chet15
Hawkeye
Just found the fourth known 99xxxx range Bearcat with a re-worked serial number, serial number 991112 at the Des Moines show this weekend.
If anybody has a Bearcat in the 99xxxx range or D98xxxx range or even from 90000 up through 115000, be sure to check the serial number and side of the frame. Ruger apparently had issues with their serial numbering machine...which is probably why there were so many duplicate serial number guns around this time period. I also suspect that Ruger had issues with the serial numbering head indexing properly to a horizontally straight position.
So what to look for? Look for any Bearcat in the serial number ranges given and see if the serial number is heavily stamped or lightly stamped. If it is heavily stamped, look closely at the frame area around the trigger screw head and the hammer screw head for signs of waviness in the frame. If its there, the serial number side of the frame was ground off at Ruger several months later (when they had a group of guns set aside to rework) and the serial number was re-applied. That is the reason the serial number looks heavily stamped on these, because the thin aluminum side on the Bearcat was even thinner after Ruger ground any remnant of the original serial number away.
As luck would have it, we know Ruger set these guns aside to be reworked at a later date (they didn't have barrels on them when they were reworked) because the rollmark on the left side of the barrel is without SR...something that didn't change on the Bearcat until later in 1968 (October if I remember correctly).
These guns should have left the factory as factory "seconds".
Those known so far with re-worked frames include 990290 (pictured in JD's most recent book), 990299, 991112, D98251 and one other gun I reported in RENE a few years ago.
There should also be some 90xxx to 115xxx range Bearcats out there as well that have a re-worked frame....just look for a heavily stamped serial number. All other Bearcats during this period have a light but clear serial number.
And...this brings up another point...if they were having issues with the serial numbering machine on the Bearcat, I suspect there are some SA's out there as well that were having the same issues (and why not 10/22's or .44 Carbines?).
Chet15
If anybody has a Bearcat in the 99xxxx range or D98xxxx range or even from 90000 up through 115000, be sure to check the serial number and side of the frame. Ruger apparently had issues with their serial numbering machine...which is probably why there were so many duplicate serial number guns around this time period. I also suspect that Ruger had issues with the serial numbering head indexing properly to a horizontally straight position.
So what to look for? Look for any Bearcat in the serial number ranges given and see if the serial number is heavily stamped or lightly stamped. If it is heavily stamped, look closely at the frame area around the trigger screw head and the hammer screw head for signs of waviness in the frame. If its there, the serial number side of the frame was ground off at Ruger several months later (when they had a group of guns set aside to rework) and the serial number was re-applied. That is the reason the serial number looks heavily stamped on these, because the thin aluminum side on the Bearcat was even thinner after Ruger ground any remnant of the original serial number away.
As luck would have it, we know Ruger set these guns aside to be reworked at a later date (they didn't have barrels on them when they were reworked) because the rollmark on the left side of the barrel is without SR...something that didn't change on the Bearcat until later in 1968 (October if I remember correctly).
These guns should have left the factory as factory "seconds".
Those known so far with re-worked frames include 990290 (pictured in JD's most recent book), 990299, 991112, D98251 and one other gun I reported in RENE a few years ago.
There should also be some 90xxx to 115xxx range Bearcats out there as well that have a re-worked frame....just look for a heavily stamped serial number. All other Bearcats during this period have a light but clear serial number.
And...this brings up another point...if they were having issues with the serial numbering machine on the Bearcat, I suspect there are some SA's out there as well that were having the same issues (and why not 10/22's or .44 Carbines?).
Chet15
