On 1st Production of NM SBHs, Any Special Features?

I understand that there were changes in some features early on, (smooth triggers vs. grooved, and so forth) but were there any made with enhanced touches, i.e. grips, special packaging, engraving, special bluing, etc?

And, please feel free to post pics of what you've got.

TIA!

Don't have one here, but the early NM Supers had the barrel without the warning, some had cylinders with countersunk chambers because of Ruger using up OM parts, and the bluing was a higher polish than later guns.

bisleyfan41 said:

...the bluing was a higher polish than later guns.

Click to expand...

Now, I have seen that on earlier NMs.
Thanks for the verification!

How about gold inlay?
Was this ever factory applied?

Nope.....never a factory applied gold fill. You can scrub that out with bore cleaner to bring back to factory appearance. Gotta love the pre warning days!!!

Ron

a company called 'Bonanza' had a filling for lettering in gold or silver ,was popular back in the 70s.....
some people when they take pictures of their guns, so the serial number "stands" out will use a white filler ( crayon or wax)
The only times I recall "off hand" are when the partially engraved Vaqueros had a gold "fill" in the cylinder engraving and the anniversary models of various Ruger models over the years.........

Thanks, guys.
Any ideas on value?
Faint turn ring, no other blemishes. No box or papers.

$500 to $600. It'll not get into any collector price range w/o box and papers.

The 50th anniversary model from 2009 is one with super polish blue and a gold inletted ring on the cylinder.
There was a short barrel Alaskan special edition with gold stars. super blue, and some commemorative markings as I recall.

Here's a general list of evolutionary feature changes, most of which affected the SBHs:

~ 2013 Redhawks switched to a firing pin bushing screwed in from the rear.
~ late 2015 Fired case no longer included with guns (began in 2000).
2012 Internal locks were phased out in on those models that had them (began in 2005).
Collared cylinder pins on Large frames discontinued.
2009 Steel ejector rod housings on SBHs and Bisleys.
2009 CCH New Vaq eliminated.
2008 Blued cast steel rear sight body with Ruger bird cast into tang.
2007 Laminated wood grips or black 'plastic'; solid walnut or solid wood of any kind phased out.
2006 Billboard message moved to the bottom of the barrel.
2004 to 2012 phased in smooth triggers instead of grooved on SBHs; hammers, triggers and ejector housing attachment screws used on blue models are all stainless as their blue counterparts were eliminated. The screw is black phosphated or some such, (if worn shiny they will not take bluing.) Occasionally Ruger substituted SS parts when they were temporarily low on blued parts inventory. But it has become standard practice because these parts in blue can no longer be ordered, and are listed as discontinued! Stainless can be blued however by those refinishers specializing in it.
Dull blue finish.
Aluminum alloy grip frames have been powder coated instead anodized for several years now.
20XX Rear sight with hump began.
1999 steel ERHs on Vaqueros.
1996 to 1999 All frames rear surface and grip frame ears raised for universal fit of Bisley grip frames
~ early 1980 studded barrel eliminated.
1985, pointed ejector rods phased in.
~ 1980 Barrel warning began on the left side.