GS33-PS highest serial number

[stonebuster]

Anyone know what the highest serial number was on the GS33-PS Speed Six. I'd read it's 162-23446 but I bought one that's 300 units later than that. Maybe an overrun? It's matte finish, true 3" & 357 Magnum with the box and postal inspector's badge on the manual. May be transferring it later today or tomorrow. Got a request already mailed for a Ruger letter of authenticity. Any help appreciated.

 

[RoninPA]

Actually the reference in RENE say "It's at least 162-23446" so it very well could be higher as yours shows. Ruger does not give out production numbers or what serial numbers went with which revolvers. The reference numbers are gathered by owners letting the RENE what hey have and it gets noted. The LOA will help you a lot, especially if it says it was delivered to a USPS facility. If it was delivered to the USPS it would not be an overrun. If delivered to somewhere else, then you could assume it was an overrun.

 

[stonebuster]

Thanks, Ron. It arrived today in pretty good condition & transferred it. Yellow cylinder disc, USPI manual, box and the hammer strut pin fell out of the grip when I removed the grips to clean it which surprised me. Looking forward to the LOA which should arrive soon. I erased last 2 digets in SN# on the box photo.

 

[hittman]

Lemme me know please if yours went originally to San Mateo CA

 

[stonebuster]

Lemme me know please if yours went originally to San Mateo CA

Absolutely.

 

[stonebuster]

Actually the reference in RENE say "It's at least 162-23446" so it very well could be higher as yours shows. Ruger does not give out production numbers or what serial numbers went with which revolvers. The reference numbers are gathered by owners letting the RENE what hey have and it gets noted. The LOA will help you a lot, especially if it says it was delivered to a USPS facility. If it was delivered to the USPS it would not be an overrun. If delivered to somewhere else, then you could assume it was an overrun.

While waiting for the LOA from Ruger I've been researching old posts and found something interesting I didn't know. "Ptblank" ,a member here posted that there were non postal GS33s made after the USPS contract was fulfilled that were "parts cleanup" guns. These guns had serial numbers later than the GS33PS sn# range and were 1988 mfg. There were also Service Sixes with 3" heavy barrels made to use up parts left over from the USPS contract. So maybe my gun is one of these non postal GS33s although it has the USPS manual in the box. This info could also support my theory of why my NYCPD GS -83 has a matte finish since it was mfg. after the PS contract and has a sn# that falls in the range of the "parts cleanup" guns when Ruger was still using up leftover parts from.PS contract. All interesting but the LOA will be the final answer as to my GS33/GS33PS.

 

[hittman]

Yes, not all 3 inch Speeds were sent to the USPS.

 

[RoninPA]

IIRC, there were also GS-33's made for the INS.

Just checked my RENE and at least one is known (161-57399)

And Bill Ruger was, to say the least, frugal, so any left over parts would probably have been used to fill other contracts (NYCPD, etc.) and then the overruns would have been sold to a distributor (most likely Davidsons or Lipseys as they bought a lot of overruns). But there were other companies back in that era that bought overruns from Ruger who weren't as big as Davidsons/Lipsey.

 

[stonebuster]

Yes, not all 3 inch Speeds were sent to the USPS.

In my quest to learn everything I can about the GS33/GS33-PS, I found one that was sold at auction with box & PI manual with a serial number 162-23701 which is about 70 units prior to mine. Sold in 2018 for a bid of $1000.

 

[RoninPA]

Someone must have wanted it pretty bad

 

[stonebuster]

Lemme me know please if yours went originally to San Mateo CA

Yup, went to U.S. Postal Service in San Mateo, CA in November of 1987 per Ruger LOA I received today. Designated as GS-33PS. Serial # 162-2377X. Nice service Ruger does for 10 bucks! I've enjoyed two trips to the range shooting 150 rounds through it so far.

 

[hittman]

Curious …. Don't know if it's a fluke or coincidence but …. The 2 USPS guns pictured in my avatar ( only a little over 100 serial numbers apart ) also went to San Mateo, also Nov 87.

 

[RoninPA]

My GS-33PSs: 162-2187X went to San Mateo in Aug 1987, 162-2315X went to San Mateo in Oct 1987.

I suspect that San Mateo was, at that time, the clearing house for the USPS Speed Sixes. Then they probably got sent (by USPS??? ) to the next place(s) where they were then issued to the Postal Inspectors.

 

[stonebuster]

Starting to look like San Mateo was used as a distribution center, like you said. That would make sense for Ruger to ship all of them to San Mateo and let the USPS ship them around the country. Anyone know of a GS-33PS that shipped from Ruger to a different Postal facility?