#3 .44 magnum serial numbers

[TWalker]

My No.3 44 Mag is SN 132-42971

That set of six No. 3's is a bargain. It took me about 8 years and over $3,000 to complete mine. I wouldn't even consider selling for less than $5,000, even then, I probably wouldn't sell. Love those No. 3's, especially the 30-40 Krag.

 

[RugerHound]

My No.3 44 Mag is SN 132-42971

That set of six No. 3's is a bargain. It took me about 8 years and over $3,000 to complete mine. I wouldn't even consider selling for less than $5,000, even then, I probably wouldn't sell. Love those No. 3's, especially the 30-40 Krag.

I've been watching those for a while... One of them has had the stock refinished, and none have boxes. I have the complete list of SNs from the seller if anyone is interested. (PM pls)

I have everything now but the .22 caliber, having recently acquired a splendid .44 Mag through a private deal.

My dad told me to buy a set of 'em when I picked up my 1st No. 3 in 1984. (125 bucks OTD new!) He said "These won't be around forever, and you'd be wise to buy a set of 'em!"

The old guy was just never wrong about stuff like that!

Anyway,

Lowest SN: 39669
Highest SN: 55390
13 accounted for: 6.5% of "200"

 

[winchester37]

Just acquired two more 44 mags.....132-39138 and 132-43023. add them to the list.

 

[RugerHound]

Thanks!

Stats:
Low SN: 132-39138
High SN: 132-55390
15 total accounted for, 7.5% of "200"
SN Range: 16,252

 

[NH Rugerman]

132-55886

Manufactured in 1985 according to Ruger.com...I purchased ANIB in 1986....I have never fired it....just fondled it on occasion.

IF Ruger only made 200 total, they sure spread them out!! :lol:

 

[lctrcjim]

I'm the proud owner of S/N 132-42205, bought from Saltwater Shooter - thanks Jimmy!!!

Everyone that shoots this darned thing falls in love with it.

 

[DavidMc116]

mine is 132-42363.......DavidMc116: we need to find the two between us.

OMGosh...

 

[RugerHound]

Ran the duplicate finder... These are the corrected totals:

Low SN: 132-39138
High SN: 132-55886
16 total accounted for, 8.0% of "200"
SN Range: 16,748

 

[mike-c]

Greetings,

Interesting that no one has admitted to converting any of these to 444 Marlin, and they should be added to the count for a true picture of how many 44 mags were done!!! Just curious!!!

Mike 8)

 

[RugerHound]

Greetings,

Interesting that no one has admitted to converting any of these to 444 Marlin, and they should be added to the count for a true picture of how many 44 mags were done!!! Just curious!!!

Mike 8)

Agreed Mike! The name of the game is to figure out the total shipped, and it really doesn't matter (for this project) whether the rifles are altered or not.

No doubt that discussion will take place somewhere down the road if we can accurately calculate (guess?) a total number of shipped rifles.

 

[44rugerr]

I have #132-42558 with box and papers.

 

[RugerHound]

I have #132-42558 with box and papers.

Box & Papers! :shock:

Now we're up to 17... (Honestly this time!)

Low SN: 132-39138
High SN: 132-55886
17 total accounted for, 8.5% of the mythical "200"
SN Range: 16,748

 

[RugerBoi]

:shock: Better late than not at the barbeque...I have #132-55171 New in the box...Got it at the WAC show two years ago along with the 375 nib from the same guy who had all 6 calibers...I didn't have enough old Super Blackhawks to trade to get them all at the time....I later got the other 4 from a very nice collector in the Dalles, Or. I will be displaying them this Weekend at Ogden, Ut. if you want to see the gang! RB

 

[RugerHound]

:shock: Better late than not at the barbeque...I have #132-55171 New in the box...Got it at the WAC show two years ago along with the 375 nib from the same guy who had all 6 calibers...I didn't have enough old Super Blackhawks to trade to get them all at the time....I later got the other 4 from a very nice collector in the Dalles, Or. I will be displaying them this Weekend at Ogden, Ut. if you want to see the gang! RB

Man I wish I could come up! I'd love to see 'em! (Photos work too of course )

Thanks for the addition!

Low SN: 132-39138
High SN: 132-55886
18 total accounted for, 9.0% of "200"
SN Range: 16,748

 

[chet15]

Finally had a chance to look through my notes. Thought I had more listed, but the three will help anyway...

132-43188
132-55677
132-55835

I would suggest though that a closer look be made at the serial number ranges were these are at. Of course between the high and low that is shown has a 16,748 range, but it looks like there are only about three blocks and it can probably be broken down even further than that...maybe two small batches in the 39xxx range (maybe), maybe two to three more in the 42xxx to 43xxx range (I'm talking small runs) and up to three small runs in the 55xxx range.
Then again, with as random as Ruger does things...there may have been as few as two batches.
Remember if the demand from distributors was not that great, Ruger would not have made huge batches of the .44 Mag. #3.

Here's the list below....notice that there are some patterns that are beginning to develop (coincidence??)

132-39138

132-39669

132-42133

132-43188
132-42205

132-42363
132-42366

132-42528
132-42558

132-42911
132-42967
132-42971
132-42984
132-43023

132-43187

132-55171

132-55373
132-55390

132-55677

132-55835
132-55886

If we can get another 2 or 3 dozen numbers here, we might be able to tell a little closer what happened.
There is still a potential of 200 guns here...but that would be on the low side I.M.O. Even the largest group above only spans 113 numbers, again with the possibility that other calibers are mixed in between.
What if most of the other numbers that are by themselves are random sn frames??
Chet15

 

[pjinak]

Looks like I'll provide the 22nd...

I picked this up a while back off of another forum member after searching for quite some time for a #3 in 44 that wasn't (IMO) overpriced or (again IMO) "horribly disfigured"...

132-55350

It's one fun little gun... Ya just gotta love them #3 carbines!

 

[winchester37]

just noticed a sale on GB, 6 #3's....44 mag included. box for gun shows seriel number 132-42238.
another one for the list.

 

[RugerHound]

Here's a different kind of view that might be useful. I have several No. 3s, 4 of which are 130 prefix and seem to be fairly closely grouped with each other. 2 in 45/70 (58xxx) & 2 in 30-40 Krag (55xxx & 63xxx)

My .375 is 132-10800, & the .223 is 132-24640. No idea where the Hornets fall into things.

Anyway, the list below shows the gaps between each of the SN's and the previous SN. There seem to be 3 significant batches as you suggested Chet. If this type of view is useful, I'll rewrite the spreadsheet to capture those gaps dynamically.

Prefix Batch Gap
132- 39138 ------
132- 39669 531
132- 42133 2464
132- 42205 72
132- 42238 33
132- 42363 125
132- 42366 3
132- 42528 162
132- 42558 30
132- 42911 353
132- 42967 56
132- 42971 4
132- 42984 13
132- 43023 39
132- 43147 124
132- 43188 41
132- 55171 11983
132- 55350 179
132- 55373 23
132- 55390 17
132- 55677 287
132- 55835 158
132- 55886 51

 

[chet15]

Anyway, the list below shows the gaps between each of the SN's and the previous SN. There seem to be 3 significant batches as you suggested Chet. If this type of view is useful, I'll rewrite the spreadsheet to capture those gaps dynamically.

Yes, that is probably best as you can see things better. I'm thinking there were probably only two batches, but overall the shipping dates would be the key.
I have several invoices here for M77's and Number 1's for example that are even worse for guns serial numbered all over the place. Ruger's random manufacturing of serial numbered receivers can put you all over the spectrum.
I remember when 10/22's were well in the 259- prefix that Ruger was shipping guns (newly manufactured) that had 256- prefix serial numbers.
Chet15

 

[das5833]

Chet-
Update for you, and for everyone who is interested.
I have joined the other forum (RugerForum.net) and contacted the administrator who says he is going to post our inquiry over there as a sticky in the single- shot rifle topic. It's not up yet- I'll keep an eye on it, and if we get responses there that we don't have here, I'll add them in to our list.
I also have submitted an email inquiry to Ruger records for the original shipping configuration (just to make sure) and the original shipping dates on the 23 serial numbers we have so far. As soon as that is answered I'll contact Pete and see if he can change the chart to include that data.
Should be interesting to see how the serial number spread that Pete has created relates to the shipping dates.
Dave