1st Year SP101... What to Look For?

[Tip]

Hey, all.
Anyone have ideas on how hard these are to come across?
Is there any particular barrel length that is less common?

I won't ask about pricing, because I realize that is subjective

TIA.

 

[Terry T]

Has to be below ser. no. 570-38900.
Will be listed as a 182 or 183.
Will be a .38 spl.
3" may be a bit less common than the 2".
May have green grips.
They are out there - just need to look around. Probably go for a 'shooter' price. In other words, all about condition and with or with out box, etc.
Terry T

 

[Tip]

Has to be below ser. no. 570-38900.
Will be listed as a 182 or 183.
Will be a .38 spl.
3" may be a bit less common than the 2".
May have green grips.
They are out there - just need to look around. Probably go for a 'shooter' price. In other words, all about condition and with or with out box, etc.
Terry T

Thanks for the reply, Terry.

For some reason, I can't get tinypic.com to work.
I'm looking at a green insert -handled, 2" bbl in the 900 range. (1st week?!)

 

[hittman]

in the 900 range. (1st week?!)

Don't think they're built in serial number order. A letter from Ruger is the only way to be sure.

 

[rammerjammer]

I had two 3" models from their first year of production, a 9mm and a 38SPL model.

Can't say I noted any real difference between them and my newer SP101s.

 

[Tip]

I had two 3" models from their first year of production, a 9mm and a 38SPL model...

Okay...
I thought first year examples were only .38 special.

 

[Tip]

Finally got the picture to upload!

 

[Terry T]

The green grips are 'rare'. Worth picking up if the price is OK.
Terry

 

[Tip]

Thanks again, Terry.
I may just go back and see if the seller will deal.

 

[Tip]

Not that this thread gin'd up much response but, to anyone following:
I went back for this one, since I can't say I had ever come across such an early example, let alone with the green xenoy grips.
The seller gave me a great deal, too... 3 bills!

 

[hittman]

Yeah ...... that's very cheap. You did real good.

 

[Terry T]

Wow! That's over towards a stealing price! Well done!
The early green grips are considered 'very scarce' and a "must have" for a SP-101 collector. (Took me quite a while to find both the 2 1/2" and the 3" with green grips. :shock: ) Yours is within the expected ser. no. range for the green grips too.
Careful - these little beauties can become addictive - I have "only" 22, all different, all within the first 20 years of production. :oops:
Terry T

 

[Tip]

Yeah ...... that's very cheap. You did real good.

Wow! That's over towards a stealing price! Well done!
The early green grips are considered 'very scarce' and a "must have" for a SP-101 collector. (Took me quite a while to find both the 2 1/2" and the 3" with green grips. :shock: ) Yours is within the expected ser. no. range for the green grips too...
:oops:
Terry T

Thanks, guys.
To be honest... When I saw it under the glass for the first time, I thought someone had put the green slabs on as an aftermarket modification. I knew it was an early SN immediately but, only after I started looking into the early features did I understand about green xenoy.
Have a great weekend,everybody!

Early SP101 Right at Home w/ Early GP100

Came across this old thread... Good info!
http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=186328#p1905417

 

[chet15]

I had two 3" models from their first year of production, a 9mm and a 38SPL model...

Okay...
I thought first year examples were only .38 special.

The 9mm and the .22 caliber SP101's were indeed produced during the first year of SP101 production, but only the .38 Special was offered initially.
Chet15

 

[Tip]

The 9mm and the .22 caliber SP101's were indeed produced during the first year of SP101 production, but only the .38 Special was offered initially.
Chet15

Thanks for clearing that up, Chet.
There's always another Ruger that I'd like to have!