Dating a Ruger 22 Pistol ?

[DonFDavis]

Trying to determine year of manufacture of friend's 22 Ruger smei-auto pistol. Anyone know if there is a list of serial numbers and dates anywhere ?

thanks

 

[flatgate]

www.ruger.com has one. It's not the best, however.

The top collectors in the country frequent this web site.

Post the exact s/n and any/all features about the gun and you'll get some definitive information.

flatgate

 

[Cholo]

www.ruger.com/service/productHistory.html#

 

[DonFDavis]

Thanks fellas

 

[Madcapper]

From the title sounds like you want to take a ruger pistol out to dinner and a movie :P

 

[DonFDavis]

And who wouldn't want to spend quality, intimate time with a Ruger pistol ?

The info indicates that it is a 1974 model. It is stainless, and I did not think they did stainless in 74.

 

[chet15]

And who wouldn't want to spend quality, intimate time with a Ruger pistol ?

The info indicates that it is a 1974 model. It is stainless, and I did not think they did stainless in 74.

Yes, 1974 was the first year for several stainless handgun models...Single-Sixes, Blackhawks and "SIX" series DA revolvers.
Heard a story from one of the guys that was in the thick of things at Ruger at the time that it was Mrs. Ruger that convinced WBR to make guns out of stainless, and she was right!!
Chet15

 

[DonFDavis]

This is he first stainless MK1 I've ever seen - I thought they only done them in blue :-)

 

[street]

This is he first stainless MK1 I've ever seen - I thought they only done them in blue :-)

I don't think there were any stainless MK-Is made. The only Stainless Standard model was the Bill Ruger Stainless Signature Model Mod. #RST-4S. About 5000 made. If this gun was made in 1974 and it's Stainless, then it's a one of a kind. Need to get a letter from Ruger.

 

[DonFDavis]

Thanks for the input, that is what I thought too, but when I checked the # against the list on Ruger site it actually came out as 1973 (not 4 as I previously thought)

I may need to check one of the other sites and see if anyone can shed light on it.

 

[DonFDavis]

Just checked and the serial # on this one is 11-94XXX if that helps anyone do a better trace 8)

 

[chet15]

And who wouldn't want to spend quality, intimate time with a Ruger pistol ?

The info indicates that it is a 1974 model. It is stainless, and I did not think they did stainless in 74.

Yes, 1974 was the first year for several stainless handgun models...Single-Sixes, Blackhawks and "SIX" series DA revolvers.
Heard a story from one of the guys that was in the thick of things at Ruger at the time that it was Mrs. Ruger that convinced WBR to make guns out of stainless, and she was right!!
Chet15

Well, Ruger may have experimented with that then, but doubtful...they were still on a huge backorder for every blue .22 pistol model they could make at the time. You can try a magnet test on it to tell what material its made of. Most stainless steel will barely stick with a magnet, but a chrome-moly steel component will of course stick very well. Or you could try a little cold blue under one of the grip panels to see if it takes (if it does its chrome moly and your gun has been polished out).
My fault earlier, I was thinking you had a single action. The first stainless .22 autos didn't come out until 1982 as mentioned above, the RST4S WBR signature model commemorative. Then the stainless Mark II pistols came out the same year.
Chet15

 

[Tekman]

And who wouldn't want to spend quality, intimate time with a Ruger pistol ?

The info indicates that it is a 1974 model. It is stainless, and I did not think they did stainless in 74.

*snort* but you gotta have it home by 11:00. Daddy has a hair trigger.