Are There Many People That Collect Ruger Revolvers?

The Ruger Collectors always have some beautiful booths and displays setup at the Tulsa Gunshow. Love to look at all the old Bearcats and early flatgate Single-Sixes. And the Hawkeyes that I can't afford to buy!

I buy at least one or two OM's every year. They are great guns. My first Ruger single actions were NM's but then I made the mistake of buying an unconverted OM and I was ruined. I only buy a NM now if there is no choice. A custom unconverted OM that has been case hardened by one of the top guys is a work of art that can be enjoyed and shot, not just looked at.

Gregg
 
Tulsamal, you mean something like these?

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Bob Wright
 
My Ruger collection:

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I think I'm off to a great start! :D



BTW, I sure wouldn't mind "collecting" a Stainless 2.75" Speed Six. ;)
 
As a matter of note, one rare Ruger item is not a gun, but a hand powered drill. The drill is based on a Standard Model .22 Auto frame, with the crank flat on top, the chuck at the muzzle. Sort of.

Bob Wright
 
Ruger collectable revolvers include the early "flat gate" Single Sixes, factory engraved Single Sixes, and the two-tone lightweight Single Sixes. All the three-screw model Blackhawks, especially the earliest Flat Tops, and the Long Frame Super Blackhawks, which had grip frames about 1/8" longer than later production models.

Even empty Ruger boxes are being sold at premium prices.

Bob Wright
 
Hmmmm....I've "collected" all of my guns over the preceding 50+ years, but I shoot 'em all, with one exception, that being a 1931 documented National Match 1903 Springfield....and even that has been fired once.

Rugers are wonderful guns, well designed for the work or play that they do, and my experience with their single actions has been excellent...they all shot well. All, absolutely all (over a baker's dozen with some I've probably forgotten in the count) would keep six shots under two inches in group size at 25 yds. Currently, I've been accumulating the flat tops, both the early ones and the most recent models...love 'em all and carry them as well. Collect? Yes, emphatically, but I shoot 'em as they were designed to do!

Rod
 
well i wouldn't consider my self a ruger collector until i get my paws on a 357 redhawk.
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I've had a chance to buy one several times over the years and I've considered it. They certainly are rare guns. And if you want to have a .357 that you can try super hot loads in... that would be the one. But every time I have a chance to buy one, I ultimately conclude that I'm unlikely to actually do anything much with it other than just put it in the safe. The smaller holes make it a heavy gun. So I probably wouldn't put it in a holster and carry it around the property. And my interest in hot loading .357 at my age is pretty much zero.

I agree it has good value as a straight collector piece. If one came along NIB for a gift price, I would pick it up and put it away.

On the other hand.... I looked long and hard for a 5.5" stainless .41 Magnum Redhawk. I knew I _would_ carry and shoot that. I love that gun. In general I prefer OM Rugers but that Redhawk is a great gun. And actually a nice looking one once I put some Nill grips on it. I even bought a stainless rail that you can mount on it without drilling so that you can put a pistol scope on it. Not to carry it around that way, that would be ugly. But I was curious about just how accurate it really was and wanted to use it for load development. (The rail is still in the tube but I did buy it!)

Gregg
 
Yes Bob, those are some nice looking CH OM's. I've got a couple I would put up against them. But the only photos I have of them are the ones from when I bought them. I don't like posting photos somebody else took. I need to drag the revolvers out and take some of them myself.

Actually, I've been telling myself for some time that it is time to drag all the guns out for a new family photo. Every few years it is fun to take one photo with every single gun in one shot. No matter how hard that is to do. And inevitably when I'm done I remember one gun in a closet somewhere that got forgotten. It's been years since I did that. I need to do that and I need to do a "revolver only" shot again since I've added more since I did one last year. Maybe I'll do a "Ruger only" shot while I'm at it!

Gregg
 
John T. Amber, originator and editor of The Gun Digest was probably the foremost collector of single shot cartridge rifles of the Creedmoor target type.
So far as I know, he shot every one of his pets.

Bob Wright
 
In 2010, someone bought a former Ruger employee's collection. All serial numbers ended in 0038. The ad explains the mixup that led to Bill Ruger giving the man the claim on number 38 - because Mr. Ruger claimed all the numbers from 1 to 40 for himself.

http://www.icollector.com/An-Impress...and-S_i9751790

The selling price was $29,500 plus fees, etc. The buyer's premium alone was almost $6k.
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Okay -- that is just plain cool. I feel like a schmuck because I hadn't heard of this and it was two years ago.

I appreciate you sharing this tidbit. Very, very cool.
 
My Dad used to have one of Blackhawk model; in several calibers.

At the auction after his passing they were sold. I live on the other side of the country.
 
Another intersting thing is Ruger SA fans are willing to put big money into grips and leather. Several custom grip makers and prices range from $80-$300. Stag and Bone grips can get even higher. I would be willing to bet there are more grip makers specializing in Ruger SA then any other gun (outside of the 1911)
 
also wouldn't consider my self a ruger collector until i get my paws on the following:

1. .357 redhawk
2. .480 ruger 6 shot super redhawk
3. .357 MAX blackhawk
4. A-Team edition Mini-14
 
You could add the 10mm/.38-40 convertible "Buckeye" Blackhawk and the .41 Mag Super Blackhawk Hunter model as harder to find but still modern Ruger guns.
 
Ruger is still the "new kid" on the block when it comes to the major companies, so collecting them hasn't grown to the popularity of S&W or Colt, but that's changing.

I had a pretty extensive collection of weird ones, which I sold most of a few years ago when I was interested in other stuff.

I regret that now, as some of the guns I had really increased in value in just the last few years.

Story of my life....
 
Actually, I've been telling myself for some time that it is time to drag all the guns out for a new family photo. Every few years it is fun to take one photo with every single gun in one shot. No matter how hard that is to do. And inevitably when I'm done I remember one gun in a closet somewhere that got forgotten. It's been years since I did that. I need to do that and I need to do a "revolver only" shot again since I've added more since I did one last year. Maybe I'll do a "Ruger only" shot while I'm at it!

Gregg
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Gregg, not sure if you meant pictures with you in them too, but I think it's a great idea. I have my Dad's and Grampa's guns. I'd love to have pictures of them holding them.

I'm going to make sure and do that with the guns I'm leaving to the kids and grandkids.
 
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