As Rare as they come !

[mr.deerstalker]

I picked up this gem from long time friend and Ruger collector on a trade, it to me is a "Hidden Gem" a 1960 BK-46 Flat Top with British Proof Marks. I have never seen another one like it, are more out there? oh im sure. maybe Chad can chim-in with what he knows. but I feel lucky to have it. I do have another old model single six with Italian proof marks. its boxed and unfired, and two cylinders. who on here has anything thing like this, speak up....knowledge is power. FNC

 

[GasGuzzler]

Nice piece.

Why "the quotes" around "as rare"? I am confused.

 

[contender]

STUNNING!

 

[needsmostuff]

I don't view import/export marks as making something "rare" as much as possibly making it "unusual ".
Although it appears to be a very nice acquisition even without the extra "dents".

 

[mr.deerstalker]

you may have a good point there, but less of anything makes it rarer. collector's like / love different or odd stuff, mis prints, double stamped, D, S or * guns. there different. less of anything makes it way harder to add one to a collection or for your display.

 

[hittman]

I also get attracted to those odd ball, step child, curious stuff. For me it’s also the chase for info and verification of them …. What they are, how’d they get that way, why were they produced like that, etc.

Like the “D” serial number GP100. Not “rare” by itself. However, RENE lists it as something like 1 of XX sent out. The gun shipped in the hard plastic box and ugly rubber grips. Serial number says it should have been cardboard box and Lett grips. Seems Ruger “found” a couple dozen frames squirreled away somewhere, stamped them with the “D” and shipped them off ….. 15 years later!

 

[Ale-8(1)]

I've always thought that "scarce" indicated that there are a somewhat limited number of something whereas "rare" implied an elevated value of a scarce thing to collectors. Semantics, really. JMHO

 

[mr.deerstalker]

it just my train of thoughtis: scarce to me is there are around, like a type 1 Flat top. put out feelers and you'll get one. now a days. there scarce. Rare to me is after 50 years of collecting never. and ever only seeing one before in my life,, hurd of one before, not even in a book. is rare to me. my test again. ask around, but out feelers for one you like to buy... crickets...

 

[Ale-8(1)]

Oh, absolutely. Scarcity can in and of itself engender much interest and elevated "value". How much "value" will depend on who's wanting it and how much they will pay for it. That one-in-fifty-years gun will bring out those who appreciate its extreme scarcity and likely drive up the "value" if its availability is made known to the collector community.

I just find the term "rare" overused in the gun world, particularly on sites like Gunbroker. Most of the folks here have a clue about relative scarcity. Again, JMHO.

 

[mr.deerstalker]

bob, it was never a bout value. you went a-stray on the subject. it was about to amount of them with British Proof,s....per say. scarce...maybe, but where can you find another one, say rarely or who as ever seen other one, yet for sale. almost never, considering this is the only one I ever see in 50 years of collecting. for me, its as rare as they come.

 

[Snake Pleskin]

Rare? Scarce? I dunno? I just thought it was a nice all original Flat atop!

 

[HAWKEYE#28]

Our late friend and Mentor,, Stephen Vogel, was instrumental and charged as both the Domestic and International Director of Sales/Marketing for Sturm Ruger. That was the first basis of the subject firearm being given British proofs.............I miss him........

 

[chet15]

I picked up this gem from long time friend and Ruger collector on a trade, it to me is a "Hidden Gem" a 1960 BK-46 Flat Top with British Proof Marks. I have never seen another one like it, are more out there? oh im sure. maybe Chad can chim-in with what he knows. but I feel lucky to have it. I do have another old model single six with Italian proof marks. its boxed and unfired, and two cylinders. who on here has anything thing like this, speak up....knowledge is power. FNC

There are a few foreign proofed guns around. As a specialist in a particular area of Ruger firearm, like Bearcats or flattops, it is always nice to have an example of a foreign proofed gun in your collection. Yes, they are rare in this country. But as a factory item they are not of course as the markings were put on after the gun left the country... not quite like somebody scratching their social security number on the bottom of the grip frame of course, but it is still after factory.
Just saw a recent auction in Canada that had some old models in it including a BKH40. I don't know if that had foreign proofs on it or not, but I believe some countries require all firearms get proofed before they are legitimized into their country. So in Germany for example... foreign proofed Rugers are common.
Chet15

 

[rugerguy]

.....ah yes , except if it was bought on a military base PX, for example then it would NOT have been stamped,proofed, thus marked, the base PX is still deemed our property so no need for it,,,Chad I believe you and Dad were there in Monroeville when Laura got that boxed Bearcat came with the paper to return to stateside for the military personnel, his commanding officer had signed the 'green card' came with the boxed gun...yes guns that were shipped into European countries for USE in those countries had to be "proofed" seldom came back, mainly when they were used by law enforcement and returned as part of a "trade in",,,,then may have BOTH acceptance 'proof marks' as well as "re-import marks", such as "CAI" (Century Arms Imp.)yes, scarce and important in a "complete collection" display.......

 

[chet15]

Not sure, but military personnel may have been different circumstances in regards to shipping guns overseas and having them returned... not sure they had to be proofed. I know of several.
Chet15

 

[eveled]

I consider import marks an anomaly not a rarity.

They do contribute to the story of the gun.

 

[hittman]

I’m just now reading the May 2022 Guns and Ammo. Page 19 has their Editorial “Do proof marks and a factory letter add value”?

They talk about a Colt Python with proof marks. The owner paid $75.00 for their letter; making Ruger’s $10.00 fee seem like a bargain. The claim is the letter increases the value $100 to $250; depending on what the history is. This gun was sold new to a man in Germany and shipped to a distributor in West Germany on December 22, 1969.

 

[IndianCent]

@ Far North Collector
I also have a BKH46 with British Proof marks. The serial number is 4436. I bought it because it is different. I also bought #385 because it was shipped the first month. I don't want 20 more BKH46, just those that are different from all the others. Even better yet, one with a story. That's what makes collecting fun.

 

[DeletedMember275]

I picked up this gem from long time friend and Ruger collector on a trade, it to me is a "Hidden Gem" a 1960 BK-46 Flat Top with British Proof Marks. I have never seen another one like it, are more out there? oh im sure. maybe Chad can chim-in with what he knows. but I feel lucky to have it. I do have another old model single six with Italian proof marks. its boxed and unfired, and two cylinders. who on here has anything thing like this, speak up....knowledge is power. FNC

I would suggest that if your 'other' OMSS with Italian proof marks, that it is not 'unfired.' Proof marks indicate that the gun was fired with proof loads by a government approved proof house - a common requirement for firearms imported into European countries.

 

[weaselmeatgravy]

I recently sold a Remington Nylon 66 with no foreign proofs, but with a re-import mark and I talked to the importer and he said it came back from Europe in 2017. But with no proofs, he couldn't say what country since all his records from that period were in storage. We postulated that perhaps little rimfires may not need "proofing" per se in some countries. At any rate, I thought it might make it more desirable to have that import mark, but the auction gave me my "proof" that I was wrong. Sold for $351. I talked to the buyer about the marking and he said he never considered it adding value, but he went ahead and bought it because it was on the bottom of the barrel where is wouldn't be too noticeable.

 

[SATCOM]

Late to the discussion but; Rare - (of a thing) not found in large numbers and consequently of interest or value. Any old Sturm Ruger revolver regardless of model or caliber produced in numbers say >500 is not deemed rare. However take 2 of them and ship to a foreign that proofs all fire arms and them returned to the US, they become “not found in large numbers” and then “consequently of interest” by definition as RARE. Increase in value is not required to meet definition of rare. There has always been Ruger collectors that have shown “interest” in extra stampings of all kinds. As I accumulated OM Rugers, I found S, U, D, or foreign arms markings viewing them as RARE as well as oddities. I consider my RCC 76-1016X (with French proof marks <80) rare as well the SC4X 50964(<200) and SC6X 505967 (<170) or LWAC 200492S. Rare in the gun (car, truck, marbles, fossils and most anything people collect) world is an overworked and incorrectly used term, but not in this case raised by FNC.

 

[Peter Vee]

I picked up this gem from long time friend and Ruger collector on a trade, it to me is a "Hidden Gem" a 1960 BK-46 Flat Top with British Proof Marks. I have never seen another one like it, are more out there? oh im sure. maybe Chad can chim-in with what he knows. but I feel lucky to have it. I do have another old model single six with Italian proof marks. its boxed and unfired, and two cylinders. who on here has anything thing like this, speak up....knowledge is power. FNC

Found this old post while researching my recently acquired 1960's Flat Top 3 screw in 357mag.. also has Brit proofs marks which suggests it spent time on mud island.. nice to see another one.. pretty interesting pieces.

 

[contender]

This may be an old post,, but CONGRATULATIONS Peter Vee! Great find.

 

[T.A. WORKMAN]

Really neat to see what appears to be the Proof Load stamped on the barrel.
Nice snag Peter Vee!!
Terry

 

[mr.deerstalker]

1st one I've ever seen in 357. that's cool. Pete V is from over seas, so he'd run into one before. ME