Mark one mag question

[roylt]

Did the original mags have any ruger mark or were they just aluminum base?

Friend got one that was his grandpas and he thinks the mag is not factory but I think it is. How can you tell?

I think it is a Mark one from 1978 or 1980.

6" pencil barrel.


Thanks

 

[rugerguy]

the MK I ( RST4 or 6) has a metal magazine, the first ones had a single slot down the side of the mag used in the A-54 grip frames, has a chrome plated, metal bottom,,,,later, they added a second slot to the other side and this was done for the A-100 frames, and yes could swap the follower button around to make it work in the first ones A-54....these magazines did NOT have any markings on them as to "Ruger" ,just plain chrome plated ( the real early ones the chrome was almost a matte, duller finish)

In 1982 when the MK IIs came out the bottoms became "plastic, redesigned the magazine, spring, etc, entirely and these plastic bottom had a Ruger eagle molded into them, see them mainly silver bird, with a black background,,,,,,,for the 50th anniversary model of the 22 semi auto, they put a red background around the eagle,,,,simulate a "red eagle"????did not do it the right way many of us feel...oh well
today you see these plastic MK II mags with different color bottom, dull gray, black plastic, bird, no bird, depended on who is making them and selling them.........
yes, there were even repos made of the early chrome bottom mags, two slots, even came with the "copy" of the Ruger white cardboard box, but they were a bit thinner metal, did NOT hold shape real well......supposedly made by Eaton as noted in a following reply, below , and yes told by Ruger to "cease and desist".....

here s a quick picture......

and your MK I (RST) like this....

A-54 on the left, later two slots A-100 on the right

 

[roylt]

Perfect thank you so much. I'll forward this info to my friend. This is his first Ruger so he isn't on here... yet.

Much appreciated.

 

[rugerguy]

you can tell your friend if his gun has either a #14-15 or 16 "prefix in the start of the serial number it is indeed, towards the end of the Mark series ( the last ones used the number #17-) and also in his case if it is a "pencil" barrel and has fixed sights it is an RST-6.....same mags either way, and yes those being the later, A-100 frame so would "need" the two slotted mags............still a nice gun, and a great shooter.

 

[kevin masten]

Regarding the thread about the magazines for the STD and MKI pistols. There’s another manufacturer of the magazines that I believe Ruger obtained a cease and deceist order from Eaton manufacturing Company located in Anaheim, California and were manufactured there. The mags were a dead ringer for the Ruger factory mags. They were 10 rounds cap and exhibited top notch fit and finish . You seldom encounter them now. I hope you find this interesting.

Regards

 

[roylt]

I just got a quick look at it after work one day and do believe it is the RST-6 as you say. The box label was inside and not on the end so I didn't read it. I was also fondling the ruger so missed all the fine details. His father told me that he is pretty sure it is a 16 prefix serial.

He is having a feed issue and at first though the mag was aftermarket because of the plain foot without the ruger emblem. I showed him this post and told him I think he has a very nice in the box unit.

He wouldn't take 45 bucks for it .... hahaha

Thanks again,

 

[Highstandardguy]

One note of correction, the magazines with a gray plastic base are the current version of the MKI magazine, not MKII magazines. They only hold nine rounds like the originals unless they’ve been modified.