Convertible New Bearcat Variation

[chet15]

We've added another variation to our New Bearcat Convertibles.

Serial number 93-01553 has the new style medallions, a LR cylinder with "stamped" looking caliber rollmark on the rear of the cylinder and a Mag. cylinder with rollmarked caliber on the rear of the cylinder. Both cylinders have matching "553" scratched on the front.
Always figured there were a few of these out there due to the transition in the cylinder caliber markings, but this is the first I've seen.

Chet15

 

[chet15]

Hmmm...no comments there, and maybe its not that interesting...but another recent thread shows a GB auction with a Bearcat Convertible that has the opposite variation cylinders as our 93-01553.
The gunbroker auction appears to be 93-01412 and it shows pretty good photographs of a rollmarked caliber on the .22 LR cylinder and a stamped looking rollmark on the Mag. cylinder...

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIt ... =462790882

Chet15

 

[Beaver Creek]

The only one I have left is an early 3 digit so has none of the features you mention. Don't believe I have ever had one with a S/N over 1300.

 

[medicdave]

Any idea how high these went? Mine in the other thread is 1595, both cylinders roll marked if I see it right (bottom of 2 dog legs up), electro penciled 595 on the front of the cylinder, and older style medallions. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Pictures below sorry for the dirty gun, only ones I have of the cylinders were from the gunbrojer auction.

 

[AzGeno]

Chet
I think you are correct on new variations of the SBC - Convertible.
I think I too have an opposite to your noted 1553.
It is 1832. New style medallion- Rolled .22 LR and Stamped .22 Mag.
My 3 digit has old medallion with both cylinder with stamped markings.
Does this mean there are 4 variations ?
I think we need to ask owners to check?
3screws

 

[chet15]

Good tip on the tail of the "2" in the caliber rollmarks being upended, while the "2" on the stamped looking rollmarks are straight.

Believe it or not, there are actually more early variations...

The highest original Super Bearcat Convertible shipped from the factory was 93-01944, this sn comes from Ruger's recall letter with the exact serial number range listed of the guns involved.

At the very end of the original run of Convertible Bearcat production, Ruger made about 30 guns with the added "RUGER NEW BEARCAT" rollmark on the left side of the frame. These were shipped to gun writers etc. for review...then Ruger suspended production.
We have serial number 93-01902 of this variation.

Note that all original production New Bearcats have a standard looking loading gate.
But...at least 93-01902 mentioned above has a new style gate with protrution on the upper end of it that fits into a mating void in the frame/loading gate cutout.
It could be possible that some of the very last New Bearcat Convertibles (not rollmarked Ruger New Bearcat) have the newly designed frame (with gate protrusion cutout).

Next...Ruger didn't have a chance to assemble all of the frames before they decided to suspend production, so anything serial numbered under 93-01944 that had not yet been shipped, were produced as SBC4 long rifle only guns and shipped beginning again in 1996 when New Bearcat production resumed. I have several serial numbers noted of these from a distributor, but have never had a chance to add one to the collection.
So the rarity here would be a gun sn'd under 93-01944 that was originally shipped in 1996 or later as LR only after the suspension was lifted, but does not have the gate protrusion.

Lastly, the first run of Ruger New Bearcats (perhaps an initial pilot run) with serial numbers from 93-00500 through at least 93-00513 had a large size serial number font. There could be up to 29 of these because 93-00530 has the normal New Bearcat style small serial number.
Chet15

 

[Ale-8(1)]

Yow, Bearcat collecting just took a big jump.

Altogether, how many variations are now possible?

:shock:

 

[chet15]

For the New Bearcat...a bunch...

1. Convertible - large serial numbers, old medallions, stamped cylinders
2. Convertible - old medallions, stamped cylinders
3. Convertible - new medallions, stamped cylinders
4. Convertible - old medallions, rollmarked cylinders
5. Convertible - new medallions, rollmarked cylinders
6. Convertible - new medallions, stamped and rollmarked cylinders
7. Convertible - without "Ruger New Bearcat" rollmark, with gate protrusion (not known yet, but could exist).
8. Convertible - with "Ruger New Bearcat" rollmark, with gate protrusion
9. Stainless Convertible (2 known...in factory collection?)

10. 93-00500 to 93-01944 LR only, gate without protrusion...and remember, these will not have the "Ruger New Bearcat" rollmark!
11. After 93-01944, gate with protrusion
12. SBC4 LR only, without firing pin groove.
13. KSBC4 LR only, without firing pin groove.
14. KSBC4 LR only, with firing pin groove.
15. SBC4 "D" gun
16. SBC4 "asterisk" gun
17. KSBC4 "U" gun
18. SBC4 with serial number on bottom of grip frame, Southport address.
19. KSBC4 with serial number on bottom of grip frame, Southport address.
20. 50th Anniversary SBC4-50
21. SBC4, sn on bottom of grip frame, Newport address rollmarked 1/8" turn downward from left side of barrel.
22. SBC4, sn on bottom of grip frame, Newport address rollmarked 1/8" turn downward from left side of barrel.
23. SBC4 4.2" barrel, aluminum housing, rosewood grips with medallions
24. KSBC4 4.2" barrel, aluminum housing, rosewood grips with medallions
25. SBC4 4.2" barrel, aluminum housing, laminate grips with medallions (note that the first one I saw with laminate grips, did not have medallions...is still the only one I've seen like that)
26. KSBC4 4.2" barrel, aluminum housing, laminate grips with medallions
27. SBC4 4.2" barrel, "D" gun.
28. KSBC4 4.2" barrel, "D" gun
29. KCBGH-3 Shopkeeper
30. Shopkeeper "D" serial number...still curious how many of these Lipsey's got!!
31. SBC4 steel housing
32. KSBC4 stainless housing.

Yep...that's a lot of variations already, and there probably aren't that many people who noticed.
Numbers 18 through 26, except the 50th Anniversary gun, all happened within about 7,000 serial numbers of each other, so there are some pretty rare variations there.

Chet15

 

[Ale-8(1)]

Holy. Crap. Ethyl.

'Cats are a collecting genre all unto themselves!

:shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

 

[radicalrod]

Might be easier to get all the ALPHA CATS than all these NEW CATS....RR

 

[Ale-8(1)]

Yeah . . . only 25 alpha cats, right?

 

[Fox Mike]

Yeah . . . only 25 alpha cats, right?

That means I only need 23 more. Looks easier than the convertibles.

 

[martyj]

#93-01559 is on GB now of the newer ones (I think)
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=478772735#PIC

 

[chet15]

#93-01559 is on GB now of the newer ones (I think)
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=478772735#PIC

I see a Mag. cylinder with the newer type rollmark. Can't tell on the LR.
Chet15