The Saab of Licence Renewed hides a revolver. The Ruger Super Blackhawk is a large single-action .44 Magnum, and in the novel it is something Bond is not supposed to have.
In the books
In Licence Renewed, one unauthorised Ruger Super Blackhawk .44 Magnum revolver and a Browning automatic sit in a compartment in the dashboard of Bond’s customised Saab. It is a small detail, listed with the other contents of the car. We treat the match as the Super Blackhawk model line; today’s New Model is the closest current version. Read it alongside the films to see how the screen Bond handles guns.
The details of the Ruger Super Blackhawk
A single-action revolver. It is a six-shot single-action in the traditional western style, with a hand-filling grip that Ruger says is among the most natural-pointing. Ruger’s New Model uses a transfer bar and a loading-gate interlock as safety measures, and coil springs throughout.
The cartridge. It is chambered in .44 Remington Magnum and also takes factory .44 Special cartridges, which are milder. The barrel is cold hammer-forged, with a fixed ramp front sight and an adjustable rear.
Versions and variants
Ruger’s listing includes Standard and Bisley versions of the New Model Super Blackhawk. The Bisley has a differently shaped grip. The Blackhawk family covers a wide range of finishes, calibres and barrel lengths, so check the model number before you compare prices.
Owning it now
Ruger lists several New Model Super Blackhawk models, with barrel lengths of 3.75, 4.62 and 10.5 inches in the .44 range, some marked limited availability. Ruger’s list price for the 10.5-inch model is US$1,099. Firearms are regulated everywhere; buy through a licensed dealer under your local law. This page is informational only.
Specifications
| Maker | Sturm, Ruger & Co. |
|---|---|
| Model | New Model Super Blackhawk |
| Calibre | .44 Remington Magnum (also accepts .44 Special) |
| Capacity | 6 |
| Barrel lengths | 3.75, 4.62 and 10.5 inches (range) |
| Sights | Fixed ramp front, adjustable rear |
| MSRP | US$1,099 for the 10.5-inch model (at the time of writing, October 2026) |
Full model details are on Ruger’s own page.
Questions
Which Bond novel has the Ruger Super Blackhawk?
Licence Renewed, where an unauthorised .44 Magnum Super Blackhawk is hidden in a dashboard compartment of Bond’s Saab.
What calibre is the Super Blackhawk?
The model in Ruger’s range is chambered in .44 Remington Magnum and will also accept .44 Special.
Is the Ruger Super Blackhawk still made?
Yes. Ruger lists the New Model Super Blackhawk, in several barrel lengths, though some are limited availability.
More in Weapons, and the car it hid in is on the Vehicles page.
