Mark of the Week—Can You Identify It?

At first glance, you might think that you are looking at a silver hallmark or a china mark. But it will not be found on anything as refined as silverware or dishware. It is a “super” mark—it belongs to Sturm, Ruger & Company and is found on the Ruger Super Blackhawk Revolver. This six-shot, single-action revolver has become a favorite of collectors.

Initially released in 1959, the Ruger Super Blackhawk was chambered to fire the .44 Magnum cartridge. From 1959 through 1973, over one million original Super Blackhawk revolvers were produced. Its predecessor, the Blackhawk .44 Magnum “Flattop,” was a lighter model. However, the Super Blackhawk was fitted with a steel grip frame and other souped-up parts, adding a full half-pound to the overall weight of the revolver. The added mass helped to tamp down the heavy recoil of the .44 Magnum cartridges. 

The Super Blackhawk was originally shipped in a beautiful mahogany case. Unfortunately, the factory that produced the cases burned down in 1960. So, Ruger began shipping the revolver in specially designed hinged top white cardboard cases, dropping the gun price by $4.00 when they introduced the new case. The box design has changed several times through the years.

Ruger halted production of the original traditional model Super Blackhawk in February of 1973. The new model Super Blackhawk, featuring a transfer bar mechanism, began production in 1973. A favorite of handgun hunters because of its ability to take down large game animals like deer, elk, and moose, the Super Blackhawk is still in production and remains a popular revolver choice among enthusiasts.

For those who would like more information on the Ruger Super Blackhawk Revolver, the WorthPoint Dictionary pages are a good place to start.

Kele Johnson is the full-time Dictionary Editor for WorthPoint. When she is able to come up for air, she enjoys writing for the Dictionary in the areas of Antiquities, and Ethnic, Folk, and Native Americas. Kele has a degree in Anthropology with a specialized focus on the history of the Native Americans of North America. Her special interests lie in the areas of prehistoric tool manufacture and the influence of European contact on the tribal roles of Native American women. Kele is a research junkie who enjoys the opportunity to regularly use those skills for WorthPoint, both as an editor and a writer.

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