Make: Sturm, Ruger & Co., Customized by Gary Reeder
Model: New Model Super Blackhawk, Kodiak Hunter
Serial Number: 89-26723
Year of Manufacture: 2023 (https://ruger.com/dataProcess/serialHistory/)
Caliber: .454 Casull
Action Type: Single Action Side Loading Gate Revolver
Markings: The right side of the frame is marked with the serial number. The left of the barrel is marked "Gary Reeder / Kodiak Hunter", the left of the frame is marked "454 Casull". The butt is marked “REEDER CUSTOM / FLAGSTAFF, AZ”.
Barrel Length: 5"
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a brass beaded blade screw-secured to a ramped base fixed to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a "V"-notch adjustable for windage and elevation in the original Ruger base pinned to the rear of the topstrap.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece white Corian panels on a custom round-butt grip frame. The grips have no notable wear or damage, only light handling marks. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Excellent condition.
Type of Finish: Matte Blue
Finish Originality: Original to customization. Customization included replacement of the cylinder and barrel.
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates a 10 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 97% of its metal finish. The cylinder has light turn-wear including an incomplete turn-line. There are a few other scattered minor scuffs and light handling marks. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with usable slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this revolver is in Fine condition as customized.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly, the cylinder locks up with minor play on each chamber. We did not fire this handgun. As with all previously owned firearms, thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.
Our Assessment: The Ruger Blackhawk platform has long been praised as one of the strongest actions ever made for a single-action revolver. For this reason, Blackhawk revolvers and their big brother, the Super Blackhawk, have been a go-to for recoil junkies and handgun hunters who want a little more power. They have also been the preferred platform for many custom-built big-bore revolvers.
This Super Blackhawk has been extensively customized by renowned gunsmith Gary Reeder and, while it’s an attractive revolver, each of the modifications serves a distinct purpose for field use. The cylinder and barrel have been replaced to allow use of the .454 Casull cartridge. In order to leave a little more material around the chambers, the cylinder holds only five cartridges, and the timing has been corrected accordingly. The barrel's deep-dish crown keeps the edge of the rifling recessed from the face of the muzzle, protecting it from damage. The upgraded sights allow for a finer sight picture while still permitting fast acquisition. The backstrap has been given a round-butt profile which many find more comfortable for carry and firing. The original square-back trigger guard has been replaced with a rounded guard, so as not to bite the hand under recoil. The cylinder pin is retained with a set-screw, preventing it from coming loose under recoil. Finally, the revolver has been given a matte blue finish with durable custom White Corian grip panels. The result truly is a "Kodiak Hunter", and this powerful custom revolver from Gary Reeder would certainly make for a trusty companion on a hunt in Alaska, the “Last Frontier”.
Pistol