Ruger started their four different series' of Mark III pistols with four different prefixes. Not sure of the best reason for this other than to let their "subscribers" have their low serial number in each of these, but they were as follows:
227- regular Mark III auto with blue or stainless grip frame, non-Hunter barrels.
228- 22/45 with non-Hunter barrels
229- Hunter barrel models with blue or stainless grip frame.
270- Hunter barrel models with 22/45 grip frames.
Now, there were some out-of-sequence models produced in some of these prefixes because, yes...even Ruger's employees get confused sometimes. But for the most part, they are as designated.
Next, when the 227- prefix used its entire 99999 sequence of numbers, those guns were merged with the 270- prefix. The same thing happened when the 228- prefix was completed, also going to the 270- prefix.
As far as I know the 229- prefix is now less than 10,000 pistols from completing its 99,999 gun run, so when completed it will be merged with the 271- prefix (unless the 272- begins before the 229- is filled out).
Ruger did exact same thing with their Mark II pistols. When the 220- prefix 22/45's were completed, they merged with the 218- prefix government competition guns...and in order for Ruger to be done entirely with the confusion, they completely filled the 218- prefix (this happened about 218-73900) with every model they made, then when to where the regular autos were currently at before in the 221- prefix.
I know...is confusing.
Chet15
