Mystery serial number

[luedersj]

I have a .41 4 5/8" Blackhawk. It serial number is L05S. Has anyone heard of a serial number like that?

 

[hittman]

Not me. Unless of course it is up-side-down and really 5507. Can you post a pic?

Welcome to the Forum.

 

[SAJohn]

Another welcome. Where is this odd number located? Maybe an addition by some custom gunsmith?

Hittman, you must be great at solving puzzles.

John

 

[Coogs]

Oh my goodness............wait until the dude in New England get wind of this........................Coogs.

 

[luedersj]

L05S, lima zero (or maybe oscar) five sierra. It's in what looks to me like standard ruger stamping. I'll try to send a photo. I have a bunch of rugers and this is the dadgummiest thing I've seen.

 

[luedersj]

I have no idea of the provenance of L05S. My father collected rugers in the sixties to mid eighties. My brother added a few more, but I've no idea how it came into the family

 

[radicalrod]

Hey Eric,it's me MR 265..... welcome to the RUGER FORUM.....send me some pics and I will post them if you want.....it is actually fairly easy once you get the hang of it....let me know....see ya Rod.

 

[flatgate]

Where is the s/n stamped? In the "normal" position on the side of the "cylinder frame"?

Or, is it in some other location?

flatgate

 

[luedersj]

Yes.

 

[contender]

Your father wouldn't happen to be Hugo Lueders would he???

 

[luedersj]

Your father wouldn't happen to be Hugo Lueders would he???

 

[rugerguy]

If he is, then as to the number, ANYTHING is possible, won't be the first time Bill Ruger had a gun marked/numbered in some 'other' sort of way for some people, NOT normal "marketing/sales", off the line guns... :wink:
yes, a picture would make a difference and help...over the years I've seen firearms marked, restamped in about any configuration known to man.
OH yes, and welcome to the Forum by the way...................

 

[luedersj]

Your father wouldn't happen to be Hugo Lueders would he???

Yes. He was a gun genius.

 

[SATCOM]

Cool!!!! So many of the members on the RF followed your Dad's work!

I have read his books so many times. I even have one of his guns pictured in one of his books! And I am very proud of that gun.

Hope to hear more from you here on the RF.

SATCOM

 

[jimbo1096]

just a guess- L (for Mr. Leuder) 05 (fifth gun?), S ( for sample or special run?)

Sounds pretty cool.
Welcome to the forum.

 

[luedersj]

That explanation is beginning to make some sense to me. I've contacted Ruger before, and they draw a blank. Thanks for your thoughts

 

[George Tucker]

Picture would sure be nice.

 

[luedersj]

I will post pictures as soon as I can figure out how to. Any hints?

 

[BlackEagle]

I will post pictures as soon as I can figure out how to. Any hints?

There's a tutorial in the "Gallery" section of this forum. :wink:
Welcome aboard!

 

[luedersj]

I will send a photo but someone needs to figure out an easier way to do it.
The mystery deepens. I looked at the gun and there is a different color to the metal where the serial number is. Also the metal has apparently been ground down to remove the old serial number. The work is almost imperceptible and looks to be factory quality.

I liked the idea that Bill Ruger had given it to my dad. They were friends, but not I confess that I'm up a stump. I'd swear it came from the factory that way but have no idea why.

 

[luedersj]

I meant "now I'm up a stump." Forgery seems out of the question, since the serial number is so odd.

 

[contender]

Well, it's nice to see a family member of a fine Ruger collector show up. When I saw the name, I immediately wondered. I also have the books Hugo did, and enjoy them.
The gun in question does need to be photographed for us to see & study! It's got to be a very unique gun.

 

[Danjet500]

I will send a photo but someone needs to figure out an easier way to do it.

Luedersj, if you want to email some pics to me I will post them for you. My email is in my profile. I will also send my email to you by PM. I too want to see this gun.

 

[flatgate]

I have a .41 4 5/8" Blackhawk. It serial number is L05S. Has anyone heard of a serial number like that?

No, I've never heard of one like that. Old Model 3 screw or New Model?

El zero five ess? Or EL Oh five ess ?

The BATF did do some screwy things with s/n's back in the days......
IIRC, Doc Laine had some "odd" stuff....... "Left and Right" Single-Sixes, etc.

Any markings on the grip frame (under the grips)? How about on the cylinder frame where the grip frame sets?

I, too, can help with pics. Any size, it doesn't matter, however small images are hard to enlarge w/o distortion.

Welcome to Ruger Forum!

flatgate

 

[luedersj]

I can't tell a zero from the letter O. I'm not sure in this case that it really matters since the whole setup so odd. I"ll check the other places and I think I've figured out how to send pictures, but thanks to everyone for their help.

 

[98Redline]

Can't add anything to the history but is it just me or does the serial number seem a whole lot like the word "LOSS"

LO5S = El Oh Five Ess

L05S = El Zero Five Ess

 

[Ale-8(1)]

Have to admit that was my first thought.

;)

 

[luedersj]

Here are, I hope, some photos. Frame says XR3-RED.

Hope this sheds a little more light on the topic.

 

[flatgate]

Most interesting. I recall, vaguely, stories about the BATF assigning s/n's to Rugers due to "other circumstances". I wish I could offer more info.

flatgate

 

[luedersj]

RR suggested that it might have been a recovered gun from a burglary or some other crime. Although I don't quite see the logic behind changing the serial number.