Bearcat Serial # U 755

Help Support Ruger Forum:

jworason

Bearcat
Joined
Feb 24, 2013
Messages
4
Hey everyone. I am new to the forum and want to start out with a question regarding my Bearcat with a Serial # U755. I have checked out the document below from Ruger regarding serial numbers and year manufactured. What I don't understand is the lettering system. The way I read this document my serial # of U755 was manufactured in 1960. Thoughts???

Also, I have tried to post pics with this post but no luck. What is the trick?

Bearcat & Super Bearcat Revolver
(manufactured from 1958 to 1974)
Caliber: 22 LR

Beginning Serial Number: Years of Production:
1 1958
F483 1959
X454 1960
5600 1961
17468 1962
23688 1963
35373 1964
53805 1965
65810 1966
80330 1967
93810 1968
112456 1969
90-09801 1970
91-00051 1971
91-25001 1972
91-46701 1973
91-62904 1974
The above chart shows the approximate first serial number shipped for the indicated year. This number should be used as a point of reference only. It is not necessarily the very first serial number shipped, but it can be used to determine the approximate year your Ruger firearm was shipped.

Ruger does not produce firearms in serial number order. There are occasions when blocks of serial numbers have been manufactured out of sequence, sometimes years later. Also, within a model family the same serial number prefix may be used to produce a variety of different models, all in the same block of serial numbers. And in some cases, models may be stored for a length of time before they are shipped.

For details on your specific serial number you may contact our Service Departments:
• Rifles, Shotguns, Revolvers: 603-865-2442
• Pistols: 928-541-8892

For serial numbers manufactured prior to our electronic records, or for an official letter confirming the details on your firearm please dt the Ruger serial number history document
 

Bkat

Blackhawk
Joined
Jan 26, 2008
Messages
577
Location
Spring, Texas
Like your quote from the Ruger site says, "Ruger does not produce firearms in serial number order" which has frustrated many a Ruger collector. Your "alpha" Bearcat, as they're known, is a type of very collectible Ruger. The way I read the serial # number ranges, yours was probably produced in 1959. According to RENE, A001 to F482 were produced in 1958; F483 to X453 were produced in 1959 and the rest of the alpha series in 1960. But Ruger is famous for being inconsistent and some say intentionally so for competitive reasons. There are numerous examples of firearms being shipped years after they were supposedly manufactured, for instance.

One way to be relatively certain is to get a letter from Ruger about your Cat, which will include the shipped date. My alpha cat, X977, was shipped in March of 1960 according to Ruger, which makes it consistent with the published date ranges.

Welcome to the forum and have fun. Those little Bearcats are sweet.

Bkat
 

jworason

Bearcat
Joined
Feb 24, 2013
Messages
4
I have had this weapon for about 5 years now and am going to start shooting it at the range this week. I am excited to see how well it shoots.
 

Bkat

Blackhawk
Joined
Jan 26, 2008
Messages
577
Location
Spring, Texas
captainkirk said:
Were there any duplicate "D" alpha cats? ;o)

captainkirk

I had the same question some time ago and I think it was Flatgate who answered it. As I recall his explanation, Ruger did not start stamping duplicates with the D until after all the alpha Bearcats had been produced.

But wouldn't it be neat to run into either a double D Bearcat or one with both a D prefix and suffix?

The letter O was the only one not used in the alpha series, in order to avoid confusion with the numeral 0.

Bkat
 

radicalrod

Hunter
Joined
Jan 9, 2004
Messages
3,567
Location
Bowling Green, Oh
Personally I would pay extra for DOUBLE D's :lol: :lol: :lol:

I did pay a little "EXTRA" for a D and S marked BC4 :wink: :wink: :wink:

and it looks like this.....just imagine if it had DD's :shock: :shock: :shock: RR

PB151065.jpg


PB151066.jpg
 

Bkat

Blackhawk
Joined
Jan 26, 2008
Messages
577
Location
Spring, Texas
I said "probably 1959" based on Ruger and RENE saying 1960 started with the letter X. But it's possible it could have been shipped in 1960 or even later. As I mentioned, a $10 letter from Ruger will give you the shipped date.

Did you have a particular reason for thinking it's a 1960 gun?

Bkat
 

jworason

Bearcat
Joined
Feb 24, 2013
Messages
4
My thinking was that the Ruger Guide indicated (to me anyway) that the run in 1959 ended at F 483 and the run in 1960 ended in X454 so the letter U was after F and Before X.

I will definitely send away for the letter tho! I appreciate all of your help!
 

Latest posts

Top