LCR serial numbers

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chet15

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It looks like Ruger has decided that the serial number prefixes for the LCR series is fast running out, so they've decided to group all of their LCR's within the 545- prefix.
Chet15
 

trapperon

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I'm sure the common prefix does streamline things for production, but I've always wondered if the real reason for this is to hide production numbers for specific model/caliber combinations just like they did with the Blackhawks. It used to be rather easy to see, say 30 carbine bllackhawk yearly production--but now not a clue! I am sure they want to keep some production numbers hidden simply from a competitive standpoint.

Ron
 

Terry T

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I'm a little confused by this post. Did they begin by assigning different prefixes to the different models and now are just using one prefix?

And Ruger's web site says the new .327 mag starts with 547- :shock:

http://ruger.com/service/productHistory/RE-LCR-327.html

Terry T
 

hittman

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My 38 Special starts with 542- and the 357 begins with 546-.
 

hittman

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I think it's just a heads-up that yet another prefix is being used on LCR's.
 

planetcat

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I bought a .22 wmr LCR less than a month ago and it has the '545-' prefix s/n. I found it confusing, because Ruger's website wasn't showing that number range yet on the DOM page.
 

Dwane

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My LCR in 9 mm starts with 549. My 357 starts with 546 and my .38 spy starts with 544. What does all of this mean? I'm confused but that's not that surprising :roll:
 

chet15

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Haven't quite got all this figured out yet, but went through my notes and here's what is known so far...

540-00001 through at least 543-50000 is .38 Special with the highest seen 543-41889. Note that the LCRX with hammer (non-adj. sight) started serial numbering within this original series.

543-50000 to ? LCRX with adjustable rear sight highest seen 543-60521

544- Non adj. sight .38 specials begin again at 544-00001 (highest reported 544-48629, born-on-date 8/12/2014)

545-01000 (Ruger must have originally started this LCR prefix at 545-01000 in 2010 when the .357 was introduced...see Ruger's dates of manufacture webpage, then soon after began anew with the 546- prefix (at 546-00001???). Ruger completed the 546- prefix and was within the 547- prefix (highest seen 547-08495 which is also a .327 Fed. Note that the earliest .327 Fed is reported by Ruger on their website to be 547-08400).

548-00501 Ruger began here with the .22 LR…and when the .22 Mag. came out it was also placed within this prefix. Note that Ruger has completed the 548- prefix and these .22's are now being run with a 545- prefix.

549-50000 Ruger began 9mm regular production at this point in the 549- prefix, but they do show 542-89288 on their serial number website as the first serial number of the 9mm in 2014 so that serial number might be a prototype or Ruger started regular production at 542-89288 (as a common sn'ing error like they've done with other models) and then decided to begin with a fresh prefix of 549- (highest seen 549-61373). 541-91971 is a Ruger file photo which I believe to be a true prototype of the KLCR9

Now, Ruger is again in the 545- prefix, but with several LCR caliber series'
545-06021 .357
545-12580 .38 Special
545-13371 .38 Special
545-30700 9mm
545-51929 .22 LR
545-60779 .22 WMR
It looks like the centerfires began fresh with the early 545-0xxxx and the rimfires must have begun fresh at 545-50000?

The question would be...when Ruger runs out of 545- numbers, will they finish off the 547- where they left off?
What about the remainder of the 544- prefix for the .38 Special? (Highest seen 544-19734)
This also opens up the question of whether there will only be a few .327's with a 547- prefix...or are they all going to be 545 for now and then pick up again later in the 547-?

Chet15
 

Ruger45

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Just for the info my
LCR 22mag is 548-63563
LCR 22 548 47142
LCR 38 542-44136
KLCR 546-671771
LCRX 543-02520
KLCR 9 549-57644
Today I saw a one of ten LCR 357 with the cylinder frame and cylinder polished by Ruger. All have been sold /given to employees 5 of them coming thru my LGS so with any luck one of them will end up in my hands .
Added KLCR SR#
 

Terry T

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Just to confuse the issues: :shock:
My LCR-9 (9mm) is ser. no. 545-30589 ( which replaced 545-30119 (also 9mm) which was defective). Both shipped in the summer of 2015.
My KLCR in .357 mag. is ser. no. 546-06982 shipped in Dec. 2010 or Jan 2011.
Actually, after reading and re-reading your notes, these might actually support your notes. :D
Terry T
 

chet15

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Ruger45 said:
Just for the info my
LCR 22mag is 548-63563
LCR 22 548 47142
LCR 38 542-44136
KLCR 546-671771
LCRX 543-02520
Today I saw a one of ten LCR 357 with the grip frame and cylinder polished by Ruger. All have been sold /given to employees 5 of them coming thru my LGS so with any luck one of them will end up in my hands .

Looks like the first five sn's fall within the blocks listed above.
Be sure post a sn for that polished .357. I suppose it looks like its nickled? Curious to know what the catalog number and Ruger's model number would be.
Chet15
 
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chet15 said:
Ruger45 said:
Just for the info my
LCR 22mag is 548-63563
LCR 22 548 47142
LCR 38 542-44136
KLCR 546-671771
LCRX 543-02520
Today I saw a one of ten LCR 357 with the grip frame and cylinder polished by Ruger. All have been sold /given to employees 5 of them coming thru my LGS so with any luck one of them will end up in my hands .

Looks like the first five sn's fall within the blocks listed above.
Be sure post a sn for that polished .357. I suppose it looks like its nickled? Curious to know what the catalog number and Ruger's model number would be.
Chet15

Chet-
I saw that High Polish LCR357 today and posted about it...the model and catalog number where the same as the standard KLCR-357..I was told that they were not sure of quantities and whether it was an overrun for a distributor exclusive OR was an insider limited run...but it looked really cool...unfortunately, I did not right down the serial number as it was shown to me in confidence. and just to clarify, the grip frame was the standard polymer grip frame, it was the cylinder frame, cylinder and barrel that were high polish to what I would say was a #7 finish....

also, I have a factory second LCR 9MM that was manufactured in April 2015 with serial number prefix 549...
 

chet15

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Dwane said:
My LCR 9mm 549-55945
LCR 38spl 544-48629
LCR 357 546-68919
All are non adjustable sights

Dwane:
What is the "Born-on-date" for 544-48629? That will be printed on the fired cartridge case envelope.
Chet15
 

Dwane

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Chet,
Unfortunately I don't have the born on date as I did some trading for this pistol and it didn't have box and papers. Maybe Ruger can tell us?
 

Dwane

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Just received my LCR in.327. Serial # 547-08487.
Non adjustable sights.

Chet, I also was able to get a hold of the previous owner of the 544-48629 .38 special and the born on date shows 8/12/2014. Hope this helps.
 

chet15

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Dwane said:
Just received my LCR in.327. Serial # 547-08487.
Non adjustable sights.

Chet, I also was able to get a hold of the previous owner of the 544-48629 .38 special and the born on date shows 8/12/2014. Hope this helps.

August 2014, Wow!! The Des Moines gun show usually has a lot of most current models on the tables, so is curious that higher serial numbered 544- guns haven't shown up. Maybe the .38's went to the 545- prefix shortly after 544-48629 was made?

Looks like your .327 is probably a two-digit gun, so to speak.
Chet15
 
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