Mark I Questions

[jtsteiert]

I have a Mark I Bicentennial model that I have owned for around 27 years now, I bought it from a pawn shop and was the first handgun I bought.
Not knowing much about guns at the time I didn't know what to look for when purchasing used, turns out the front sight was broken and either the original owner or store re attached it with a epoxy type material similar to belzona.

Since then the front sight has come off leaving the residue of the epoxy behind. I would like to have a front sight put back on but do not see how this would be possible unless it is brazed or mig welded. I am concerned that it wont be accurate if reattached this way.
Another issue is the feed ramp is very worn and has very sharp edges leading to many jams when it loads after firing.
I looked into aftermarket barrels all of which are bull barrels or target barrels that range around $300 each. Its not cost effective to replace the barrel as the new barrel would cost more than the gun is worth. Also I would lose the original serial number and commemorative stamp on top of the gun.
Do any of you know of a cost effective repair I can do or have done to bring my gun back to its original condition?

 

[carsinc]

First, contact Ruger. They may be able to offer a repair. Post a photo of the front sight. Someone here will know an experienced, honest gunsmith who can do the work.

 

[jtsteiert]

Here are some pictures of the front sight area.
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/D4DzbFCyd8lAIfmspudJzrWcEoPGhS7UnlpT8ibeAbU?feat=directlink
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/c6ZT4l33I6Z84JFMylEtLrWcEoPGhS7UnlpT8ibeAbU?feat=directlink
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Z9fgX84WeTIuQZXHP0RNHLWcEoPGhS7UnlpT8ibeAbU?feat=directlink
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/cq-wv1LxHOiRmaFHHDS41bWcEoPGhS7UnlpT8ibeAbU?feat=directlink

 

[Highstandardguy]

Unfortunately someone has modified your barrel and the standard Ruger front sight won't fit any longer. You'll have to get someone to make you a sight or send it to Ruger for a replacement barrel/receiver. This would fix both problems.

 

[jtsteiert]

I contacted Ruger CS and they no longer make the barrels/receivers for the Mark I & II.

Since I have never owned a Mark I before can you tell me what has been done to it to modify it?

 

[edlmann]

I contacted Ruger CS and they no longer make the barrels/receivers for the Mark I & II.

Since I have never owned a Mark I before can you tell me what has been done to it to modify it?

Someone has filed/ground off the metal to which the front sight blade attaches.

Only fix I can think of would be to cut a dovetail into the end of the barrel, but I don't think thereis enough metal there to accomodate a standard 3/8" dovetail.

You could shorten the barrel and attack a ramp like the Williams Shorty.

AFAIK, I think a Mark II or Mark III barrel would work, if you can find one. Maybe someone here has a takeoff barrel.

 

[rugerguy]

well for starters its an RST-4 NOT a "Mark I" yours is a "fixed sight gun, and someone ground off the "sight lug" would have to be rewelded and built up OR the barrel replaced, I looked through my stuff and no more barrels here, and yes, if you sent the upper receiver to the factory, they could and most likely would, reinstall a ;fixed sight MK III barrel should work....any gunshop who does barrel work could replace that barrels as well, just gotta find one, and as I said I used to have them/......put an 'ad' in the classified here on the Forum and look around, maybe Clements, or Harton, or Bowen or such may even have a "spare"....gotta check around
Your "pencil ( tapered) barrel is a tough one to put sights on, not a lot to work with out there, whoever did that job should be "tarred & feathered" or even hung, ( please don;t shoot them...)

 

[jtsteiert]

I have never heard of the RST-4 models before so I learned something new today... I agree the person who ruined this gun should be tarred & feathered. I hate that the original barrel is ruined but would like to make it a usable gun again. Would be nice to give my grandson one day when I start teaching him about gun safety and marksmanship...