Looking for info on old/different red label- Raised Ruger

[bighunter4]

Hey Guys.. New to the fourm.. Just picked up an old 12 gauge red label. I have been a O/U enthusiast for years, but have never seen a red label with raised Ruger logo on receiver. It is raised on both sides, not engraved. I even called Ruger and they have no info. Anybody know anything about this thing? Thank you in advance.

 

[bighunter4]

Zoomed

 

[hittman]

Sharing s/n may help.
RENE may help too. See link.
Welcome to the forum.

Thread 'Subscribe to the Red Eagle News Exchange'

Jul 2, 2008

By popular demand, here is a sticky with info for subscribing to RENE.

What is RENE? The Red Eagle News Exchange (RENE) is a quarterly Ruger collector & enthusiast's newletter with the latest information on Ruger firearms, member articles, new Ruger variations & discoveries, selected recent auction results, classified ads & announcements, etc. New members also get a complimentary copy of the Reference of Ruger Firearms, which has a HUGE amount of detail on models, variations, production numbers, timelines, etc. Updates to the Reference are made every few years and...

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[bighunter4]

Thanks.. SN is 41011212

 

[eveled]

I’ve never seen that either. Are you 100% sure they aren’t stuck on there, like an emblem on a car fender?

Hard to believe it was done when the receiver was milled.

 

[bighunter4]

Doesnt appear to be a sticker or anything like that. They look and feel like real stainless, match the receiver.. Everything looks like it was original. I dont really want to pry at them. Its an older gun for sure and dont want to mess it up. Im not really sure what it is honestly so cant say 100%

 

[NikA]

I'd bet money they were added after the fact, the font looks like nothing I've seen on any Ruger. They may be metallic letters soldered to the stainless receiver. Can you measure how high they are and the overall width of the receiver at that point? Might be a clue as to how they were added.

 

[hittman]

Made in 1985 courtesy of RENE

 

[bighunter4]

I will measure them and take some better pictures tomorrow when I am with it. I just spoke to a friend of the previous owner (deceased) who thought it was a salesman special or something rare from what he recalls. If it is an aftermarket add on I would be surprised. It looks too perfect. Maybe Im wrong.. Will add more when I can. Thanks to all for the input so far

 

[golferboy426]

I will measure them and take some better pictures tomorrow when I am with it. I just spoke to a friend of the previous owner (deceased) who thought it was a salesman special or something rare from what he recalls. If it is an aftermarket add on I would be surprised. It looks too perfect. Maybe Im wrong.. Will add more when I can. Thanks to all for the input so far

If letters actually return Ruger can tell you if in fact it is a salesman sample, I honestly doubt it though as those letter are pretty crude compared to other Ruger engraving,

 

[s4s4u]

The amount of time it would take to CNC machine a receiver around those 5 letters would be immense. I am of the mind that is an aftermarket alteration.

And, yes, 1985 would be the year of release. I looked through the catalog and there is no mention of a raised lettering, not even as a distributor exclusive.

 

[rugerguy]

been doing Red Labels from the beginning and NEVER saw or heard of anything like that, so highly doubt it,,,besides it looks way TOO crude..........(n)

..may be stick on lettering from "Things Remembered" at the Mall....:rolleyes::cool:

....zoom in pic #1 and you can SEE the spacing underneath..........;)

 

[bighunter4]

Im really not sure..it looks too perfect on both sides to me..no give like a sticker

 

[thedogdidit]

100% aftermarket add on. NOT OEM.
You can see the gapping at the bottom of each letter when zoomed in. One piece milling would not create visible cavities that trap dust and lint.
Still, very nice find. Congratulations

 

[RGR Records]

Looks aftermarket to me. That gun shipped on 8/16/1985 as a standard KRL-1231 from everything I can see.

 

[bighunter4]

thanks for all the info guys.. You may be right. I honestly dont know.

 

[cee_Kamp]

Take a small brass drift with a small ball peen hammer and give each letter a "tap" from the bottom of each "raised letter" and they should come right off the receiver. Several minutes of gray Scotchbrite pad random pattern polishing and you will never know those raised letters ever existed.
I agree, those letters are added after factory production took place and are likely glued on with some type of adhesive. (maybe hot glue gun)
If they were soldered, you would be able to see some solder at the interface between the raised letters and the receiver when they were soldered.

 

[eveled]

I bet a hot needle would slide right under.

 

[chet15]

Too bad Ruger's letter service has stopped. But those letters very easily could be stuck on the side. Acetone around the letters would tell you if that is the case if you wanted to do that.
But an enterprising employee could also attach wax letters to the sides of the wax pattern before they were "invested" with ceramic coating as they go through the Investment casting process. In my opinion, this is a long shot, but it is very possible as I once saw an as cast #1 receiver at Rody's with a very busy seated liberty and double flag Civil War type motif and etc. on both sides of the receiver, done in this very manner.
Chet15

 

[bighunter4]

Can't say for sure..certainly dont want to damage it either by trying to remove..especially if by chance its something rare..ill just enjoy it as is for now..thanks again