Ruger KNR-5L-17 - 5.5-inch Stainless 17HMR Single Sixes

[Quarterbore]

This story dates back to May 2009 when these first started showing up and I had ordered one of the KNR-5-17s (the more common model designation sold through Lipseys) and when I went into the shop to pick up the revolver my dealer had a second one that had been provided to them by a sales rep from Banger in Georgia. I had shared that story back on May 15th in this thread:

http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB/viewtop ... 2&start=30

The gun I had got was Serial 265-12800

Well, I have known were a consective serial number gun has been sitting for Months (Since May/June) but we had a baby back in March and my finances had been really tight and still are (darn daycare is so expensive for infants but my wife is back to work) so I decided to grab the consecutive gun to the one I already own before interest in the model picked up.

http://gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=145614387

Yea, that was an expensive purchase but darn I have seen VERY FEW of this model listed anywhere (KNR-5L-17) and given that the 17s have disapeared from the Ruger Catalog I figured that if I wait much longer I am going to miss the opportunity to put a set of consecutaives in the safe.

This second gun cost me about $75 more then I paid for the first two but at this point I think it was worth the risk. Here are the photos from the auction I just won with the consecutaive to the one I already have.

I would like to know if anybody else has one of these? These are the only two I have seen so far with the "5L" in the model number but then again I was not real active the past few months so I am sure I missed some of these showing up while we got used to having a baby in the house.

 

[chet15]

I would like to know if anybody else has one of these? These are the only two I have seen so far with the "5L" in the model number but then again I was not real active the past few months so I am sure I missed some of these showing up while we got used to having a baby in the house.

So both of your guns with "5L" in the catalog number have the interlock?? If not, would seem to be a factory printing error on the box label.
This would seem likely since the model numbers for both different labels is the same. When Ruger put the interlock in the blue guns, their model numbers changed.
Chet15

 

[Quarterbore]

Nope, no locks in the gun I have but it will be a while before I get the other one. Because the serial numbers are lower then anything else I wonder if Ruger had thought about doing locks but then changed their mind?

Very strange model number and darn few of them show up with that L in the model number.

 

[Quarterbore]

I wanted to bounce this one more time to see if anybody else has found one of the KNR-5L-17 model guns? I have not had any money to buy more guns since we had a baby just over a year ago and the best way for me not to buy is to avoid watching the various auctions...

Again, I have a consecutive pair of these KNR-5L-17 guns with the low serial number but have yet to see a 3rd of these...

 

[Axehandle]

I picked up two when they first popped to the surface... Don't know the model No or SN of the top of my head.. There were matching 6.5 inch guns that popped up and were gone quick too... Heard ridiculously low production numbers on the 5.5 and 6.5 but never saw anything solid in writing..

 

[chet15]

Yes, there was only one batch of each model produced to my knowledge, and heard it would never be done again. Not sure why they were even made honestly, other than maybe Ruger was using up leftover stainless 17 cal barrel stock.
I estimate not more than 200 of each model produced.
Congrats to those who got them!
Chet15

 

[Quarterbore]

Thanks Chet15!

I have been struggling with the decision to shoot these or keep them unfired and I think I will continue leaving them alone as I have plenty of other guns to shoot. I have a buddy that is convinced I am insane as I have a safe that is filling up with revolvers and half of them are NIB or at a minimum unfired by me.

As for the 200 number, I question if that is right as there were a lot of the black eagle guns (as opposed to the earlier ones with the red eagles like these here) listed for a while. You have better contacts and watch close then I do however so you might be right and I just saw lot of them as they all went to auction sites where I saw them.

 

[chet15]

As for the 200 number, I question if that is right as there were a lot of the black eagle guns (as opposed to the earlier ones with the red eagles like these here) listed for a while. You have better contacts and watch close then I do however so you might be right and I just saw lot of them as they all went to auction sites where I saw them.

Yea, not sure on that. I know one barrel length came out first, then the other a short time later. But when they came out they were dumped onto the market, and then no more to be seen since. Have also heard from a couple distributors that they would not receive any more either...they're done.
Thing is, I've only had a few reported of each. For comparison, there have been 29 of the "shootists" mistake guns accounted for so far...nearly 1/3 of the total production, which means that the folks on RF represent a huge force in buying this unusual stuff up. Sure, the flattop would get more of a bragging factor, but still would not surprise me if 200 or less of each of the KNR5-17 and KRN6-17. Only the factory knows. Maybe some day they'll inform the rest of us :roll:
By releasing that kind of info it would sure help to get those kinds of guns out of the secondary market.
Chet15

 

[triaxle]

I found a 5 and a 6 with red eagle grips at a shop should I get one [email protected]