IHMSA Super Blackhawk?

[matt56]

Well I don't know what to do with this one.  I particularly don't buy guns to collect, even though I've amassed a significant quantity nearly all of my guns are shooters.  I only have one other NIB gun and it's not really NIB for any reason other than I haven't shot it (it's a S&W 60-9).

I threw a $530 bid in on this one at the last minute and won it.  

www.gunbroker.com/item/786089551

I am astonished at all the stuff that came with it.  The Shooting Steel book was the real reason I bid on it.  Not that I wanted to buy a $600 book but I don't have a 10.5" 44 mag to go with my pair of 10.5" maximums.  Plus I am aware that these SBH's have a different barrel than the later ones, I tend to like anything that's not made anymore.  I've also found the finish on the newer Blackhawks leaves something to be desired.  There's a new Turnbull SBH in the LGS I had this one shipped to. The bluing is not even close, it's very dull and matte.  I love the higher polish blue like my max's have.  This one definitely has that.






So would you shoot this one or save it?  Given the sale price of the gun and the current state of IHMSA I'm not sure this one is ever going to be worth any more than a regular Super Blackhawk.  

[z1r]

I'm not a collector per se though I do appreciate odd or scarce guns. I buy guns to shoot. If I wasn't gonna shoot it, I'd sell it for a profit and buy guns I could shoot. If you can't sell for a profit, it isn't much of a collector.

It's a darn fine handgun for sure.

[wheelguns]

I would shoot the gun and read the book, but that’s just me 👴 awesome find and great price.

[shorty500]

Exactly read shoot and enjoy!!

[oregon45]

If you ever decide to sell, I’d be happy to put that gun back on the IHMSA firing line

[rug480]

Sounds like you have quite a collection so I suspect this wouldn’t see hard use.

I’ve never owned rare valuable guns but have had a few uncommon ones. Sometimes when I struggle with the same question, I think about the Last Word and remind myself what Elmer Keith would do.

[bradshaw]

Oct 5, 2018 16:15:34 GMT -5 matt56 said:

Well I don't know what to do with this one.  I particularly don't buy guns to collect, even though I've amassed a significant quantity nearly all of my guns are shooters.  I only have one other NIB gun and it's not really NIB for any reason other than I haven't shot it (it's a S&W 60-9).

I threw a $530 bid in on this one at the last minute and won it.  

www.gunbroker.com/item/786089551

I am astonished at all the stuff that came with it.  The Shooting Steel book was the real reason I bid on it.  Not that I wanted to buy a $600 book but I don't have a 10.5" 44 mag to go with my pair of 10.5" maximums.  Plus I am aware that these SBH's have a different barrel than the later ones, I tend to like anything that's not made anymore.  I've also found the finish on the newer Blackhawks leaves something to be desired.  There's a new Turnbull SBH in the LGS I had this one shipped to. The bluing is not even close, it's very dull and matte.  I love the higher polish blue like my max's have.  This one definitely has that.






So would you shoot this one or save it?  Given the sale price of the gun and the current state of IHMSA I'm not sure this one is ever going to be worth any more than a regular Super Blackhawk.  

*****

This is an S410N Super Blackhawk, a.k.a. “Silhouette Super.” A Southport gun, George Wilson barrel, standard 10-1/2” taper, broached 1:20-inch. Silver soldered ramp front sight. Standard ejector assembly. Walnut scales. I designed the the topstrap rollmark. Enameled IHMSA logo badge designed by Elgin Gates. Standard 11-degree forcing. Dedicated serial number block. Some of these revolvers are exceedingly accurate, capable of winning it all. Good polish, not quite up to “old model,” although better than recent.
David Bradshaw

[jfs]

WOW.......................................

[dougader]

I can't believe how low you got this for. Congrats! on a great pick up!

[bradshaw]

The IHMSA stickers may have been put on the cardboard box at Elgin Gates’ house in Idaho Falls, or by the member who first bought the revolver. The stickers were not attached in Southport. Most of these guns that I have seen have been shot, standard use including IHMSA competition and hunting. Some members bought them to have and not shoot others bought them to shoot. I’ve done trigger jobs on some. These guns predate barrel installation by Gorilla Monsoon. Insofar as a NIB (New In Box), unfired Ruger is concerned, there is no such thing----or nearly so, as Sturm, Ruger test fired every gun. “Unfired” means test-fired only.
David Bradshaw

[Encore64]

What a great grab. A neat gun and part of evolution.

Congratulations on adding such a unique piece of revolver history.

Thanks for sharing...

[Ken O'Neill]

These guns were originally sold at just a very modest up-charge over the regular SBH price. The wooden case was extra, at an additional $100 or so, although I'm not sure of that amount. My SBH's of that era, both 7.5" and 10.5" were all nicely accurate. I still have 2 that aren't for sale. If this one was mine, I'd shoot it a bit to zero it and confirm accuracy, with Sierra 240's and 21/2400 and/ or 23- maybe 24 gr. 296.
Then I'd sit back and smile.
Congratulations on your find.

[z1r]

Not long after I got my 7.5" SBH and got bitten by the long range handgun bug, I really wanted a 10.5" model. Being a broke college kid, that wasn't gonna happen. I did find that the rear sight blade, when fitted to a standard model, really helped me tighten up groups. The notch was narrower than the factory sight on the 7.5" model.

[matt56]

Thanks for the kind words, I am still in shock at what I paid for all of this.  While I've never been a part of any formal silhouette shooting I am still fascinated by the sport and it's history.  I am going to shoot it, probably not much but I don't believe you could possibly hurt the gun or its value by doing so.  It may have been "new in box" but I've since wiped off all the original cosmoline and gave it a much needed cleaning.  It is probably going to be with me for a long time.  Out of all my guns I value the ones with silhouette history the most.  

Oct 6, 2018 5:44:55 GMT -5 bradshaw said:

The IHMSA stickers may have been put on the cardboard box at Elgin Gates’ house in Idaho Falls, or by the member who first bought the revolver. The stickers were not attached in Southport. Most of these guns that I have seen have been shot, standard use including IHMSA competition and hunting. Some members bought them to have and not shoot others bought them to shoot. I’ve done trigger jobs on some. These guns predate barrel installation by Gorilla Monsoon. Insofar as a NIB (New In Box), unfired Ruger is concerned, there is no such thing----or nearly so, as Sturm, Ruger test fired every gun. “Unfired” means test-fired only.
David Bradshaw

Sorry for the confusion but the stickers are not attached to the box.  I just laid them on there because they came with the whole package.  They're original and never been used.  Interesting you mention Idaho Falls because this gun came from a dealer located in Blackfoot ID which as I understand isn't too far away.  This particular dealer has sold off some other interesting silhouette stuff.   I guess we'll never know.  

[45MAN]

REALLY GREAT FIND AND BUY. I NEVER BEEN A 44 MAG GUY, SO BACK IN MY IHMSA DAYS HOW I WISHED FOR A 10 1/2 INCH SBH IN 45 COLT. AND IMAGINE WHAT IHMSA SHOOTERS CUD HAVE DONE WITH 10 1/2 INCH SBH's IN 41 MAG AND 357 MAG. WONDER WHY RUGER NEVER DID THE SBH's IN OTHER CALIBERS? DID THE 357 MAX "SIDE TRACK" RUGER?