KBN-34. (U)

[jimbo1096]

I know this is not a collectible per se, but figured this would be the best thread to post this question. After all, this is where all the experts come to, right?
This is about the KBN 34 I recently purchased from a Poulin auction.
I haven't shot it yet and it took a while to get it so I'm just now getting a chance to go through and check out what I bought. My question is:
Number one: would this firearm normally have come in a box for Ruger Standard Pistol with a different label pasted over the end?
Number two: the gun shows a U as a prefix to the serial # and it came with purple tag which I assume is what they would use in Ruger archives is for firearm held back for whatever reason?
Number three: The box shows another label opposite side which shows the gun was shipped February 6, 1980 to a Leon J Rousselk . Does anybody know who that person might be. Wondering if he's a writer or a reviewer that may have gotten the gun first.
There was an invoice in the box with the firearm that has the name and address cut out of the invoice showing that it was shipped in 2014 to American Legacy Firearm Inc. I assume that this would be the second owner of the firearm and it shows he was a winning bidder in an auction dated 10/2014. this is also the year that Ruger lists the gun was shipped from their firearms search page. I wonder if that was an auction from Ruger directly.
I've attached a couple of pictures and I would appreciate any comment on where this firearm may have traveled and if the box would have been original to the gun.
The gun shows no use, no turn line on the cylinder and no residue anywhere on the gun. Looks brand new.


Thinks, Jim H

 

[mr.deerstalker]

interesting gun, and history. but way out of my wheel house....Mr. DS

 

[Watertender]

In the mid 1970's Ruger went to 2 boxes for their handguns instead of separate boxes for each different gun. The new boxes were marked on the end with either BN36 or RST4. Any other model had a a sticker over the original model. The BN36 box was for the 6.5 inch Blackhawk and the RST4 box was for the Ruger Standard Pistol with the 4.75 inch barrel.

Here are 2 boxes, one for the RST4 and the other is for the RST6 which has a sticker over the RST4 marking.

The serial number for the Blackhawk is on the back of your box in white marking pen so it is the correct box.

 

[jimbo1096]

I thought it was the correct box with a later end label. Sending a letter to Ruger requesting more info.
Also Chad's RENE shows that serial # in the range of 1979 manufactured and also not shown with other known 'U' guns. The Feb. 1980 sticker to Rousselk falls just after the Mfg date.
Hoping Chad would add to this.

 

[JAYDAWG]

I can't tell by the pics, Is the U stamped on the gun?

 

[jimbo1096]

Yes before the serial #

 

[chet15]

I thought it was the correct box with a later end label. Sending a letter to Ruger requesting more info.
Also Chad's RENE shows that serial # in the range of 1979 manufactured and also not shown with other known 'U' guns. The Feb. 1980 sticker to Rousselk falls just after the Mfg date.
Hoping Chad would add to this.

Yeah, I just came into some internal Ruger documents from another collector. I believe the documents are from an inventory done at the Southport plant maybe about 2003 or so. That gun may be on there so will need to look.
Will let you know.

 

[hittman]

Always fun to peel away the onion when you have an old box with hand markings, different end labels, and a computer generated bar code label too …. Lots of bread crumbs to follow

I think somebody here has a picture of a stack of Speed Sixs ( ?? ~ Maybe NIS guns? ) that all have the computer bar code label too.

 

[jimbo1096]

Anybody know approximately the date Ruger started using the computer barcode label?