Mystery engraving on old Mark I .22 target

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gopguy

Bearcat
Joined
Jul 5, 2015
Messages
23
Hi gang, first post from a long time lurker.

A friend recently asked me to help identify some unusual Ruger's he has. His Father was a long time Ruger Collector but has now passed away. Though the model numbers are obvious this one with an odd engraving I am still trying to figure out. It's a Sturm Ruger Mark I, .22lr in stainless steel. On the top is an engraving of what appears to be a hornet holding a rifle. The letters B-B -090. The engraving is the mystery, anyone have an idea? Thanks.


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roylt

Hunter
Joined
Sep 21, 2010
Messages
3,100
No idea really but it reminds me of an old military patch. My Dad had a drawing for his unit in Korea. Not like this but reminds me of something like that. Was his dad in the military?
 

gopguy

Bearcat
Joined
Jul 5, 2015
Messages
23
It reminded me of the Seabees a bit too, but its not that and his dad was not in the military. A farmer all his life. It may well be a military reunion or presentation gun he got second hand. But those are just guesses.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e9/USN-Seabees-Insignia.svg/2000px-USN-Seabees-Insignia.svg.png
 
Joined
Dec 11, 2002
Messages
8,966
Location
Ohio , U.S.A.
that is a Bumble Bee , was a gun shop over here in Ohio and they made these special for Ruger collectors years, the mans name was Neal Bennet, an early RCA guy............
I don;t think it is stainless but an Armoloy or Metalife SS finish ( chromium) on a Mark I.............
the only stainless Mark I or standard was the Bill Ruger Signature in 1981/82 when the MK IIs came out.
 

rammerjammer

Blackhawk
Joined
Jan 22, 2010
Messages
734
rugerguy said:
that is a Bumble Bee , was a gun shop over here in Ohio and they made these special for Ruger collectors years, the mans name was Neal Bennet, an early RCA guy............
I don;t think it is stainless but an Armoloy or Metalife SS finish ( chromium) on a Mark I.............
the only stainless Mark I or standard was the Bill Ruger Signature in 1981/82 when the MK IIs came out.

Forums like this are great. Google can only do so much, and when you have a really obscure question sometimes going back to the human element is your best source of info.
 

RPM Enterprises

Buckeye
Joined
Jan 14, 2002
Messages
1,055
Location
Rugerville,WA. U.S.A.
I have been looking for information on Mr Bennett and busy bee gun shop. The gun pictured is the third one I have seen. The grips however are wrong on this one. Bennett did some belt buckles as well. I also know that he was the middle man for all the handling of the RCA guns.
 

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