Early RSS4

Includes all Pre-1973 Old model Single-Sixes, Blackhawks,
Super Blackhawks, Bearcats, Super Bearcats, Hawkeye
and Black Powder Old Army.
Ruger8r
Posts: 403
Joined: Sat Mar 28, 2020 1:28 pm
Location: Glendale, CA

Early RSS4

Post by Ruger8r »

Just brought this 1959 beauty (134195) home and was pleasantly surprised to find that it appears to be unfired. The listing information indicated that it has been stored in a safe for many years and the internals were coated in old grease that made the action feel stiff (thanks to Bill Hamm for the tip on using a blow dryer to heat the area around the base pin to loosen it). The base pin is in-the-white from the notch back, which I hadn't seen before.
It is like new except for a small nick on the left rear of the trigger guard but was wearing vintage aftermarket walnut grips in excellent condition but it now wears factory stags that came via Mr. Hamm. The bad news is that I had not noticed the large aftermarket ejector rod button and assembly, which is apparently a Premier item for a Colt that was nicely fitted. It looks great and for what I paid I can't complain.
Here are some photos.
Resizer_16129245154490.jpg
Resizer_16129245154491.jpg
Resizer_16129245154492.jpg
Last edited by Ruger8r on Wed Feb 10, 2021 9:28 am, edited 1 time in total.
"My greatest fear is that, when I die, my wife will sell my guns for what I told her I paid for them." Anonymous Collector
User avatar
gunman42782
Posts: 906
Joined: Mon Feb 09, 2015 2:27 pm
Location: KY

Re: Early RSS4

Post by gunman42782 »

She's a beauty!
NRA Endowment Life Member
GOA Member
flattop44
Posts: 2351
Joined: Tue May 06, 2014 2:31 pm
Location: Alabama

Re: Early RSS4

Post by flattop44 »

That's a great looking RSS4, I really like it, you did good!!
Bill
67stingray
Posts: 824
Joined: Thu Jul 26, 2018 7:35 pm
Location: Iron City, TN

Re: Early RSS4

Post by 67stingray »

Very nice specimen, always nice to run across on in such great shape. Now to put a box with it, stags look great and Bill IMO is a true hero to the Ruger collecting community for his knowledge and willingness to help anyone.
Bennett
Any day without learning is a day of backing up.
JAYDAWG
Posts: 744
Joined: Sun Nov 05, 2017 1:14 pm
Location: Olympic Peninsula

Re: Early RSS4

Post by JAYDAWG »

Very nice Owen!
Good for you & I love the stags.

Cheers,
JAY
I do not "own" these guns, I am but the next caretaker
Watertender
Posts: 993
Joined: Tue Sep 08, 2015 3:42 pm

Re: Early RSS4

Post by Watertender »

Bill Hamm is one of the most knowledgeable and nicest Ruger people among a great group of fantastic members. I admire Bill so much that I gifted him a double red velvet carrying case for a pair of 38's... I tried to find one in 44 but 38 was the best I could do. He really seemed to enjoy it when I presented it to him!
Some people sit on $.05 of knowledge like it is the treasure of Egypt. I will teach anyone $.10 worth just to prove a point...
Ruger8r
Posts: 403
Joined: Sat Mar 28, 2020 1:28 pm
Location: Glendale, CA

Re: Early RSS4

Post by Ruger8r »

Ditto re admiration for Bill Hamm. His integrity in our dealings has been beyond outstanding and he's always generous with advice. Just a great guy and probably embarrassed by all the praise.

After re-checking RENE on the ejector assembly it seems that only the rod/button we're replaced. I thought the straight slot going all the way to the frame was not factory but it is. Was the Colt button a common Ruger modification? Did Premier publish a catalogue of all their parts?
"My greatest fear is that, when I die, my wife will sell my guns for what I told her I paid for them." Anonymous Collector
chet15
Posts: 734
Joined: Sat Aug 16, 2014 11:28 am

Re: Early RSS4

Post by chet15 »

A very nice example!!
The first group of 1,000 or so RSS4's in that 134xxx range also all seem to have been shipped in a "non-catalog number" box, presumably because the RSS4 printed boxes hadn't been prepared yet.
Chet15
Mike722
Posts: 133
Joined: Tue May 27, 2014 2:58 pm
Location: Tallahassee, FL

Re: Early RSS4

Post by Mike722 »

Awesome gun!
Ruger8r
Posts: 403
Joined: Sat Mar 28, 2020 1:28 pm
Location: Glendale, CA

Re: Early RSS4

Post by Ruger8r »

This must be the aftermarket ejector rod installed on the gun:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/294266510246?h ... Swn4Jg6GPQ
"My greatest fear is that, when I die, my wife will sell my guns for what I told her I paid for them." Anonymous Collector
Post Reply