Ruger Flatgate

[Fla Trooper 265]

There is a Flatgate here locally that is in mint condition in the box. However it does not come with the original grips. Sorry no pictures. What is a ballpark guess on what its worth. 5 1/2 barrel. Thanks in advance.

 

[rugerguy]

Much depends on the overall condition of the guns "original finish" and the box it self, if part of the "package" , then how early a gun, the serial number if LOW can add a 'premium'...around here average "flatgates" run in the $500-600 range and the original "non catalog" number boxes run around $125-150.....the grips need to be original , black hard rubber ( actually 'plasticized')and they run around $90 for the proper vintage....again, the real early ,low number guns, the black eagle medallion will be a "satin" ( dull or brushed finish,not shiny silver) these were left overs from the RST's early on............a picture and serial number would really help......

 

[Fla Trooper 265]

The serial number is 54xxx. The box is in great to mint condition.

 

[rugerguy]

That would put it in the last series Type 4 flatgate....1956-57 era sounds like a nice gun......

 

[Ale-8(1)]

Dan's right on! Red Eagle News Exchange (RENE) Price Guide puts "mint condition" Type 4 Flatgates at $595, and a nice proper box at $205. As Dan said, you'd need the proper grips. :mrgreen:

 

[daveg.inkc]

That would put it in the last series Type 4 flatgate....1956-57 era sounds like a nice gun......

Would you please explain the different types on these Flatgates? I have read it somewhere.

 

[contender]

Type I; Non-serrated front sight blade. And serial numbered guns under 1985, do not have a "_ _ _"(a hyphen) between the words; "Single" and "Six".

Type II; Serrated front sight, and a short throw ejector rod housing. Serial number range approximately 2000 to 24703.

Type III; Long throw ERH, (offset slot lengthened,) & small serrated ER button. Serial number range, 18666 to 51494.

Type IV; Large round concave ERB, approximate serial number range; 49052 to 61960.

Notice there are some overlaps in the serial number ranges. We commonly call this issue the "parts bin theory" where some of the parts for earlier guns got installed after newer parts were dumped in on top of the existing parts.

 

[daveg.inkc]

Thank you Ty!

 

[Ale-8(1)]

. . . and all that information is given on pages 26 and 27 of the Red Eagle News Exchange Reference of Ruger Firearms, Volume One, from Chet15 . . . mandatory reading for Rugerphiles. :mrgreen:

 

[Johnnu2]

Hopefully it has NOT been converted to the 'safe system' at any point in it's life.............

J.

 

[contender]

Ale-8(1) is correct.

The RENE is THE place to get to best known information (for accuracy) of ruger firearms.

It's not 100% perfect,, but it's the best by far,, including over the factory records.

 

[Ale-8(1)]

Hopefully it has NOT been converted to the 'safe system' at any point in it's life............. J.

Wow, yes, all the above price information assumes the gun has not had Ruger's "safety conversion" performed on it. :shock: :shock: :shock:

If the gun has been converted but has the original parts with it the price might remain as above estimates. Some real serious collectors might worry about the fact that the frame is marked underneath the grip frame to indicate that the gun was returned to The Factory and the conversion was performed on it. Depends on how much "unaltered originality" means to you. The original parts, if present, can be reinstalled easily.

If the original parts are not present, that would likely knock as much as $100 or so off the price of an "unmolested" specimen as that's about what it might take to come up with a set of original parts to retrofit.

For those who want to be really, seriously concerned about the originality of a gun that still wears its original parts with no accompanying "conversion" bits, one would have to remove the grip frame to check for the "conversion" mark on the frame. :roll:

 

[Hondo44]

There would be an R (for retrofit) stamped on the bottom of the main frame.

 

[jussbad]

The flatgate if in the original box and not a return box from Ruger would look like this (of course without the ivory)

 

[ndruger]

hey jussbad think I seen that one somewhere !!