Ruger K1A 7x57 Walnut Stainless

[butternut1]

hi,
I own a Ruger #1a Stainless 7x57 with a Walnut stock/fore-end and red pad... The serial number of 132-64517 says it was built in 1984-85. Ruger is telling me that according to their records that it left the plant as a #1a 7x57 Walnut with a "Blued" action/barrel.. They also stated that Ruger didn't start producing Stainless #1's till the year 2000. I have taken this gun to numerous reputable gunsmiths and they all agree that this gun is indeed Stainless, not a coated silver finish of some kind.. All of these professionals agree that this gun is 100% Ruger with no after-market parts. 1st. time user who could use some HELP!!! thanks,,,,,,,,,butternut1..

 

[gewehrfreund]

If this is the one that's for sale on GUnbroker, I have to say that, based on the pictures, it looks like Cerakote, etc. to me. I strongly suspect it is not stainless and Ruger already told you what it left the factory as, so that's really the final word.

 

[dusty3030]

Looking at the pics on Gunbroker I'd say Robar NP3 or a hard chrome. Either a good finish, but that gun isn't stainless.

 

[butternut1]

hi,
the gun on GunBrokers is my gun. This gun is definitely Stainless. All the internal parts are stainless. This gun has been inspected by numerous respectable gunsmiths and they all agree that it's 100% stainless, not some coating.. thanks,,,,,butternut1

 

[egl52]

I also checked out the pictures and agree that it looks like a coating. But what I think, or even what numerous respectable gunsmiths think, really doesn't matter. No disrespect meant here, butternut1, but gewehrfreund hit the nail on the head when he wrote, "Ruger already told you what it left the factory as, so that's really the final word."

 

[rugerjunkie]

Saw this earlier today but waited til getting home to have a better look at the pics on the laptop before commenting.

First off , and it's already been stated , Ruger told you how it left the factory but you refuse to believe them and hold on to the fantasy that you have some super rare rifle predating Rugers introduction of stainless by 15-16 years.

Second , after studying the pics , the finishes from part to part do not match. Some parts like the rings appear to be stainless but others , specifically the barrel look coated and are missing the telltale brush marks that come from the factory stainless finishing.

Some of your replies have come from some of the most knowledgeable around on No.1's and have pretty much said the same thing. I also noticed your GB add has not changed after you admit to learning right from Ruger it left the factory as a blued rifle...pretty dishonest way of doing things ehh? I doubt you'll garner any more interest from anyone here on the forum.

 

[golferboy426]

I'd be very interested to know how you verified it was stainless

 

[butternut1]

hi,
I have bought and sold guns for over 35 years. During that time span I have probably handled thousands of rifles from every just about every gun manufacture. I also own a rather large gun collection of over 300 guns of which approximately 50 are Stainless. Although 90% of my stainless are Remingtons, I do have a few Ruger ones. I may not know Ruger as well as Remington, but I do know this gun is NOT coated with any sprayed on silver finish. My rating on GunBokers is A+++ so I am trying to be dishonest about anything. Thank you,,,,,,,,butternut1

 

[~JM~]

Got Magnet?

See if it sticks.

 

[butternut1]

hi ,
tried the magnet. it sticks to this gun just as it sticks to every stainless gun i own(about 50).. I am assuming that 100% stainless must be fixed with another alloy to make it usable for building guns,,,,,,,,butternut1

 

[~JM~]

Hmmm...

You're right. Just tried it & it stuck. So much for that urban legend.

Thought I tried it before & it didn't stick.

 

[dusty3030]

Hard chrome isn't sprayed on nor is NP3. The color of your gun is consistent with those finishes.

 

[butternut1]

hi dusty,
i a not a Gunsmith, so how are those 2 finishes applied?? if it's hard chrome, wouldn't the finish be a lot brighter. thanks,,,,,,,,,butternut1

 

[dusty3030]

Electrolysis, search Robar NP3 and look at some pictures. On your gun compare your stainless rings to the barrel. You can really see the difference between the two. Hard chrome is matte, not shiny like a polished chrome.

 

[021]

A couple things stand out, specifically the pistol grip cap and the trigger are not stainless as all my stainless #1's are. Kind of a dead giveaway. If you want a refinished #1, here is your opportunity.

 

[butternut1]

hi dusty,
the finish on my gun is a lot brighter than any of the pictures of guns with a Robar NP3 finish that i have looked at. My gun also has a Lighter shade of color that than the Robar NP3 finish. My action is bright and shiny, but the barrel looks like it was dulled by mechanical means..By using a magnifying glass/bright light I can see light "buff" marks running perpendicular to the length of the barrel. This tells me that the barrel finish was deliberately dulled, but the action was left on touched. The lever and both sights have dulled the same way and have very, very slight buff marks on them also.. Again thank you for your info,,,,,,,,,,,,butternut1..

 

[RSIno1]

http://www.gunbroker.com/item/633725119

This should raise enough doubt for any buyer. I'm certain there will be a lawsuit from any buyer who visits this site and finds the seller in possession of an undisclosed letter from Ruger that this serial number left the factory as blue steel.

".........this gun was made in 1984, 16 years before Ruger started building Stainless #1's......."

 

[butternut1]

hi blackhawk,
I didn't list this gun on Gunbroker's to sell. I just needed to get to the bottom of what I had. That is why the price was listed so high. GunBrokers requires that you set a price on any item you attempt to sell on their auction site. I figured(correctly) that No-one would bid my price, but that a few would email me with some much appreciated info. on this gun.. My theory has worked and I have received lots of possible answers, but also more questions. One suggestion was for me to join a Ruger Forum(like this one) and just maybe some Ruger Guru would enlighten me. To all the people who treated me with respect and have tried to help me, I salute you!! Thanks, butternut1

 

[021]

hi blackhawk,
I didn't list this gun on Gunbroker's to sell. I just needed to get to the bottom of what I had. That is why the price was listed so high. GunBrokers requires that you set a price on any item you attempt to sell on their auction site. I figured(correctly) that No-one would bid my price, but that a few would email me with some much appreciated info. on this gun.. My theory has worked and I have received lots of possible answers, but also more questions. One suggestion was for me to join a Ruger Forum(like this one) and just maybe some Ruger Guru would enlighten me. To all the people who treated me with respect and have tried to help me, I salute you!! Thanks, butternut1

I don't normally respond to posts negatively, and I'm a pretty nice person but I have a theory-----you put it on Gunbroker, put a price on it and hoped it would sell, so don't p;33 down our backs and tell us its raining. Rant over.

 

[butternut1]

hi single-sixer,
If I was really try to sell this gun, why have I raised the price 2x since I listed it. I have raised my price because I don't want anyone to bid on it.. At the time I listed it, I didn't belong to any Ruger Forums and thought that throwing it on GunBrokers would get some feed-back.. That strategy worked and I have had quite few positive responses.. I have never "P-ssed" down anyone's boot and have a A+++ rating on Gunbrokers to prove it,,,,,ed

 

[GAO LLC]

I once saw a guy put a smashed-up Weatherby rifle on Gunbroker for $10K just so he could rant about it being destroyed by UPS. I guess it made him feel better.

 

[NH Rugerman]

I observed this gun in person today and my opinion is that it is not stainless, it is a carefully done finish over low alloy steel, certainly not a finish that came out of the Ruger factory. It appears to be a chemically applied finish, very well done I may add. I know for a fact the owner has been very diligent in trying to get to the bottom of this mystery.

I applaud him and suggest that we not try to guess the motivations of other folk's hearts....