhawk was seen as limiting firearms accidents and legal liability. Ruger then began offering a retrofit program, offering free transfer bar conversions to earlier variants of the Blackhawk.”
This example was manufactured in 1959 (C&R) and is in Very Good Plus overall condition, showing light use. This 6 shot blued revolver has a 10 inch barrel and is chambered for .357 Magnum. The Blackhawk is modernized compared to the Colt Single Action Army, in that it has adjustable sights instead of the Colt’s fixed sights, and uses wire coil springs instead of the Colt’s flat leaf springs. Bill Ruger chose coil springs due to their greater durability, saying that it solved one of the primary weaknesses of the Colt design. The Blackhawk is a popular and well known revolver that has been in production since 1955. This Three Screw Pre-Warning Blackhawk has an impressive 10 inch barrel and would make a great target gun. Please see our photos, good luck and happy bidding.
-Robert
