SOLD COUNTERFEIT Light weight "S" gun

[twriggen]

I purchased this revolver years back from a "reputable" collector here on the forum only to find out after the fact that it would not letter as an actual "S" gun. Linda was awesome, as usual, and went the extra mile digging through the Ruger Records to no avail. She could find where it left the factory as a Tri Color but could not locate anywhere that it had been returned to the factory and left again as an "S" gun. Without getting into too much detail on the purchase situation the seller was approached regarding the situation and did not offer to make it right. I used it on my Single Six Display until I was able to track down a serial number that would letter as an "S" gun. Letter to the wise, invest in as many Ruger books as possible.

I have held onto it as a reminder to myself to trust but verify, as well as I didn't want to take the hit to the wallet for the loss of selling it WAY below what I paid for it. It's time to bite the bullet and send it down the road.

For clarification and for future internet searches for the serial number, it is 203233.

$1300 shipped. As always, a posted "I'll take it" has priority over a PM message for time stamp. I am on the road for work a lot during the week so a posted "I'll take it" is recommended as it could be most of the day before I see any PM's. No electronic payments but a personal check is accepted for long standing forum members.

 

[contender]

Is it me,, or the way the pictures turned out. The cylinder doesn't have the normal "green" coloring on my screen. It looks like a blued cylinder. Correct me please?

 

[twriggen]

The "S" guns came with the XR3-RED grip frame and a steel cylinder.

 

[golferboy426]

I've got a spare gold anodized light cylinder if you REALLY want to mess with "some" people LOL

 

[contender]

Oh crap,, I forgot that detail! I guess it's because I don't own a "S" TriColor!

 

[weaselmeatgravy]

Sorry you got snookered. If nothing else, this post made me re-evaluate the value of my first legitimate "S" lightweight which is up in that same general SN range at 2030xx. I don't remember who all was in on the discussion of that one back in the day (2003), but there was a thread on this forum debating the gun, which was posted on GunsAmerica for $725 plus $30 shipping, and whether or not it was worth the asking price. While those guys were arguing, I went ahead and bought it

 

[FLUndertaker]

Little help. What is a S marked lightweight? I’m not a single six collector but they must be something special based on the context.

 

[hittman]

S = factory second

 

[RPM Enterprises]

Here is a non counterfeit.

 

[Dan in MI]

OK for more education.... factory second how? Is it the steel cyl versus AL?

 

[twriggen]

From Dougan's book.

 

[JAYDAWG]

And Dougan has the serial numbers listed in his book. That's where the debate has been around, did he get them all, or are there some he missed?
Troy learned a hard lesson for all of us. If it's not in Dougan's book, it had better have a factory letter.

 

[jbowjm]

What J say said ! Absolutely!

 

[Xsales]

Since this is a questionable gun aka counterfeit, I'll offer $100.00 shipped LOL
All kidding aside tough lesson, sorry to hear this happening

 

[hittman]

BTT

 

[twriggen]

Thanks to Hittman for assisting with getting the posting reactivated.

The listing has been updated to reflect the removal of the PENDING status. The seller reached out to me about making it right after I listed it here but after two months of waiting it still resides with me.

For extra reading here is a conversation regarding it back in 2018 that someone better at the internet stuff than I sent me.

https://www.rugerforum.com/threads/s-lightweight.268487/

 

[rugerguy]

after years ago with Rem UMC and their "lunchbox" guns, nothing would surprise me as to whether JD actually did get ALL the serial numbers and why it is possible one or more could have slipped through?? no sense in "faking" one, if all the players seem to believe that EVERY number is on JDs list???..... duh that would be stupid, as the article stated so many made of up loose, extra, spare "parts" and stamped with an "S"..
so bottom line is the usual "caveat emptor, baby" but if the price is right, fair and NOT spun off as a total rip off, scamming an unknown buyer, it is worth the sum of the total of the parts.........kind like having one of Hitlers guns he left in the bunker, buy the gun, NOT the story...........

 

[mr.deerstalker]

im gunna take that gun, im stuck in Cordova AK with Pilot issues & aircraft issues, It never seems to stop raining in SE AK, when it does im flying 12-14 days! hang with me, ill try and call you Sunday. Scott

 

[twriggen]

Relisted

 

[twriggen]

Since I still have this, I will have it with me in Tulsa this weekend if anyone is interested.

 

[Joe Chartreuse]

From Dougan's book.

View attachment 68705

Thanks for posting that. I learned something today. Since I am a buyer /user, but not a collector, a question arises: Since these are seconds, at the time of sale they would have probably been discounted. So collector value is based strictly on current rarity?

 

[JAYDAWG]

Thanks for posting that. I learned something today. Since I am a buyer /user, but not a collector, a question arises: Since these are seconds, at the time of sale they would have probably been discounted. So collector value is based strictly on current rarity?

Yes on the discount for the dealer and a big yes on the collector value.
Like Troy posted from John's book only 257 or so manufactured, and shipped 7-8 years after the LW was discontinued.
Put together with left over, and available parts at the time. Somewhat of a "Franken" gun, so to speak.
WBR was very frugal.........

Here is what is called a "Dual Tone" version, as shipped from the factory.

 

[JAYDAWG]

Since I still have this, I will have it with me in Tulsa this weekend if anyone is interested.

I'll buy dinner and drinks.............

 

[JAYDAWG]

Here is a non counterfeit.

RPM posted a "real one" pic also..................

 

[twriggen]

Back up to the top

 

[goodrich289]

My phony is not as good looking as yours. And just for fun, i did as someone suggested, I stuck my "extra" gold tricolor cylinder into this gun for the photo. I was young and Nieve back in 1984 when I bought this one. Like you i have saved it as a reminder to trust but verify before layout the big money.

bob

 

[bedfordboy]

I have one very close to your serial number. Bought this one about a year ago and paid what a normal lightweight in this condition goes for. After getting it I noticed the underside appears to have possibly been stamped S at some point but from the Ruger letter it is not an S gun. Odd that guns so close in number here that same “counterfeit” stamp.

 

[sceva]

For clarification and for future internet searches for the serial number, it is 203233.

Sorry you got taken on it. Noce revolver though.

I do have a question:
That looks like an 8 at the end of the Ser No to me; not an S Is it marked S elsewhere? or did you change a spurious S to an 8? Maybe I am seeing things.

 

[twriggen]

The "S" stamp is a really deep stamp so the shadows kind of give the impression of an 8.

 

[thinckley]

Troy was banned