"R" stamped cylinder

[BlackEagle]

Is there a reason that there should be a small letter "R" stamped on the face of a 50th Anniversary .44 magnum cylinder? It is a good bit smaller than the letter "S" I usually see.

 

[flatgate]

That's a new one on me. Pics, please!

flatgate

 

[chet15]

Hmmm...never had the cylinder out of one before. Maybe Ruger went to an "R" stamp instead of the "S" on all of their centerfire SA's? Or maybe the employee thought he had an "S" and accidentally marked it with an "R"?
Chet15

 

[BlackEagle]

I'll try to get pics tomorrow. I checked my other 50th .44 mag, which has the warning on the side, and it has the usual "S". The one I got today has the warning on the bottom and a very small "R". If I remember correctly the "R" was on the face with the last three numbers of the s/n, whereas the "S" is on the other end.

 

[chet15]

Now that I think about it...maybe Ruger went all out in going "Sturmless"???
The "S" would be Ruger's traditional proofmark for the Southport plant, but it has always been the abbreviation for "Sturm".
Going to an "R" makes Ruger's transition more complete, I guess :roll:
Anybody else have an "R" proofed SA???
Chet15

 

[batmann]

Looking at the new one I picked up Tuesday, it too has an R, but also has what looks like a reversed P with the R almost like a brand.
One vertical line with a reversed P and the R off the same vertical line.
Makes little difference to me as I bought it cheap enough fron CDNN that it will be a range/hunting pistol.
Test fired 9/2006 so it has been sitting in someone's wharehouse for 4 years. Took two days to clean it up---LOL
I just checked my stainless .44 spl Flattop from Lipsey and it stamped with an S.

 

[chet15]

Looking at the new one I picked up Tuesday, it too has an R, but also has what looks like a reversed P with the R almost like a brand.
One vertical line with a reversed P and the R off the same vertical line.
Makes little difference to me as I bought it cheap enough fron CDNN that it will be a range/hunting pistol.
Test fired 9/2006 so it has been sitting in someone's wharehouse for 4 years. Took two days to clean it up---LOL

You've just described the Newport proof (an R joined with a backwards P at the left side of the R).
Your gun is a single action, not a double action??
Chet15

 

[batmann]

Yes, a 50th .44M Flattop. Thanks for the info. I would only put this as a safe queen if that was something collectable. As it is, it is a shooter at this time. Price was so good, I couldn't pass it up.

 

[BlackEagle]

OK here's a pic. The "R" does not have a backwards "P" attached, but it looks like it might be because the stamp was held a bit off vertical. The one on the left with the "R" is out of a 3 digit prefix, warning on the bottom 50th .44 Flat Top. The one on the right with the "S" is out of a 2 digit prefix, warning on the side 50th .44 Flat Top.

 

[BlackEagle]

Sorry about the bad pic. So was this made in Newport? I remember reading about the change in production facilities and the warning being moved to the bottom of the barrel at the new facility, but I thought the new facility was in Arizona...Yup, checked the reference and the barrels were turned down in the new facility, Arizona. Maybe they moved the "S" stamp to Arizona before they finished proofing all the cylinders at Newport. This one is 870-06757 in case you want to start tracking them.

 

[BlackEagle]

anybody else check their cylinders?

 

[tacklebury]

My NMB purchased this year has only an S.

 

[Chief_10Beers]

My 44Mag has the R and backward P, Test Fired on 03/06/2007 in Southport.........................

 

[BlackEagle]

Chief and Batman, is the warning on the side of the barrel or the bottom?

 

[chet15]

Yes...sn info would be good for anybody who replies to this thread. Without it we can only speculate what everybody is talking about.
Doesn't Arizona also use the R with backwards "P" on their "P" series autos? I don't recall them being proofed with anything signifying it was proofed at Arizona.
Chet15

 

[Hondo44]

Not a 44 Mag 50th but my 44 Spl FT has an S on the rear face of the cylinder, warning on bottom of the barrel and # 520-17720.

 

[BlackEagle]

Not a 44 Mag 50th but my 44 Spl FT has an S on the rear face of the cylinder, warning on bottom of the barrel and # 520-17720.

The "S" stamp on the back of the cylinder is standard for all single action Rugers. We are looking for guns with something other than an "S".

 

[Hondo44]

It's the 1st Ruger I have w/ a Newport address.

 

[batmann]

My warning is on the bottom. Ser #870-063xx

 

[Chief_10Beers]

Chief and Batman, is the warning on the side of the barrel or the bottom?

Bottom, S/N 870-15XXX, No "S". The R is on the ratchet Side and the last Three S/N on the Front of the Cylinder........................................