Interesting Serial Number .357 Flattop

[Walter Rego]

I recently found a nice, unconverted 4 5/8" .357 Blackhawk Flattop at a local shop and when researching the serial number and manufacturing date made an interesting discovery. It is S/N 18688. According to Dougan's book, serial numbers in 1958 ran from 11751-18690. Now according to the Ruger website, the first S/N of 1959 was mine, S/N 18688. I called Ruger and requested the ship date and was given February, 1959.
Now here is what I find interesting; Ruger moved out of the historic Red Barn location over the Christmas shut down of 1958 and into the new Lacey Place factory. So my theory is that my gun was one of the last 3 guns manufactured at the old Red Barn (or at least partially completed as the S/N had been assigned to a frame), and according to the daybooks, was the first one shipped out of the new Lacey Place facility. If correct that's kind of an interesting bit of history on the gun. Comments ?

 

[Ale-8(1)]

Interesting question.

Just out of curiosity, does your gun have the "offset slot" ejector rod housing or the "straight slot" version? It falls right at the time when both types show up.

 

[DGW1949]

Even more interesting, IF it turned out to be the last "known" FT to be built in the "Barn".....which I guess it will be if the "other two" aint found.

DGW

 

[Ale-8(1)]

Further observations from Bob's List . . .

18249 shipped 11/58
18544 shipped 12/58
18604 shipped 11/58
18688 shipped 2/59
18702 shipped 1/59
18789 shipped 1/59
19270 shipped 1/59
19489 shipped 2/59

Ruger's website is off occasionally.

 

[Walter Rego]

Well, so much for my theory
Thanks for the additional serial number information. I thought it a bit odd when Ruger said that my gun shipped Feb. 1959. If it were the first gun shipped from the Lacey Place factory I would have assumed that they were shipping immediately after the move. Dougan's fine book explains the serial numbering process, i.e. that the frames are numbered in batches and then assembled at random which accounts for guns with numbers 2-3 hundred higher often shipping earlier than lower numbers. As soon as I get it out of the state mandated waiting period I'll report on the type of ejector rod housing.

 

[Ale-8(1)]

Well, you can still consider it a "transition" gun of sorts. It was surely shipped right at the time of the move, and was certainly one of the first shipped from Lacey Place.

 

[chet15]

Well, you can still consider it a "transition" gun of sorts. It was surely shipped right at the time of the move, and was certainly one of the first shipped from Lacey Place.

Yes...agreed on that. Ruger's build time from start too finish was longer than one might expect.
Also, Ruger's dates of manufacture listed on their website is always to be taken with a grain of salt....they are for general reference only. As examples I know of a couple .44 flattops that weren't shipped until 1974 and 1976, a couple of two-digit Red Eagle autos that weren't shipped until 1976 and 1977 and a Super Bearcat that wasn't shipped until 1981. So shipping is completely at random as well. Just a part of mass manufacturing.
Chet15