A-54 magazine question...

Help Support Ruger Forum:

john.41

Bearcat
Joined
Jun 2, 2009
Messages
34
Location
S.E.MI
I am being offered, according to serial number, a 1971 Standard pistol with an A54 frame. My question is, it comes with only one magazine that is slotted just on the right side. I thought these plain left side magazines were only on earlier manufactured pistols. I was thinking both sides had button slots by 1971.
Thanks for any help you can give.
 
the early A-54 frames ran into the early 70's with the prefix serial numbers, and yes you can use a later double slot magazine ,simple reverse the button to the other side,,,if its a later, like the MK II magazine the button head is much larger in diameter and may drag ,cause hangups on the A-54 slot channel, need to turn it down make is a smaller diameter head on the button....a better cut off date of the exact timing ( serial number range) of the A-100 may be found in a check of the RENE and the types...to get a single slot mag, will be more costly if found at any show or on line, I've gotten $60 or more when I can get them, and seen them as high as $90 at times,,,,,use the newer ones, they hold 10 rounds instead of 9 ......:cool:;)
 

Attachments

  • 22 mags MK I over.JPG
    22 mags MK I over.JPG
    184.9 KB · Views: 25
  • 22 mags series.JPG
    22 mags series.JPG
    141.7 KB · Views: 23
  • Mag reverse.JPG
    Mag reverse.JPG
    290.7 KB · Views: 26
  • Mag_ID_2.jpg
    Mag_ID_2.jpg
    331.6 KB · Views: 26
Last edited:
yes, they were, it appears the gun in question had a replacement done using the early A-54 frame , and yes you can use a later double slot magazine ,simple reverse the button to the other side,,,if its a later, like the MK II magazine the button head is much larger in diameter and may drag ,cause hangups on the A-54 slot channel, need to turn it down make is a smaller diameter head on the button..........
"Yes they were"
Single right side slot magazines were available at the end of A54 frame run?
 
I would be guessing no, as the change to double slots went earlier that I had first talked about, they simply put the button on the side needed for the newer A-100 frame , and it still only held 9 rounds..........as I added/corrected, above, a check with Chad and the RENE should get a more 'exact' serial number/year change........ ;)
 
Thanks for the help. I converted a MkII magazine to use with it and put the 9 shot A54 magazine away. The frame was not marked A-100.
 
if the frame is not marked it easy enough to tell by the location of the bottom grip screw hole , on the left side of the early frames ( A-54) the lower hole is closer to the bottom of the frame and the hole on the right side is slightly higher, this is reversed, ,lower on the A-100 right side and higher on the left side,,,,they also reversed sides for the grip medallion, the first red eagle and early black eagles were on the left panel, and then over on the right panel for the later black eagle medallion......all of this was done I believe in preparation for the upcoming Mark II in early 1980s......;)
 
if the frame is not marked it easy enough to tell by the location of the bottom grip screw hole , on the left side of the early frames ( A-54) the lower hole is closer to the bottom of the frame and the hole on the right side is slightly higher, this is reversed, ,lower on the A-100 right side and higher on the left side,,,,they also reversed sides for the grip medallion, the first red eagle and early black eagles were on the left panel, and then over on the right panel for the later black eagle medallion......all of this was done I believe in preparation for the upcoming Mark II in early 1980s......;)
I am familiar with the differences. Just meant that by not being marked A-100, that it was an A-54 frame with 11-08xxx serial. Thanks rugerguy
 
I would be guessing no, as the change to double slots went earlier that I had first talked about, they simply put the button on the side needed for the newer A-100 frame , and it still only held 9 rounds..........as I added/corrected, above, a check with Chad and the RENE should get a more 'exact' serial number/year change........ ;)
11-40000
 

Latest posts

Top