Interesting Blackhawk

[Stape]

Hello fellas, new guy here. I joined up here to ask about a particular pistol and seems this is THE place to do so.

i was in a small rural shop the other day when an old cardboard Ruger pistol box caught my eye. It was behind some papers on the counter and when I asked about it, the shop owner said that he had just taken it in that morning. i open it up to reveal a 7 1/2 barrel New Model Blackhawk in 45 Colt with a 45 ACP cylinder also. It has all the original paperwork and wax paper in the box, the red cloth bag for the conversion cylinder and the little cardboard box for it too. In the bottom of the box is an envelope from a Mr. C. Lee Newton. The letter states that the pistol was part of the Davis Collection and is featured in a book published ""Guide to Ruger Firearms". Or something close to that. The pistol is serial numbered 46-00050.

I got it for a good deal, priced well for any Ruger single action, but this piece is different. My concerns are that this might be a collectable pistol and it would be a shame for me to use it for my intended purposes. I plan on it seeing duty plinking, hunting, and as a woods gun.

So, I ask, is this a very collectable pistol? What might the value be? if it is collectible, how do I reach out to a collector so it can have the home it deserves?

I have dozens of Ruger firearms, I've always been a big fan, but I'm not a collector. I'm partial to 3 screws but that's about the extent of it.

Any help, information or advice is greatly welcomed.

[ElNumeroUno]

Here's a comment from C. Lee Newton. I think as the letter states, I bought the Fred Davis Ruger collection in July of 1983. Fred Davis claimed to be the first Ruger collector. He did write the first article about Ruger collecting in the Gunfacts magazine from January of 1969. You ought to try to pick up a copy of that magazine. Later, he published the Guide to Ruger Firearms.
Now how collectable? It is a 2 digit New Model, but other than that, no different than one you could buy today, some 44 years later. I wouldn't try to place a value on it for you, but in that condition, box and all, it should be worth a slight premium to what a new one would go for at MSRP.
You did come to the right place. go ahead and join up as a member of ROCS and you can learn all sorts of interesting things about Rugers. Our Spring Digest is at the Printers and should be mailed out to Members around the 1st of April.

[Stape]

Thanks. I was concerned and thought it would be a shame to be shooting up a pistol that was hard to come by or that someone might want for a collection. I think I'll enjoy it as intended and just have a neat pistol in the lineup.