Bought A Gem Yesterday

[LeverGunner]

A friend of mine at work told me about an upcoming online estate auction. The gentleman who passed had an extensive collection of firearms, including many Rugers and Marlins, both of which are my personal favorites. I ran across this pristine example of a 96/44 and just had to have it.

I consider myself above-average when it comes to my Ruger knowledge, but I must admit that I had no idea that Ruger had ever made such a gun! I'll be taking the Tasco scope off eventually, although it actually is a rather clear scope.

I don't believe this gun has been fired more than a magazine's worth, if that. It is absolutely flawless, and the receiver has turned a nice plum color. The serial number dates it to after 1999, but I am not sure on the exact date because the Ruger website doesn't say. I can't wait to try it out in the next week or so.

I haven't had a chance to take any photos of my own yet, but here are a few from the auction website. If anyone has any better idea of the year of manufacture, please let me know!

 

[hittman]

Serial Number Lookup

ruger.com

Welcome to the forum. Great gun to find.
Serial number help in link above.

 

[bigbillyboy]

96's are a real nice Gun ! I have a 22 and a 2 wmr. Still looking on the 17 and the 44. Nice score

 

[LeverGunner]

Serial Number Lookup

ruger.com

Welcome to the forum. Great gun to find.
Serial number help in link above.

Thanks! Yeah I used that and that is where it says "1999" but it doesn't continue past that. From what I understand these were made up until 2009. I was trying to figure out where in that 10 year stretch this one might have fallen. Or maybe I've misunderstood what I've read and this one was made in '99!

 

[NikA]

This should help. Looks like a '99.

Ruger Model 96 Serial Number History

 

[rugerjunkie]

This should help. Looks like a '99.

Looks a lot like a 99. A Savage 99. Similar lines and the levers are very similar. Ruger also borrowed the rotary magazine from the Savage for his 10/22 magazines.

Nice rifle LeverGunner. Snag a few extra mags to keep as spares while they are available too. Never know when things will become hard to find.

 

[LeverGunner]

Thanks, Nika! Wow this thing is especially perfect for a 25 year-old rifle. I couldn't be more pleased.

Rugerjunkie, I also won 3 additional magazines during the auction- 2 are new in the original Ruger boxes! So I have a total of 4 and they all appear brand new. I should be set for a while!

 

[Threespears]

That's a beautiful rifle

 

[LeverGunner]

Thanks! Shot one magazine through it using the Tasco scope. Set up a gallon milk jug at 50 yards and hit it all 4 times standing. Still going to replace the scope for something more fitting for this beauty, but I'm thrilled with how it shot, and the action of the lever is probably the smoothest I've ever felt. I'm going to take it out this fall and see if I can harvest a deer with it!