Ruger Blackhawk Serial Numbers 45
Welcome to the forum. My copy of the RENE Reference places your serial number in 1972 and says you have a model BKH-44X. Production started in 1971 and ended in 1973 when the transfer bar safety system was incorporated in the design and the New Models appeared. No actual production numbers are known (typical of most Ruger products) but the RENE Reference does have this to say: 'BKH-44X and BKH-45X with silver eagle medallions.
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Known s/n range 45-07574 to 45-23016. Only a few thousand of each produced with the BKX-44X being the scarcest.' I think it would be safe to say you have a 'scarce' old model Blackhawk. Post a photo if you get the chance. Thanks guys for all the information. I had no idea what the gun is worth, but I gave a lady 300.00 for the gun and an old cowboy holster. Since it is so rare any ideas on how it is worth for insurance purposes?
In the right condition and to the right buyer it might be worth double what you paid for it. The key is its condition and finding a collector who knows its rarity who would want it bad enough. On average 'post it on a forum and sell it price' you're probably closer to the 450-500 ballpark in very good condition.
Again, condition being everything. The holster may add additional value if it's a particularly nice rig by a well known maker. Any stamping on it? Either way for 300.00 you done good. I have a new model convertible.45 and I love it. 45 Colt is probably the most reloaded pistol caliber in history. They like heavy bullets and slow burning powder.
Since yours is an old model, it will handle the 'Ruger only' loads in most manuals. I have always liked WW296 or H110 (which I think are the same exact powders just packaged for Winchester or Hogdon) and lately investigated Hogdon LilGun.
Any of the manuals will have standard pressure load data for a vintage Colt which should not be subjected to over 20,000cups and you can shoot these in the Ruger if you want easy shooting loads, but I hunt with mine and favor the heavy loads. Here is 'Ruger ONLY' load data for H110 and LilGun from Hornady, which I posted in the reloading subforum.
Ok the books; Join the Red Eagle News Exchange, and you will get the 'Ruger Reference Guide' as part of your first subscription. It's invaluable.
Next, Get a copy of R.L. Wilsons 'Ruger & His Guns.'
Even some book discount places have them for under $20 Next, a few by John Dougan; 'Know your Ruger Single-Actions 1953-1963.' 'Ruger Single-Actions the Second Decade,' 'Ruger Pistols & Revolvers the Vintage Years' 1949-1973. Chad Hiddlesons book; 'Encyclopedia Of Ruger Semi-automatic rimfires' (Lots of good info that's crossover to other things too.) Don Findley's book; Bill Ruger's 22 Pistol. Again, lots of great info beyond the semi's. Those are a start,,,!
Close-up view of the factory letter of provenance that validates the case as a true prototype. Written and signed by Steven K. Vogel, Manager of Sturm, Ruger, & Co. Inc., Prescott Division and co-founder of the Ruger Collectors Association. This is one of the last of the Supers with all steel parts and the small 1/16” serial numbers before the “Changes of 1962” began. S/N 10659, shipped in Nov. 
1962 in the new two-piece “telescoping” black and red box that replaced the “White Box”. Scarce guns with probably less than 2000 made. Close-up view of the steel MICRO rear sight found on Super #10659 and previously made Super Blackhawks. Close-up of Super #10659’s serial number. Top view of the two piece “telescoping” black and red box that became the standard packaging for the remainder of the Old Model Super’s life. View of the printed end of the black and red box. View of open two-piece box with the first instruction booklet dated “Revised 9/1/59”.
A two-piece black and red Super box shown with its brown cardboard outer shipping carton for s/n 15848. Top view of a very rare Type 1“Transition” Super, #13601, shipped in Sept. 1963 with its MICRO rear sight, aluminum alloy ejector rod housing (ERH) and small 1/16” serial numbers. The aluminum alloy ERH was one of the “Changes of 1962” that was transitioned in for the Supers during 1963. Only about 300 or so believed made.
Close-up of “Transition” Super #13601’s serial number. Top view of a very rare Type 2 “Transition” Super, #12224, shipped in April 1963 with its aluminum alloy non-marked rear sight, steel ejector rod housing and small 1/16” serial numbers. Less than 500 believed made. Close-up view of the aluminum alloy non-marked rear sight found on Transition Super #12224. This is one of the changes made in 1962/63.
Close-up view of “Transition” Super #12224’s serial number. This is a Type 3 or last of the “Transition” Supers. It is #12171 and it has both the aluminum alloy rear sight and ERH but still retains the small 1/16” serial number. I also have the consecutive Super #12172, both are the same configuration and in like new condition. #12171 was shipped in June 1963 and #12172 was shipped in Oct.
The Type 3’s are the most common Transition Super but still scarce guns with only about 2,000 believed made. Top view of “Transition” Super #12171 with the aluminum alloy rear sight, aluminum alloy ERH and small 1/16” serial number. Picture of Super #12171’s aluminum alloy ejector rod housing that replaced the earlier steel housings. Close-up of Super #12171’s serial number. Super #20683, shipped April 1966 with larger 3/32” serial numbers and Blackhawk “Flattop” barrel address without the Eagle logo but with “Inc.” added. Often referred to as “Inc” guns by Super collectors.
This is the scarce “Inc” gun barrel address found on #20683. There were probably about 4,000 - 5,000 of these made. They had the larger 3/32”size serial number and the Blackhawk “Flattop” barrel address without the Eagle logo but with “Inc.” added. Rare 6-1/2” barrel Super #24832 on top of its original box. About 600 of these 6-1/2” Supers were made in error. This gun has a factory letter validating its correctness.
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Close-up of the 6-1/2” barreled Super #24832’s serial number. View of 6-1/2” Super #24832’s original box end with a small sticker saying 6-1/2”. These guns were shipped in normal S47 7-1/2” boxes. The 7-1/2” printed on the end label was normally either marked out with a magic marker or covered with a small sticker with a typed or hand written 6-1/2”. I have also had lettered 6-1/2” guns in their original boxes that have the 7-1/2” marking unmolested.
This is an extremely rare non-prefixed serial number factory installed Brass frame Super Blackhawk. This gun was shipped in May 1968. Just over 100 of this variation was made. Super #35306 was previously in Hank Williams Jr’s collection. Close-up view of the brass frame Super #35306’s serial number.
This is another extremely rare factory lettered early non-prefix Brass Frame Super #28291. Pictured with its seldom seen complete packaging. From the Matt Olivier collection. A view of the rather faint “S47 SUPER BLACKHAWK.44 MAG. 7-1/2” BBL” ink stamp on #28291’s shipping carton.
Note the absence of a “B” in the stamp. This gun was shipped in May 1967 and apparently the factory was not putting a “B” designation for “Brass” frame on these early guns. From the Matt Olivier collection.
A view of brass framed Super #28291 lying in its open box. From the Matt Olivier collection. Close-up view of Super #28291’s serial number. From the Matt Olivier collection.
Picture of a Super #80-51384, a prefix serial number factory installed Brass frame gun. Four rare factory lettered prefix serial numbered Brass Frame Super Blackhawks.
#80-57126 & #80-56779 were both shipped in December 1972. # 80-55908 was shipped in November 1972 & # 80-51341 was shipped in September 1972. Ruger fitted just over 1500 Supers with these frames in the later part of 1972. This was an inventory reduction effort in anticipation of the “New Model” introduction in 1973.
These Old Model frames would not fit the New Model and there would be no market for them later. From the Matt Olivier collection. Another view of these four rare factory lettered brass framed Supers. From the Matt Olivier collection.
Dealer price sheets show that from 1965 through 1967 and then again from 1971 through 1974 the factory brass frames could be ordered as an accessory for $20. They came with a wide serrated Super Blackhawk trigger to fit the wide slot in the grip frame. Pictured are three factory shipping boxes for these brass frames. Close-up view of the brass grip frame box’s shipping label. This one originally went to Fayetteville, Georgia, in May 1974.
See the note at the top of the label on the “From” line that says ”Brass Grip and Panels”. View of the Fayetteville, Georgia, open box with the frame, trigger, and a set of Super grip panels. Another close-up view of a brass frame box’s shipping label. This one went to a gunsmith in Salmon, Idaho in July 1972. View of the Salmon, Idaho, open box with the brass grip frame and trigger.
This frame is as it came from the factory, it has never been fitted to a gun or polished. Blue ink stamp on the brass grip frame accessory white shipping box. This one is on the end of the box but they are sometimes found on the top of the box. Close-up view of the factory “MR-3DB”roll mark found on the brass frame’s left side, at the bottom rear corner. This is a very rare consecutively numbered pair of factory lettered duplicate “D” marked Supers, #D80-25994 and #D80-25995. From the Bill Eyring collection.
Ruger Blackhawk Serial Numbers By Year
Close-up view of #D80-25995’s serial number. Note the hand stamped “D” in front of the serial number indicating that this is a duplicate serial number. From the Bill Eyring collection. This is a rare German Proof marked Super Blackhawk, #80-54726. Very few of these are ever seen in the USA. The factory letter states that it was originally shipped to a distributor that was an exporter. This is Super #80-64679.
The highest serial number known is #80-64750 so this one is about 70 from the last serial number made. I bought this fine, very high polished gun while traveling on business in Lebanon, Tennessee, in Feb. I bought it at Don Keeton’s Gun Shop while on my lunch hour! Close-up view of Super #80-64679’s serial number. Super #80-64679’s white eagle grip panel medallions were put into use by Ruger in 1971/72.
Collectors often refer to these medallions as “Squashed Chickens”! This is Super #26037, one of only two known extremely rare “S” marked Super Blackhawks with the rare 6-1/2” barrel. From the Bill Eyring collection. Close-up view of the “S” marked 6-1/2” barrel Super #26037’s serial number. From the Bill Eyring collection. View from the bottom of Super #26037.
You can see part of the poorly and lightly struck “S” in front of the trigger guard. A factory letter is a must to validate a “second” or “S” marked gun. From the Bill Eyring collection. This is Super #80-57650, one of only two known factory 'S' marked prefix serial number Supers.
Extremely rare. The gun is very high /super polished. From the Bill Eyring collection. Close-up view of Super #80-57650’s serial number. From the Bill Eyring collection. View from the bottom of Super #80-57650.
You can see the tail of the poorly struck “S” mark. A factory letter is a must to validate the correctness of an “S” gun. From the Bill Eyring collection.