Ruger Hawkeye

The Ruger Hawkeye is a single-shot pistol chambered for the .256 Winchester Magnum cartridge, produced by Sturm, Ruger & Co. from 1963 until July 1964.[1] It was built on the same frame as the Ruger Blackhawk, but rather than having a rotating cylinder like a standard revolver, it featured a swiveling breechblock which allowed an individual round to be loaded and sealed into the frame.

This article is about the single-shot pistol. For the rifle, see Ruger M77.

Ruger Hawkeye
Type	Single-shot pistol
Place of origin	United States
Production history
Manufacturer	Sturm, Ruger & Co.
Unit cost	$87.50 (equivalent to $731 in 2019)[1]
Produced	1963–1964[1]
No. built	3075[1]
Specifications
Mass	45 ounces (1,300 g)[1]
Length	14.5 inches (370 mm)[1]
Barrel length	8.5 inches (220 mm)[1]
Cartridge	.256 Winchester Magnum[1]
Feed system	Single shot, swiveling breechblock
Sights	Adjustable target iron sights. Barrel drilled and tapped for scope mounting.[1]

The Ruger Hawkeye pistol was not a commercial success, and was discontinued after only 3,075 were produced.[1] For this reason, the Hawkeye pistol model is highly sought after by Ruger collectors.

References

1. Wilson, R. L. (1996). Ruger & His Guns: A History of the Man, the Company, and Their Firearms. New York: Simon & Schuster. p. 75. ISBN 0-684-80367-4. OCLC 33820244.

Sources

• Larry Kelly, J. D. Jones. Hunting for Handgunners. Book Sales, 1990. ISBN 978-0-87349-109-9.