RugerSociety.com

Hi Folks,
I have a Ruger Blackhawk .357 flat top serial number 15992 which was made in 1958 according to the serial number list. It is said to have been the personal gun of a “Ruger employee” who worked on guns in the warranty dept.
The action is superb, so I’m sure he or another smith did the action job.

My question is about originality. According to Dougan’s book, "Know Your Ruger Single Action Revolvers 1953-1963" , on page 68, it says that the Type 1 and 2 ejector housings were used until early 1959 when they switched to the type 3 ejector housing (type 1 is only used on .22s).
My 1958 Blackhawk, has a type three ejector housing and a type 2 ejector rod. Could this be a phasing in period between 58 and 59, or is this simply a switched part?
The cylinder has the large S proof mark, which was used a couple years later, so that was replaced (according to the book).

The grips look like "varnished walnut", but I think they are too pretty to be original; what do you think?

Thanks for your answers.
Marv

I just got this flat top a few days ago. I found out that this Blackhawk is a mine field of errors. I just got around to removing the grips. Guess what! It blew up in my face. The grip frame is XR3-RED! I have a custom made flat top. At least the action is perfect. I took it to the local gun store and tested the trigger pull. One Pound!
So I guess I have a great looking parts gun. WOO-HOO ! If I had just not bought that book, I could have lived for the rest of my life in a state of happy, ignorant bliss.
Thanks for looking.
Marv

You should call the factory though and get a ship date for it, and being an employee gun who knows... anything goes with something like that.
I know of a 13xxx range .44 flattop that wasn't shipped until 1976.
Chet15

As Chat says "you need to get a factory letter" If your gun was shipped late those parts may be original to the gun? Being an employ gun I have seen may original configuration. It is to bad you don't know the employee's name. More than likely they were added by past owner(s), but when it comes to Rugers you never say never.

O M CRAZY