What is going on with the Ruger Blackhawk price?

[Mn Fats]

I know these are tough times for us shooters, but I never thought I would see the day where a Ruger Blackhawk 357 neared the price of a S&W 686.

$829 MSRP for a 6.5" blued Blackhawk 357.

$893 MSRP for a SS S&W 686 357.

What gives? I paid $475+tax for a NIB Blackhawk, from high dollar Cabelas not too many years ago.

Is this only in my location? Or what are you folks seeing these sell for NIB in your part of the country.

 

[troy fairweather]

Ruger syndrome perhaps, my dad got a bh 357 and sbh 44 a few years ago, used but New in box for under $300 357 was a Bicentennial to.

 

[Mn Fats]

Ruger syndrome perhaps, my dad got a bh 357 and sbh 44 a few years ago, used but New in box for under $300 357 was a Bicentennial to.

Could be. But the Blackhawks always seemed to be stable ish. An economy priced option to a double action. Now they're about neck and neck in price with the swing outs? Again, it could just be my location, but I'm still taken back a bit.

 

[gwpercle]

Economic policies have their effects and affect the costs of everything we buy .
No the Russian war against Ukraine is not the cause for shortages and price increases .
This will be the new normal for several years ... it's gonna be a wild ride ...
Gary

 

[beag_nut]

There may be an effect caused by where one looks for a particular gun. When I bought a couple Ruger revolvers the LGS was much less expensive than the ones which advertised extensively. And also for the 10/22 I got. AND the Henry. Pays to shop locally, if possible.
And, I only buy new.

 

[Mn Fats]

There may be an effect caused by where one looks for a particular gun.

Agreed. But the single action Blackhawk? For that design to meet up with a 686 or Gp100 in price seems asinine. There's less manufacturing involved. Yet the prices are not too far off. To me, this is hard to justify. If it's availability, then I understand that.

I'm wondering if in my area the prices are this way. If not, then I'd obviously spend the extra $50 for another 686 or even a GP100.

 

[ontarget]

I know these are tough times for us shooters, but I never thought I would see the day where a Ruger Blackhawk 357 neared the price of a S&W 686.

$829 MSRP for a 6.5" blued Blackhawk 357.

$893 MSRP for a SS S&W 686 357.

What gives? I paid $475+tax for a NIB Blackhawk, from high dollar Cabelas not too many years ago.

Is this only in my location? Or what are you folks seeing these sell for NIB in your part of the country.

At least you can find one. I've been watching for one in 44 Spl for some time now. I haven't seen a Blackhawk of any caliber in over a year in the flesh. I may have to resort to online purchase.

 

[wcwhitey]

I hear ya! I was looking for a Ruger .44 Special New Model for a while but just did not want to pay the 1K price tags I saw. Ran across a 2009 Lipsey’s that had been sitting on the shelf since then. Got it for the 2009 price as well. This was probably under my nose for a few years and never noticed. Like @beag_nut stated it pays to shop locally. MSRP can be subjective depending on the volume of the gun shop. Other than giving access to guns from all over places like Gunbroker have kind of skewed prices upwards. Talk to your local guys, stop in once and a while and let them know what you are looking for. Deals can be had, but I do see the same thing you are seeing. Anything revolver is high now.

 

[earlthegoat2]

All I know is that I wish I would have bought one a few years ago. Used ones in rough shape are still $650.

 

[Mn Fats]

At least you can find one. I've been watching for one in 44 Spl for some time now. I haven't seen a Blackhawk of any caliber in over a year in the flesh. I may have to resort to online purchase.

I'm glad to hear it, well not glad but I'm at least glad to hear I'm not alone. Ruger used to sling these out in decent numbers, and they were never thought of as the first firearm to buy up. I always thought the 6.5" Blackhawk had a safe place with everyone buying up the black guns.

 

[Pat Riot]

I haven’t seen a Blackhawk since before “the silliness”. I have a feeling it’s purely supply and demand pricing.

Except Bud’s has a .357 Blackhawk 4 5/8” for $680 right now. So maybe it’s your local shop‘s pricing.

 

[Mn Fats]

Used ones in rough shape are still $650.

Ouch, I know it.

 

[buck460XVR]

The MSRP on new Ruger revolvers has been very close to S&W for many years. It's the OTD price that has been significantly lower. I always figured it was a marketing ploy by Ruger so folks thought they were getting a really great deal on a gun that lists for much higher.

 

[dickydalton]

According to the inflation index $87.50 in 1968 is close to $700.00 today.

 

[chicharrones]

I know these are tough times for us shooters, but I never thought I would see the day where a Ruger Blackhawk 357 neared the price of a S&W 686.

$829 MSRP for a 6.5" blued Blackhawk 357.

$893 MSRP for a SS S&W 686 357.

What gives? I paid $475+tax for a NIB Blackhawk, from high dollar Cabelas not too many years ago.

Is this only in my location? Or what are you folks seeing these sell for NIB in your part of the country.

Don't look at the Single Sixes or Bearcats. Same thing happened to them.

 

[UncleEd]

Just checked Gunbroker.

General asking price for a Smith 686 is
closer to MSRP while Blackhawk asking
prices are at least a hundred dollars or
more below MSRP.

Nothing has changed.

It seems Ruger is still a bargain especially
when one factors in customer services and
out of the box overall quality. I see more
complaints about new Smiths than new
Rugers and the need for returns to the
motherships.

 

[Mosin77]

I don’t know about new MSRP but I know pre-crazy a Blackhawk in .357, used but nice condition, was about a $300 gun. And they were not hard to find. Now, probably more -I haven’t seen one for sale, used, in a couple years. So it would seem that demand has gone up and maybe Ruger isn’t making as many.

I want one in .44spl too, but I’m absolutely not going to pay $1000+ on Gunbroker. $600? I’d grimace and do it. $1000? Forget it.

 

[tallpaul]

I was late into the blackhawk game and the last couple I got a 2-3 years back I got 2 .44 super blackhawks several months apart for 400 each... I am old enough to remember the cheap 200.00 used blackhawks but was into other stuff back then... I have been looking for a .357 and cant pull the trigger on the new pricing...

 

[bannockburn]

Mosin77

I don’t know about new MSRP but I know pre-crazy a Blackhawk in .357, used but nice condition, was about a $300 gun. And they were not hard to find. Now, probably more -I haven’t seen one for sale, used, in a couple years.

Yeah that sounds about right, though it probably has been a few more years back when I found this Blackhawk .357 at a local gun show.

 

[Mn Fats]

I don’t know about new MSRP but I know pre-crazy a Blackhawk in .357, used but nice condition, was about a $300 gun. And they were not hard to find. Now, probably more -I haven’t seen one for sale, used, in a couple years. So it would seem that demand has gone up and maybe Ruger isn’t making as many.

I want one in .44spl too, but I’m absolutely not going to pay $1000+ on Gunbroker. $600? I’d grimace and do it. $1000? Forget it.

This is how I feel. And what I've noticed as well.

Maybe in different parts of the country the Blackhawk was always close to say a 686 in price, but not in my parts. The Blackhawk was $475 here NIB maybe 7 years ago. At the same time, a s&w 686 was $750 NIB. Now they seem to be close in price today, both NIB. Ruger had an economical single action that was low cost. Now it's hit Smith's double action price while Smith hasn't seemed to jump as much in the price difference.

So it would seem that demand has gone up and maybe Ruger isn’t making as many.

This is what I'm speculating.

 

[captain awesome]

scarcity. I've asked two of my wholesalers what gives, I have had some revolvers on my wants lists for over a year, with nothing coming my way. They said they just arent seeing revolvers come through, like at all. At least thats what my sales reps said. limit the supply, prices go up. production has been concentrated on things of high demand that sell well. IE 9mm semi autos.

 

[IlikeSA]

I saw a used flat top blackhawk bisley in 44 special a few months ago at an LGS. It was around 850, if I recall. I thought about it a few minutes, but didn't want to get into a new caliber until reloading supplies came back. It sold quick, and wasn't there when I went back a few weeks later. I thought the price was terrible, but then: they aren't making them anymore that I know of.

 

[Mosin77]

scarcity. I've asked two of my wholesalers what gives, I have had some revolvers on my wants lists for over a year, with nothing. they said they just arent seeing revolvers come through. like at all. at least thats what my sales reps said. limit the supply, prices go up. production has been concentrated on things of high demand that sell well. IE 9mm semi autos.

But conversely that drives the price up but means they’re not actually selling nearly as many as they could. Unless the quantity they can make is somehow limited so they suddenly have a new incentive to maximize profit per unit…

 

[captain awesome]

exactly right. they apparently think they can make more money by churning out tons of semiauto 9mms. they are probably right in that regard so they slow production on the revolvers and allocate more of their resources to the semis. so they charge more for the revolvers

 

[johnjohn]

There is probably a lot more skilled labor involved in making any good revolver, not to mention more expensive material. Your average plastic fantasic wonder 9 is cheaper to produce and people waiting in line to buy. You got to take care of the stockholders.