38 special GP100
- Thread starter wobbly34b
- Start date
I'd guess it's 'rare' but that is not the same as 'collectable'. Not that many GP-100 collectors out there at this time.
A photo might help. Fixed sight? full lug / half lug?
A goodly number of the fixed sight versions were made up for LE and guard companies.
An adj. sight 4" would be a rare bird.
Hope this helps,
Terry T
A photo might help. Fixed sight? full lug / half lug?
A goodly number of the fixed sight versions were made up for LE and guard companies.
An adj. sight 4" would be a rare bird.
Hope this helps,
Terry T
Chuck 100 yd
Hunter
When they offered a small run of 4" .38's a couple years back I grabbed one.
Mine has adjustable sight and just loves 148 gr. wad cutters and 162 gr. RN bullets loaded to moderate velocity. I bought it for a range gun and am very pleased with it in every way.
Mine has adjustable sight and just loves 148 gr. wad cutters and 162 gr. RN bullets loaded to moderate velocity. I bought it for a range gun and am very pleased with it in every way.
About 3 years ago, Davidsons got a trainload of these in and ran them at a huge discount. I don't recall exactly, but out the door with all fees and taxes paid I was still under $400. Mine is all blued, full lug.
38 only is a lot less common, but so is demand for them. Selling prices, new or used, are typically similar. After all, they are identical guns except for the magnums get chambers cut about an eighth of an inch longer.
38 only is a lot less common, but so is demand for them. Selling prices, new or used, are typically similar. After all, they are identical guns except for the magnums get chambers cut about an eighth of an inch longer.
chet15
Hawkeye
The .38 Special in an adjustable sight GP100 is a rare bird and was never cataloged.
Ruger did however catalog several GP100 models in .38 Special with fixed sights. None are in Ruger's catalog today.
Chet15
Ruger did however catalog several GP100 models in .38 Special with fixed sights. None are in Ruger's catalog today.
Chet15
TENFAN
Single-Sixer
I bought one of the 3 inch Stainless adj sight versions and immediately sent it to David Clemons for his 10mm conversion
chet15
Hawkeye
So that gun started life as a .38 Special?
If so, it was a rare gun. Now it would just be a custom.
How's it shoot?
Chet15
If so, it was a rare gun. Now it would just be a custom.
How's it shoot?
Chet15
Uncommon perhaps but not rare. 3" adjustable sighted stainless .38s were in the stores about a year ago. Locally they were priced $50 lower than .357s. A few members here have posted that they found them very inexpensive used then had them reamed to .357. I was not so lucky. I paid the $550 plus tax for a new one. It will remain a .38. The shorter chamber is what attracted me. If I'd wanted a .357 there would have been no reason to buy new.
TENFAN
Single-Sixer
It shoots exceponaly well with both .40 and 10mm. When I bought it Davidson's had over 100 in stock and since I wanted a 3 inch barrel it saved me the cost of having him cut the barrel plus the .38 was cheaper than the .357 version. The price was low enough that if I wanted .357 it would had been cheaper to buy the .38 and have a gunsmith lengthen the chambers than to buy the factory .357
chet15
Hawkeye
k22fan said:
Oh believe me....they are rare. You may see several at a particular time period, but the only time you see them in the U.S. market is when Ruger has leftovers from a foreign contract...or rarely from a domestic police/government contract.
I saw one locally about two years ago and haven't seen another since.
Kinda like the U.S. marked DA's that were released about 20 years ago. Sure...they were all over the place at the time...but find one now.
Chet15
We're quibbling over how scarce a model has to be to qualify as "rare." I would not call any variation made after 1900 in a quantity over a few hundred rare and many collectors classify that description as only scarce.
However, it does depend on how many remain within the U.S.A. in the condition you want. Some models are rare in excellent condition but common in lower condition. For example, despite over 3 million being made, due to their service in two world wars, arsenal refinishing between those wars and gifting or lending them to foreign governments U.S. 1917 .30-06s with excellent condition original bluing are rare. They are not just rarely offered for sale because collectors are hanging on to theirs. They are rare.
However, it does depend on how many remain within the U.S.A. in the condition you want. Some models are rare in excellent condition but common in lower condition. For example, despite over 3 million being made, due to their service in two world wars, arsenal refinishing between those wars and gifting or lending them to foreign governments U.S. 1917 .30-06s with excellent condition original bluing are rare. They are not just rarely offered for sale because collectors are hanging on to theirs. They are rare.
TENFAN
Single-Sixer
If you want one there is still one sitting on my dealer's shelf. He ordered 3 from Davidson's, 1 for me and 1 for a friend and one to sell in the store. My friend and I both sent ours to Clements for the 10mm conversion.
FergusonTO35
Hunter
A few years ago Ruger did produce a run of adjustable sight .38's with a 5" full lug tube.
chet15
Hawkeye
I'm just saying they don't make many adjustable sight .38 Specials. It would be one of the absolute last on a list of "Things to do" at Ruger because such an animal doesn't sell. Take a look at Ruger's current catalog and see how many .38 Specials they offer in the SP101....there's one model. So when you can shoot .38's in a .357 Mag., why limit yourself to the .38?
You guys want to cut them up, go ahead. Makes them even more collectible.
Chet15
You guys want to cut them up, go ahead. Makes them even more collectible.
Chet15
One model cataloged, but temporarily 2 models available. Davidsons is showing a batch of 3" 38 Special SP's in stock. On sale and selling pretty fast. Yesterday they listed the item as "99+ available". Today it shows 80 left. I just clicked thru to compare my LGS quote for one and it shows them $89 cheaper than the cataloged 2" version. He wants $468 plus tax and tips for the 3".
http://www.galleryofguns.com/genie/Default.aspx?item=5739-RUG&mfg=Ruger&mdl=All&cat=All&type=All&cal=38SP&fin=&sit=&zipcode=80030
http://www.galleryofguns.com/genie/Default.aspx?item=5739-RUG&mfg=Ruger&mdl=All&cat=All&type=All&cal=38SP&fin=&sit=&zipcode=80030
FergusonTO35
Hunter
Interesting how the .38 only version is such a cult favorite and sells out quickly. I so wish they would bring back the KGPF-840.
Blackmore
Blackhawk
Here's a GP100 GPNY that's marked .38 special...well, it used to be. There is a guy who used to work in the Newport factory who would buy UGB guns as an employee to tune up and customize. When he needed to make ends meet though...
I got this 1991 GPNY fixed sight 4" he'd done. He'd polished a bunch of the parts to bright SS, but more importantly fitted a .357 cylinder, made it SA/DA with spurred hammer and did a trigger job that's incredible but still safe for single action.
I got this 1991 GPNY fixed sight 4" he'd done. He'd polished a bunch of the parts to bright SS, but more importantly fitted a .357 cylinder, made it SA/DA with spurred hammer and did a trigger job that's incredible but still safe for single action.
