Low prices on the Ruger Blackhawk Flat Top Convertible .357 + 9MM Cylinders start at Champion Firearms-

Ruger's Classic Single Action Masterpiece. Sturm, Ruger and Company was founded in 1949 by business partners Alexander ("Alex") McCormick Sturm and William ("Bill") Batterman Ruger. Prior to the partnership, Bill Ruger had previously designed machine guns for the U.S. military during World War II and afterwards, successfully duplicated two Japanese Baby Nambu pistols in his garage based on samples acquired from a Marine.

It would serve as the basis for launching the company when Ruger ingeniously combined the looks of a German 9mm Luger with rimfire engineering from the Colt Woodsman and the operating mechanism of the Nambu. Bill Ruger and Alex Sturm rented a small machine shop in Southport, Connecticut and immediately introduced the world to the greatest rimfire pistol in history-- the legendary MK-I, which still continues to this day in its third generation.

Alex Sturm was married to the granddaughter of President Teddy Roosevelt, was a Yale graduate, a talented artist and business entrepreneur that supplied the capital investment to start the fledgling company. In addition, he personally designed the famous Germanic heraldic red eagle that still serves as Ruger's company logo.

Bill Ruger supplied the business acumen plus technical-know-how as a skilled gunsmith and celebrated inventor. Tragically in 1951, Alex Sturm fell seriously ill and died at the age of 28 just as the company was beginning to gain traction.

After Sturm's passing, Bill Ruger mourned the loss of his old friend and business partner by permanently changing the company's distinctive red eagle logo to solid black (or white, shrouded in black), where it remains to this day in remembrance. Bill Ruger would go on to lead the company to world prominence, becoming the largest manufacturer of firearms in the United States.

A pioneering legend in American industry until his death in 2002, Ruger had a hand in the design and styling of every single gun the company produced while under his direction. To date, Sturm Ruger has manufactured more than 30-million firearms, while also becoming a leading supplier of precision investment castings in diverse industries such as aerospace, automotive and even golf clubs.

The Ruger New Model Blackhawk is the most advanced single action revolver ever made. Perhaps its most pioneering feature is the ability to be safely carried-- fully loaded-- with six rounds in the cylinder.

When the Blackhawk was first introduced in 1955, the early models still operated in the same way as a Colt Single Action Army in that the 'Old Model" was not safe to carry with a round under the hammer. If dropped or banged, the result could be a catastrophic unintentional discharge.

The "New Model" designation meant that all post 1972 Blackhawk's have a frame mounted firing pin safety that protected the gun from an unintentional discharge by way of Ruger's famous transfer bar ignition system, which makes carrying a revolver with a fully loaded cylinder absolutely safe. Until the trigger is deliberately pulled, the gun is incapable of firing.

Ruger has incorporated a loading gate interlock system into the Blackhawk. In effect, opening the loading gate retracts the cylinder bolt, allowing the cylinder to freely turn for loading/unloading-- which is completely independent of the hammer being pull back to a "load notch".

The Blackhawk also has a key actuated action lock. Like those seen in many firearms manufacturer's designs, this has become necessary due to idiotic gun laws passed in many parts of the country requiring firearms to have such a device.

Instead of the external eye sore as seen on many other key lock safety guns, the Ruger system goes unnoticed and in no way detracts from the pleasant lines or appearance of this revolver. In fact, the lock is hidden beneath the grips panels. Once the grip panels have been removed, a key is inserted to activate the lock.

The Blackhawk "Convertible" models are factory equipped with two cylinders-- one chambered for the more economical and easier to find 9mm cartridge and the other for the more potent .357. Convertibles are popular with shooters who appreciate the classic single action design, but opt for the versatility of being able to use more than one caliber in their handgun.

With its interchangeable design, cylinders can be easily switched from one caliber to another without the use of tools. For aiming, the gun wears an excellent set of adjustable rear with a high front post sight that acquires its target well.

This heavy duty workhorse features a polished stainless steel finish and a set of Eagle Gunfighter simulated ivory grips that closely follow the natural contour of a shooter's hand, allowing for easy operation of the Blackhawk. Firing is accomplished via a very smooth traditional double action design that unlike other revolvers, exclusively uses high quality piano wires in its construction.

While Ruger does not provide a written warranty, the company has always promptly, professionally and courteously repaired the extremely limited number of malfunctioning firearms we've sent them. In our humble opinion, they have a better warranty and service track record than many manufacturer's offering a so-called "limited lifetime" policy (which by the way, is not your lifetime, but what that particular manufacturer perceives to be the life of the gun).

Overall, the Ruger Blackhawk is a throwback design that captures the essence and feel of America's storied gunfighter era and is expertly engineered for many years of reliable service..

Established in 1993, Champion Firearms is a retail gun store and indoor range located in College Station, Texas.

As a brick & mortar store, we pride ourselves on customer service, quality products and our competitive pricing.

Each listing is an item we actively plan to stock. While not all of our inventory is listed, the items contained on our website represent some of the most popular products we carry.

Our staff has worked hard and done their best to ensure the accuracy of every listing. In the event an error has been made, Champion Firearms asks your understanding while we make it right.

From all of us here at Champion Firearms, thanks for visiting our store. For assistance, please do not hesitate to let us know what we can do to help: (979) 693-9948 or [email protected]