Chance":ejo29k4e said:
In Dougan's pocket "Guide To Ruger Single Action Revolvers Production Dates 1953-73" he lists production of the RSS4 guns with XR3 grip frame(pre '62) as 2000. RENE says "about 5000" but I am not sure if they are talking about the same pre '62 time frame.
The 2000 number Dougan lists is for both RSS4's and RSS4X's. Does anyone have any idea of how many of the 22 LR only RSS4s were shipped?
Here's some serial number notes of the 4-5/8" Single-Six blocks I've noted with XR3 grip frame:
127626 to 130946. Note that very few RSS4 were produced in this range...JD says ony 32 guns, but I've seven guns noted which to me indicates slightly more than JD's figure, but probably still less than 100.
133983 to 135077. All of the guns reported in this block are RSS4, a span of at least 1,095 guns.
146523 The only RSS4 I've noted at this sn range.
148414 to 149188. All reported here are RSS4, a span of 775 guns.
152962 to 153338. All reported are RSS4, for a span of 377 guns.
160351 to 162068. All reported...RSS4, a span of 1,718 guns.
which is followed by one reported RSS9 then one reported RSS4 #162393.
173419 to 174282. All 4-5/8", and a few RSS4X start appearing in this serial range. Total number of 4-5/8" over this span = 864 guns.
182316 to 182597. RSS4R, RSS4W and RSS4X. Some of these were also stamped with a "D" for duplicate serial number. Could be as many as 282 guns in this span, though because there are duplicate 5-1/2's here too, this span may be fairly well mixed with 4-5/8" and 5-1/2" barrels.
186779 to 188395. Mostly RSS4R, RSS4W and RSS4X, although of the 37 guns I have reported in this serial range, one is an RSS5X. Still, it is safe to say that most of this block were 4-5/8". A span of 1,617 guns.
Total 4-5/8" XR3 Single-Sixes....6,829 guns. Throw out a few because of the possibility of "other" barrel lengths being in those blocks, and you would get something close to the 5,000 RSS4R and RSS4W I've estimated along with the estimated 800 RSS4X. All I did for the convertible RSS4X was figure the percentage of those known in the higher sn ranges as compared to those lettered as single cylinder guns in those same higher serial number blocks.
Chet15