How many 4" half-lug fixed-sight GP100s are out there?

[BuckRimfire]

Around 10 years ago I bought the GP100 in the attached photo. I can't really remember why I bought it, other than maybe it seemed better than my 6" S&W Model 19 for "woods carry" due to the more convenient barrel length. It came with Hogue rubber grips, which I didn't like, so I asked my spousal critter to get me the wood-panel grips for Christmas a couple of years later.

I've been surprised by how much I enjoy shooting this gun. Out to 25 yards, it shoots close enough to point-of-aim with pretty much any 158 grain load that you look like you know what you're doing. (125 grain bullets go quite a bit low, unsurprisingly.). I like the balance of it, and stoked with standard-pressure .38s, the weight is just right for new shooters as their first step up from .22LRs. I've taken several of my post-college-aged daughter's friends to the range for their first shooting experience in the last couple of years, and they all found .38s from this gun more approachable than a 9 mm due to lower muzzle blast and recoil.

I've never seen another GP100 with this barrel configuration, which might not be surprising since I don't spend a huge amount of time loitering in gun shops, but I have been around the block a time or two. More to the point, I did an online search and in a few minutes of looking at results photos, I still haven't seen another gun like this one. Am I just not trying hard enough? Anyone know how many GP100s like this Ruger made?

 

[hittman]

It’s the modern day Service Six.
I don’t think they’re rare. Would maybe be more uncommon if blued.
Some like that were designed for the LEO market that never took off.
I’d still buy one. I have a 3 inch in blue that IS really uncommon.

 

[hittman]

Thread 'Subscribe to the Red Eagle News Exchange'

Jul 2, 2008

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• weaselmeatgravy
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• Forum: Auction Links, Recurring Items, and Other Deals

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Info here may help you too.

 

[planetcat]

I had one that I special ordered in exactly that configuration back in 2001 but it was blued. I regret every day selling that revolver, as it was a great shooter and comfortable for woods carry. Very accurate and pleasant to shoot. This is the only pic I have of it...

 

[BuckRimfire]

It’s the modern day Service Six.

Yeah, my BIL has what I think is a 4" Service Six or maybe Security Six. It's the closest gun to the one I have that I have seen in the wild.

I'm not suggesting these are rare enough to be a valuable collector's item. Just curious as to why the internet seems to be so unaware of it. Probably I'm just not searching hard enough...

 

[Timbo23]

I have one. It's a 357 Mag and does look like a Security Six, just a little bigger all a way around.
The OP didn't specify but I assume his is a 357 too.
Mine was shipped in 2013 and is in the 176-54XXX serial range.
Ruger also made a SS GP100 with a 4 inch, FULL lug, fixed sight barrel in 38 Special. I bought that one because you can never have too many 4 inch, fixed sight, 38 special revolvers.

 

[RoninPA]

In my GP100 collection I have:
4", half lug, SS, fixed sight, .38 SPL
4", half lug, SS, fixed sight, .357 Mag
4", half lug, Blued, fixed sight, .38 SPL
4", half lug, Blued, fixed sight, .357 Mag

As well as 4", full lug, SS and Blued, fixed sight, .357 Mag models

 

[hittman]

Strange I’ve never owned a 4 inch …. Only 3 and 6.

But I would look hard at a blued 4 inch HALF lug.

 

[gunzo]

And then there's one model of the half lug match Champion. The rear sight is only drift adjustable, would that qualify?

 

[eveled]

My fixed sight 4”GP100 has a full lug. It think any fixed sight 4” GP is hard to find. You just don’t see them often.

 

[T.A. WORKMAN]

 

[BuckRimfire]

I have one. It's a 357 Mag and does look like a Security Six, just a little bigger all a way around.
The OP didn't specify but I assume his is a 357 too.
Mine was shipped in 2013 and is in the 176-54XXX serial range.
Ruger also made a SS GP100 with a 4 inch, FULL lug, fixed sight barrel in 38 Special. I bought that one because you can never have too many 4 inch, fixed sight, 38 special revolvers.

Yes, it's a .357 Magnum. Sorry to those who have them in other calibers, but I have pretty much ignored the non-.357 GP100s, so I didn't think to specify.

I wanted to look up my serial number, since you provided that. The file cabinet was closer than the gun safe, and easier to get into, and when looking in the folder where I keep gun receipts I found the little envelope with the proof cartridge from that gun. The serial number is 176-52xxx and the proof date is 26 December 2012.

This also provided me with the model number 01711. Looking that up, I'm still not finding a huge number of results. The Interwebz really don't love this gun!

One thing that did show up is the sale listing below. The funny thing is that this is EXACTLY like mine, including the slight apparent misaligment of the crane to frame and the ejector rod in the groove in the shroud, as seen in the 3rd and 4th photos. I didn't notice that when I bought it, but I spotted it a little later and wondered if it was a flaw. I called Ruger and opened a ticket to send it in for inspection/service, but I never followed through because I decided that it was functioning fine for my purposes. This is not a Bullseye gun, and I don't have a Ransom Rest, so if it really is an imperfection, I'll never know!

https://www.gunsinternational.com/g...-model-01711----357-mag-.cfm?gun_id=101757640

 

[BuckRimfire]

That one is shiny!

I like the DAO hammer. I've thought of sawing the spur off mine if I really wanted to carry it. Snagging the hammer when drawing would be very bad...

 

[BuckRimfire]

I found an alternate model number KGPF-340 which is turning up a few more hits than "01711." Still not an impressive number...

 

[eveled]

That one is shiny!

I like the DAO hammer. I've thought of sawing the spur off mine if I really wanted to carry it. Snagging the hammer when drawing would be very bad...

I did mine then checkered the top like the old speed hammers they used to make. No regrets.

My preference is bobbed hammer for fixed sight guns, spur hammer if sights are adjustable.

 

[eveled]

Beautiful gun. Was yours bobbed from the factory? DAO?

 

[T.A. WORKMAN]

eveled,
Yes to both & is a reimported gun, letters as being sent to a firearms dealer &police supplier in Quebec Canada.
Terry

 

[bisleyfan41]

SOLD Thread 'REDUCED: 1996 Fixed Sight Half Lug Compact Grip GP100 model KGPF-340'

Sep 22, 2024

This is a pretty rare GP100, the model KGPF-340 was only cataloged a few years, RENE says the last one was made in 2003 (although it was brought back briefly a bit later with a 4.2" barrel and different numeric model number). This one is a model 1711. Fixed sight .357 Mag with half lug 4" barrel and the less bulky compact grip with wood inserts. Based on the wear on the right side of the grip, the overall bright spots on the stainless steel in places that would rub in a holster, and the lack of imprinting on the breech face, I would think that if this revolver could talk, it would tell me...

• weaselmeatgravy
• Replies: 13
• Forum: Sold/Expired Listings

• 

 

[Terry T]

Here is my pile of GP-100s.
The fixed sight guns were primarily aimed at the LE market. I won't say I have all the calibers but the only one missing in this photo is the rather rare, short lug, 3" blued. The short lug 3" stainless is also scarce. The only one to survive in Ruger's current listings is the full lug stainless 3" with some 2 1/2" dealer specials.
The short lug 6" were also dropped from the current listings.

 

[BuckRimfire]

Nice collection. I like the looks of the 6" short shroud. I guess most people prefer the full lug, since if the other models sold well Ruger would still be making them.

 

[hittman]

Half lug preferred by me. Like to find a 6 inch!

 

[T.A. WORKMAN]

Nice litter TT!! :)

 

[BuckRimfire]

Half lug preferred by me. Like to find a 6 inch!

I like both, to be honest. The full lug guns look more modern to me, while I'd call the 6" half lug the most graceful.

edit: I suppose the full lug looking a bit different from most traditional revolvers is why they are the most abundant in the current Ruger catalog. Less competition with used Fudd revolvers helps sales, maybe?

I haven't shot any 6" GP100. I'm skeptical that I would feel any need for the weight of the full lug. I'm pretty happy with the balance of my 4" half lug.

 

[stonebuster]

A few years ago I saw a fixed sight half lug GP100 4" for $400 & let it get away. Later I bought a slightly lighter version which was the NYCPD Service Six 38spl.

 

[stonebuster]

I did mine then checkered the top like the old speed hammers they used to make. No regrets.

View attachment 85736
View attachment 85739View attachment 85740

My preference is bobbed hammer for fixed sight guns, spur hammer if sights are adjustable.

Love the old Bucheimer holsters, especially the "Concealers".

 

[pyth0n]

I only have 3 GP100s, one is the 4" fixed sight blue. (Can you guess which one? )