In House Shipping:
Make: Ruger
Model: Hawkeye
Serial Number: 671
Year of Manufacture: 1963 (https://ruger.com/dataProcess/serialHistory/)
Caliber: .256 Winchester Magnum
Action Type: Single Action, Rotating Breech Block, Single Shot Pistol
Barrel Length: 8 1/2”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a serrated blade integral to a base fixed to the barrel. The rear sight is a Micro square-notch adjustable for windage and elevation in a base pinned to the topstrap. The top of the barrel is drilled, tapped, and filled for mounting an optic (none present).
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece smooth wood panels with silver and black Ruger medallions. The right medallion has a little finish loss in the black. There are some nicks, scratches, and finish loss at sharper edges. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Very Good condition.
Type of Finish: Blue, Black Alloy Grip Frame
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright with sharp rifling. There is infrequent minor erosion and some stubborn copper fouling in the bore. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 8-9/10.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 97% of its metal finish. There are a few spots of minor surface erosion on the left of the barrel at the markings. The receiver has gone to a fairly uniform plum hue. There are a few tiny marks. The action shows minor operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings are generally clear, the Ruger phoenix logo on the left of the barrel is double-struck. Overall, this revolver rates in about Fine condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this handgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This handgun comes with a two-piece black and red Ruger box with model-matching label, manual, and marketing data card. The box shows wear, tears, and tape repairs.
Our Assessment: The Ruger Hawkeye .256 Winchester Magnum Single Shot Pistol, introduced in 1963, was a bold and innovative departure from traditional handgun designs, leveraging the robust framework of the Blackhawk revolver. By replacing the cylinder with a unique breech-block system that rotated for extraction and loading, Ruger created a mechanism that allowed shooters to manually load cartridges directly into the barrel. This design not only streamlined the shooting process by eliminating the barrel-cylinder gap typical of revolvers and the magazine-feed ramp found in semi-automatics but also significantly enhanced the potential for accuracy by simplifying the bullet's path before firing.
Economically, the Hawkeye was also a sound product. Many of its components were already in production for the Blackhawk revolver, allowing Ruger to offer the Hawkeye at an introductory price of under a hundred dollars—a compelling price point in the early '60s. Despite these innovations and its economical production, the Hawkeye did not meet commercial success and was discontinued after only about 3,300 units were made. The pistol's lack of popularity could partly be attributed to its chambering in the .256 Winchester Magnum, a cartridge based on the .357 Magnum necked down to .25 caliber. Despite impressive ballistic performance, pushing a 60 grain bullet past 2,300 fps in an 8 1/2" barrel, the only large-scale commercial production of firearms chambered for .256 Win. Mag. were Ruger's Hawkeye, the Marlin 62, and Thompson Center barrels for their Contender line. The commercial market never seemed to take the cartridge seriously. Consequently, the Ruger Hawkeye, though a marvel of engineering and foresight, remained underappreciated in its time, ultimately remembered more for its pioneering design than its market success. This narrative underscores the Hawkeye as not just a firearm but as a testament to Ruger's innovative spirit and a poignant example of being too advanced for the commercial realities of its era. Please see our photos and good luck on your bid!