D ser # question

[jimbo1096]

In this auction:
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIt ... =171510132

Is this statement correct?

"The duplicate serial number versions of these revolvers were reserved for sale to Ruger Collectors Association members and are limited in number. I do not remember the exact number but I believe it was less than 500. Original box & manual included. No RCA certificate included, unfortunately. Originally purchased in the spring of 1984. "

 

[OldRugerMan]

It is a correct statement concerning the D260- prefix guns. The RCA announced a special purchase of 441 NR4, NR5, NR6 and NR9 in the December 1983 Journal. The NR4 and NR9's were offered only as pairs. The NR5 and NR6's could be purchased in pairs or as individual guns. Cost of a single gun was $195 and pairs were $390 + $7.50 shipping per gun. Ah - the good ol' days!

 

[jimbo1096]

Thanks Randy - learned a little bit more each day.

 

[Coogs]

I'm @ work, don't have all my notes, I believe there were 221 total guns, 6 1/2" the most then the 5 1/2", 9 1/2" and then the 4 5/8 were the least. I think less than 50 on the 9 1/2" and less than 40 on the 4 5/8". There is a list floating around out there that actually lists all the serial #'s of the RCA 260 prefix "D" guns. Now a few years later, around 87 or '88, the RCA offered, through Hansen Dist., by letter, only to the RCA 'field reps', a small group of several different models of "D" guns. The original RCA "D" guns will have a crisp "D" stamp, pretty deep and very pronounced. With the "Hansen" "D" guns the "D" is definetly hand stamped, very shallow and sometimes not even a complete "D". Last count I had about 9 of the RCA "D" guns, including the only consecutive pair of different barrel lengths, a 4 5/8" and a 9 1/2", and 5 of the "Hansen" "D" guns, including a single cylinder (.22 l.r. only) SSR-5. Coogs.

 

[T.A. WORKMAN]

RENE;- NR4= 50, NR5= 200, NR6= 160 7 NR9= 51;
with 1 KNR5 being made.
Hope this helps.
Terry

 

[chet15]

I don't remember how many the RCA had of this originally, but at least 50 of each were sold through the RCA. I do remember the other "D" guns in this serial number block going through regular distributors. There were about 500 total in the sn block. The block was pretty much D260-19500 to D260-19999 inclusive.
I remember when those things came out. From the serial number list provided by the RCA Journal (of the guns they got), you could pretty much tell how many of the 500 would be 5-1/2's and 6-1/2's. the 4-5/8" and 9-1/2's were easy as the RCA got all of them and there were 50 of the NR4 and 51 of the NR9 as reported in the reference.
That single KNR5 in that serial range is an oddball...maybe the non-duplicate actually got the "D" stamp instead of the gun that should have gotten it. Or maybe the KNR5 was just a random gun that went through the line.
Chet15

 

[Coogs]

Oh, yeah, I'm at home now looking @ my notes, I have the KNR-5 also, Serial # D260-19980. There were 22 different models that were offered to the RCA field reps as "D" guns, through Hansen Co., " a Ruger Distributor." There were only one (1) OF MOST MODELS.The letter is dated December 3, 1986. OK....................and I lied about the #'s of the original RCA "D" guns. Offered to the RCA memebership in the 12-83 journal...............a total of 441 NR-4, 5, 6 and 9. Only 39 NR-4 and 43 NR-9, the balance being NR-5's and 6's. The NR's of the Hansen D-guns are as high as serial # D260-88278. The SSR-5 is serial #D261-31234. Coogs.

 

[Coogs]

Rereading my post, I think I need to clarify. The single KNR-5 serial # D260-19980, was NOT offered in the original set of RCA "D" guns in 1983. It was one of the batch of "Hansen" "D" guns that was only offered to RCA "Field Reps" by letter dated December 3, 1986, three years later. Coogs.