Convertable Bearcat

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Joined
Aug 16, 2005
Messages
9,114
Location
Milo Maine
Was at the Waterville gun show this Saturday and one of the dealers had a Convertable Bearcat there for sale. Heck I never knew there was such an animal. After speaking with him a while he told me that they were recalled and most were returned to the factory making them a rather rare item.

This one appeared to be NIB the price on it was 1450.00 pricey little Bearcat if you ask me. Any more info on these will be appreciated Thanx ps
 

TDF

Single-Sixer
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Feb 23, 2006
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Seward, NE
Flatgate hasn't seen this yet or you'd be looking at his consecutively numbered examples (three in row if I remember correctly).

TDF
 

Sam Johnson

Blackhawk
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Jul 14, 2004
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Olympia, Wa. USA
SBC4X.JPG

Flatgate will be along to show his three but until then here is my one, serial numbrer 93-01256 with the recall letter from Ruger. Yes that price is a bit too much I think. But if new in the box, how bad does one want it...
 

flatgate

Hawkeye
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Jun 18, 2001
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Location
Star Valley, WY
Rare guns!!! Ruger introduced the New Bearcat as a convertible in Nov. of '93. Approx. 1,000 guns (maybe a few less) were shipped. Ruger began receiving reports of "trouble", i.e. spitting of lead, etc. from shooters. I have a strong suspicion the trouble was the result of folks "fanning" the guns while shooting the .22 magnums. In any case, Ruger issued a "recall" (baited with a pair of $20 bills) for the .22 magnum cylinders. Quite a few folks took advantage of this offer, perhaps as many as 300 +. So, the surviving convertibles have shot up in price, of course!!! Current values are in the $1,100 range, IMHO.

I was offered a consecutive pair in Nov. of '93 and then years later a dear friend shared a third example with me.

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One very interesting feature of the three 'cats is that they exhibit (as shipped) early OM medallions, late OM medallions and New Bearcat medallions.
The rollmarkings on the cylinders exhibit two different roll dies, as well.

flatgate
 

revhigh

Hawkeye
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Aug 31, 2005
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PA
Show off !!!!!

Nice guns !!

I ask you again ... is there ANY gun you don't have (three of) LOL ???

REV
 

flatgate

Hawkeye
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Jun 18, 2001
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6,784
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Star Valley, WY
revhigh":3365xumr said:
I ask you again ... is there ANY gun you don't have (three of) LOL ???

REV

Hah! I'm just a beginner at this Ruger collecting. You should see the collections I've seen!!!!

I just show mine off a lot! After all, Ruger Forum does permit the posting of images.

flatgate
 

Quarterbore

Blackhawk
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Mar 9, 2008
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Valley Forge PA
flatgate":l4gtg47b said:
revhigh":l4gtg47b said:
I ask you again ... is there ANY gun you don't have (three of) LOL ???

REV

Hah! I'm just a beginner at this Ruger collecting. You should see the collections I've seen!!!!

I just show mine off a lot! After all, Ruger Forum does permit the posting of images.

flatgate

Too bad the OP didn't post the serial number as connecting to the three convertibles you already have as I somehow bet you could find a way to add another to your already impressive set :lol:
 

BlkHawk73

Hunter
Joined
Dec 30, 1999
Messages
4,459
Location
Maine
Dragging this one back from the depths...saw in one of the Maine 'for sale' books, what I'm guessing is the same one (same price and how many in ME are there?)
 
Joined
Aug 16, 2005
Messages
9,114
Location
Milo Maine
BlkHawk73 said:
Dragging this one back from the depths...saw in one of the Maine 'for sale' books, what I'm guessing is the same one (same price and how many in ME are there?)

Could very well be. To bad I cain't remember the dealers name. Seeing the price is the same there's a good chance it's the same cat. I don't imagine there are to mant floating around these parts. ps
 
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