contender
Ruger Guru
FM,, I'm not sure what you are asking about here. Nothing has been mentioned about a special rear sight.
Letter of Authenticity
- Thread starter Ray Newman
- Start date
Help Support Ruger Forum:
That'd be me unless I suspected some characteristic/history that would make it worth more. But then I bend down and pick up a penny off the ground. Most histories wouldn't cause the gun to be even worth $10 more IMO in most cases!
I agree that it is 10.00 well spent! I just got 10 letters back, but was a little disappointed because 3 or 4 didn't even give the model number as they left the factory. What is interesting is that consecutive numbered guns ….one letter has model number the other just says just Blackhawk!
So I called records department for Ruger. I was told they include as much information as they have. Some early guns only are listed "without model numbers and receipts in the early records"
So I called records department for Ruger. I was told they include as much information as they have. Some early guns only are listed "without model numbers and receipts in the early records"
- Joined
- Dec 24, 2014
- Messages
- 345
Be thankful your revolvers are not S&Ws. There Letters cost $100 each. I just received one and didn't get much useful information on a "Custom" model 65. Neither the Foundation or the factory can tell me what "Custom" means ever though it is marked on the factory case "Custom" and has a "Custom Ord. number". Obviously I can determine what work was done on the revolver but not the process as to what Custom meant in 2001. Not much help for paying $100.
Smith and Colt both are way too expensive. I've also called Linda before purchasing a Ruger to verify it's what was advertised. She is very helpful!
contender
Ruger Guru
Part of this discussion revolves around the fact that some people are just shooters, and don't give a hoot about history, rarity, or anything when it comes to a firearm. They often say here; "I won't own a gun that I don't shoot." I hear it often.
Then there are the collectors,, who seek history, respect the background of the company & what was done, and prefer to find guns that are low in production numbers, or were owned by a famous person, etc.
And there's also the type who are just curious about what they have, because the guns are special to them.
Many of us go to a museum to look at guns. We are not allowed to touch them, much less,, shoot them. And yet,, we can appreciate a mint condition of a gun of a rarer variation.
Collectors want to know how a gun was shipped from the factory,, often to verify it's what it appears to be,, but also to assure they are not paying a premium for a counterfeit of a rare gun.
And yes,, there are people out there who realize a specific type of gun is rare,, and they modify a gun to be like the rarer one,, then sell for a large profit.
When there is money to be made,, and someone thinks they can profit from it,, a few criminal types can & will do this.
Getting a letter is not required by many,, but desired by some. And the $10 Ruger charges is cheap when compared to S&W or Colt.
Get a letter or not,, personal choice.
But again, like I've mentioned,, it can make a big difference to a collector or an estate trying to sell guns.
Heck,, many people often say things like; "If I die,, don't let my wife sell my guns for what I told her I paid for them!" A letter for the heirs,, and especially for an estate sale can mean a LOT of difference in what the heirs receive for a collection. Using my earlier example of the OM .41 brassie. I will NOT pay a premium for one w/o the letter. If the gun, is presented with a brass g/f,, but no verification it shipped that way,, I'd pay around $1100 or so. (The sum of the parts, as if it were not shipped that way.) But if I bought it for $1100,, and then verified it shipped as a brassie,, then the letter will add considerable value to the gun if I go to sell it,, or actually to my estate, as I don't sell my Rugers.
Again, get a letter or not,, a personal choice.
Then there are the collectors,, who seek history, respect the background of the company & what was done, and prefer to find guns that are low in production numbers, or were owned by a famous person, etc.
And there's also the type who are just curious about what they have, because the guns are special to them.
Many of us go to a museum to look at guns. We are not allowed to touch them, much less,, shoot them. And yet,, we can appreciate a mint condition of a gun of a rarer variation.
Collectors want to know how a gun was shipped from the factory,, often to verify it's what it appears to be,, but also to assure they are not paying a premium for a counterfeit of a rare gun.
And yes,, there are people out there who realize a specific type of gun is rare,, and they modify a gun to be like the rarer one,, then sell for a large profit.
When there is money to be made,, and someone thinks they can profit from it,, a few criminal types can & will do this.
Getting a letter is not required by many,, but desired by some. And the $10 Ruger charges is cheap when compared to S&W or Colt.
Get a letter or not,, personal choice.
But again, like I've mentioned,, it can make a big difference to a collector or an estate trying to sell guns.
Heck,, many people often say things like; "If I die,, don't let my wife sell my guns for what I told her I paid for them!" A letter for the heirs,, and especially for an estate sale can mean a LOT of difference in what the heirs receive for a collection. Using my earlier example of the OM .41 brassie. I will NOT pay a premium for one w/o the letter. If the gun, is presented with a brass g/f,, but no verification it shipped that way,, I'd pay around $1100 or so. (The sum of the parts, as if it were not shipped that way.) But if I bought it for $1100,, and then verified it shipped as a brassie,, then the letter will add considerable value to the gun if I go to sell it,, or actually to my estate, as I don't sell my Rugers.
Again, get a letter or not,, a personal choice.
eveled
Hawkeye
- Joined
- Apr 3, 2012
- Messages
- 5,610
That pretty much sums up my opinion too. Although I see @contender 's point too.
Also if you have 50 Rugers, you could buy a new gun with that money.
Good point! I look at the roll engraving on the gun as a statement of Authenticity and the DOB is easily retrieved from Ruger's site. Now if Ruger clones were being made like Rolex watches that could make a difference to me.
I think sometimes it might be worth it, even for a "garden variety" Ruger, if the owner bought a gun used & had an interest in when it was sold, or to whom. For example, the letter might be worth having if you were thinking about selling a 50-year-old gun as a C&R. In my case, I've got one of the slightly-less-common P-series autos, that I think might be police surplus. Confirming that would probably not add much of anything to retail value, but would be interesting to me personally. I've been meaning to get off my butt and request the letter from Ruger, but haven't done it yet. As you said, it's only ten bucks!
As always IMHO, FWIW, YMMV, one size never fits all, etc.
I get letters on all my Ruger's- with the exception of the few I bought new in the last couple years. $10.00 is a bargain. I am a shooter but also an "accumulator" (My term for a wanna-be collector). I am very interested in history of all types- and I prefer to own things with "meaning" - a past history. Even if it's trivial. There's something special about owning something that's vintage- especially knowing it's past. As opposed to buying something new that anyone with a checkbook can have.
I will also add that Linda is an amazing resource for us. She has gone well above and beyond for me several times. I can't begin to state how much I appreciate that someone like her is in that position.
Like mentioned above- some letters have more info than others. I have ascertained that most of the stuff we look for comes from handwritten records that were transferred to digital files at some point. So a lot depends on who was writing stuff down all those years ago. I've got a Single Six from 1963 that wasn't even entered into the book, and wouldn't letter. Linda checked for me and found the serial numbers prior and post were both entered. Not a common occurrence. But I find even the lack of a letter to be interesting. Maybe I'm just weird…
I will also add that Linda is an amazing resource for us. She has gone well above and beyond for me several times. I can't begin to state how much I appreciate that someone like her is in that position.
Like mentioned above- some letters have more info than others. I have ascertained that most of the stuff we look for comes from handwritten records that were transferred to digital files at some point. So a lot depends on who was writing stuff down all those years ago. I've got a Single Six from 1963 that wasn't even entered into the book, and wouldn't letter. Linda checked for me and found the serial numbers prior and post were both entered. Not a common occurrence. But I find even the lack of a letter to be interesting. Maybe I'm just weird…
This was one you showed me at your place a couple years ago. No notch in the rear sight. We were talking about letters from Ruger and I was just wondering what the Ruger letter said concerning that particular revolver.
contender
Ruger Guru
Ahh,, now I know which gun you are asking about.
It wasn't a Blackhawk,, but a RST4 standard auto,, w/o a notch cut in the rear sight base. Nothing in the letter about it,, and when I spoke to Ruger,, they were kinda casual about it,, and offered to send me a replacement rear blade.
It wasn't a Blackhawk,, but a RST4 standard auto,, w/o a notch cut in the rear sight base. Nothing in the letter about it,, and when I spoke to Ruger,, they were kinda casual about it,, and offered to send me a replacement rear blade.
I just thought it was a Blackhawk, oops. I did remember you handing it to me an asking me if saw anything unusual. Then you told me to check the sight picture.
contender
Ruger Guru
Yes, I did. But one phone call and a correct one was on the way.
contender
Ruger Guru
Yes,, I got one that had a typo, It too was quickly corrected,, no charge.
