inherited a 1956 Blackhawk .357 Flat-top

What's an educated guesstimation of what I ought to ask for this gun?
A friend wants to buy it from me. I have no real use for this beautiful
five-shooter (I wouldn't put six rounds in this gun, unless I was already
standing on the firing line and pointing downrange.) I'm guessing it's
worth $400 to $500, but need a second opinion. It appears new, unless
you look really close, then you can see a few light handling scratches
in the finish. The frame has the desired black-cherry coloration. It is
not a "high-gloss" gun, but standard polish. Original hard rubber grips.
Serial number is 3,XXX. Barrel same length as ejector rod housing. Small
rectangular serrated ejector rod button. Wavy serrated front sight and
front sight pedestal. The barrel was heavily leaded when I got it and took
quite a bit of cleaning to reveal a few corrosion pits in the barrel, maybe
ten tiny pits total in the lands, mostly about an inch downstream from the
forcing cone. Six groove rifiling. Skinny trigger. No box, no papers, but it
came with a few boxes of ancient Remington .357 magnum solid lead 158
grain SWC "high speed" that I would hesitate to shoot without miking the
bullets.

I believe this gun hasn't been shot in decades. It would be a good gun for
someone to take out and rub lovingly with felt now and then.

What do you Ruger folks think? Just a ballpark figure. I'd hate to find out
after-the-fact that it's worth over a thousand bucks to collectors.

You should really ask on the Ruger (http://www.rugerforum.org/phpBB/) forum, there were a couple different variations to the flat-top .357s and some are worth over $1000. The wavy serrated front sight makes me wonder if you might have a type one variation.

However any flat-top .357 in good condition will bring at least $600.

The new 50th Anniversary Flattop Blackhawks are worth over $500. An original 1956 Flattop is worth considerable more.

If your "friend" offered you $400/$500 he's no friend at all. I'm no expert but I think your revolver is worth well over $800 even without the paperwork or box. (but as usual, I can be wrong)

May I suggest you ask around and see if anyone else in your family would like to purchase that revolver before you sell it to someone. Those are not top end collectibles but really not that common. You might want to keep it in the family if you don't want it yourself.

sign up on the RUGER FORUM .com & post some pics .
id rather talk you into keeping & shooting it !!!
flat tops never die !!!

GP100man

Package it up to send it to me immediately so I can give it a first class cleaning and appraisal. I will send it back to you immediately.



Swear



Honest!



No kiddin'



I really mean it this time!



Reeeeally!