jmfc606":3trtta13 said:
Chad,
What are the 10 NM flattops? I thought this was going to be an easy set to put together! I have 3, the 357 anniversary, 44mag anniversary and the 6.5" 41 mag. What else do I need to complete this set other than the newest 4-5/8 Blackhawk. ANd the 2 bbl lengths in 44 special.
1. 50th Anniversary .357 flattop
2. 50th Anniversary .357 flattop, gold edition (1 of 500)
3. 50th Anniversary .44 flattop (there are three variations of this...89- prefix, 870- prefix with rollmark on side of barrel and 870- prefix with rollmark on bottom of barrel.
4 and 5. Lipsey's (now Ruger) .44 Special 4-5/8" and 5-1/2" (Variations include large and small NEWPORT).
6 and 7. Lipsey's .44 Special 4-5/8" and 5-1/2" Bisley (all should have small NEWPORT).
8. Williams 6-1/2" .41 flattop (two variations...those in the 87-79xxx range have a NEWPORT address with large "NEWPORT" and everything so far noted in the 87-80xxx range and higher have a small NEWPORT).
9. Talo stainless 4-5/8" .44 special flattop.
10. Williams 4-5/8" .41 flattop (variations with 87- prefix or 48- prefix serial number).
Here's some current production information:
#1 = About 16,000.
#2 = 500.
#3 = About 21,400 total (includes 3,400 89- guns with rollmark on side of barrel, about 1,200 89- guns with rollmark on bottom of barrel and 16,800 guns with 870- prefix).
#4 and #5 = Slightly over 1,500 of each, but Ruger's production of these two models will increase those numbers a little bit....(I suspect Ruger won't be able to sell these in the quantities dispersed by Lipseys).
#6 and #7 = Initially 250 of each, and that may be it unless orders continue to flow into Lipsey's (I.M.O., I don't expect there to be to many more than that as a final number of each).
#8 = 300+. Unless a flurry of orders comes into Williams for this one, there may be no more.
#9 = I haven't heard what the total on this one is supposed to be, but I also expect this one to be limited....500 or less?
#10 = Only 88 so far (only five were made with an 87- prefix). But I do expect Williams order with Ruger to go up on this model as everybody has now learned about it.
So....about half of the 10 models produced so far have a production of 500 units or less. What's not to like about collecting these????
Something else....if Ruger continues to not show these distributor exclusives on their website....better for the collector, eh?? To bad for the distributors though.
Chet15