Cool stuff Rick! And neat history!
Yes, that marking sounds about right in those days (though that's the first time I've heard of a sleeve that early). Ruger kept their sleeve stamps simple because they didn't need to say a whole lot with those stamps.
The first single-six sleeves in 1953 were marked only "REVOLVER", to differentiate between the 3 auto models they were also making at the time. When the first .357 Blackhawks were shipped, they were also stamped with only "REVOLVER" on the sleeve, but somebody handwrote ".357" above the stamp.
With more introductions though, those sleeve stamps had to evolve as well!
Again....NEAT STUFF!
So I'll bet, if a 5-1/4" sleeve exists, it probably only says 5 1/4" BARREL.
Anybody have an early 4-3/4" sleeve out there? Do they only say 4 3/4" BARREL?
Chet15