Confusion with a Speed Six Serial Number: 1K97515

I'm looking at picking up a Speed Six in .38 special and the seller says the serial number is 1K97515. I tried looking it up and no dice. All Speed Six serial numbers are numeric. I asked him to send me pic of the serial number and it's true.....1K97515 from the bottom of the grip frame.

Can anyone explain this to me and possibly tell me what going on?

Thank you....

That sounds like a S&W serial number to me. Have you seen pictures of the rest of the gun?

Never heard of one like that.

POSSIBLY,, if it is a Ruger,, it was a firearm with a history,, and the ATF assigned it a new serial number.

arfmel said:

That sounds like a S&W serial number to me.

Click to expand...

^^ This. ^^

I've only seen pics, and you're probably right. The individual is ALSO selling a K-38 so he probably sent me a pic of the Smith serial number. I didn't know Smith's had the serial number located on the bottom of the grip frame. Anyhow, I'll see it in person on Tuesday. From looking at pics of the turn line it doesn't appear to have been fired much. He asked $300 and I offered $250.

K designates Stainless as far as I know. ps

Then it's simply an early Model 14 because it's blued.....

powder smoke said:

K designates Stainless as far as I know. ps

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Ruger never puts the "K" in the serial number. The "K" is put in the catalog number.

Ten 4! With Ruger anomalies are always possible. Just saying. ps

Ford vs Chevy?

It's probably a pre-production sample or prototype worth thousands.

:roll:

You are joking, right?

Here's a pic of the Speed Six and Serial Number on the bottom of the grip panel

https://imgur.com/a/QWyDHxG

Please post a picture of the entire gun.

Ruger charges $10 for a letter, Smith charges $100.

I'm still skeptical, would need to hold the gun in my hot little hands to ensure he hasn't sent you the wrong s/n picture.

Pic of gun added to the link in the previous post

Yeah, looking at the grips from the bottom up, it's so close. I'll know on Tuesday when I see it. Weird serial number none the less.

Ask if he has any K frame Smith's from about 1971.

Be funny if he sent you a pic of that with s/n like 159-xxxxx.

lol

The serial number pic is definitely of a S&W, the seller just has the pictures mixed up. The shape and positioning of the numerals on the butt is typical of S&Ws.

I'd say, based on the picture of the Ruger, it's easily worth $300.

Look at the cruddy condition of the bottom of the Smith's grip frame and grip, compared to the side view of the Ruger, it's pretty apparent that they're not the same gun.

"I'd say, based on the picture of the Ruger, it's easily worth $300."

Easily being the operative word. I'd buy all I could get my hands on for $300.