Ruger MK I ???

[Vajinyan]

I have recently acquired a Ruger MK-I pistol with many parts missing. I have ordered the parts from Numrich and waiting for them to arrive. However I'm not 100% sure if this pistol is a MK-I. I'm thinking it is a MK-I because there is no MK-I (or MK-II or MK-III) designation on barrel or receiver. Why would there be if at the time this pistol was produced there were no MK-IIs or IIIs.

So my quandary is ... What is the difference between the MK-I and MK-II pistols? Comparing my MK-II to the MK-I I don't see any real difference in the two. Except may be the MK-II I own has adjustable sights but then many a Mk-II has fixed sights also.

Are the Magazines interchangeable?

TIA, Larry

 

[WIL TERRY]

BOOKS have been written upon such questions. To get to the straight skinny on your numerous needs you should call Ruger and get the manuals for the STANDARD, MKI, MKII, and MKIII pistols and have ALL the details in front of you to compare.
And so it goes...

 

[wwb]

If you truly have a Mark I, it will be roll marked "MARK I" on the left side of the receiver. If not (and not marked as a Mark II), it will be roll marked "Ruger Automatic Pistol". Aside from the barrel and sights, the two are the same.

The Mark II is a completely different animal.... the safety and the bolt catch are now two separate items (on the first generation, they were combined), and it will hold the bolt open on an empty magazine, where the first generation would not.

 

[rugerguy]

good info above, the books all too true, and if the gun is NOT marked "Mark" it isn't, it is a standard auto, and just depends if the barrel is 4 3/4 or 6 inch, ergo RST-4, RST-6.............
and yes to answer your question, the later Mark I as well as the Mark II mags can be switched around to work in the earlier standard autos or Mark I....just need to know if the frame on Your gun is the early A-54 or the later A-100 ( one slot mags ,versus the magazine having two slots, one on either side)

 

[Vajinyan]

Good info fellas.

My pistol is definitely roll marked "Ruger Automatic Pistol". I was not aware of the "Ruger Automatic Pistol" Model. For some reason I always thought the Mark-I was R's very first auto rim fire. I did a little reading over on Wikipedia and now understand what Rugerguy is saying about 1 or 2 slot magazines. Looks like the pistol I have utilizes the right side follower magazines.

Thanks for all the info guys. Now all I have to do is wait (patiently) for the parts to arrive from Numrich.
Larry

 

[edlmann]

My pistol is definitely roll marked "Ruger Automatic Pistol". I was not aware of the "Ruger Automatic Pistol" Model. For some reason I always thought the Mark-I was R's very first auto rim fire. I did a little reading over on Wikipedia and now understand what Rugerguy is saying about 1 or 2 slot magazines. Looks like the pistol I have utilizes the right side follower magazines.

In the beginning, there was a hand drill:

The first generation Ruger pistols had fixed sights, which is what I infer that you have. A couple of years later, Ruger added adjustable sights and called those pistols the "Mark I".

Both the RST and the MarkI used the A54 grip frame (not so marked but called such on the schematic) until about 1970 when Ruger changed the magazine button to the other side and stamped the grip frame "A100" for both fixed and adjustable sight pistols. Depending on barrel length, you probably have either an A54-RST4 or A54-RST6, to be more precise.

I don't get my panties in a bunch when someone calls an RST a MarkI, but the A54/A100 distinction can be important when dealing with magazines.

 

[Waldo Pepper]

My two I have stored for my two grandsons...they are 1979 and 1984 model years. The '79 Standard has less 2000 rounds fired and the '84 Mk II Standard less then a brick. The old 1959 Standard is on right with nickel bottom plate on magazine that was standard for the gun at the time. I bought a second mag shortly before the model change, IIRC for about $10 new. I had both gone thru and all new Wolff springs installed, mild trigger jobs and bolts jeweled about '05, I test fired them afterward and what an improvement.

 

[SGW Gunsmith]

I have recently acquired a Ruger MK-I pistol with many parts missing. I have ordered the parts from Numrich and waiting for them to arrive. However I'm not 100% sure if this pistol is a MK-I. I'm thinking it is a MK-I because there is no MK-I (or MK-II or MK-III) designation on barrel or receiver. Why would there be if at the time this pistol was produced there were no MK-IIs or IIIs.

So my quandary is ... What is the difference between the MK-I and MK-II pistols? Comparing my MK-II to the MK-I I don't see any real difference in the two. Except may be the MK-II I own has adjustable sights but then many a Mk-II has fixed sights also.

Are the Magazines interchangeable?

TIA, Larry

Maybe these pictures will help you out:

Ruger Standard. These are NOT a pre-Mark I, they are an RST4 or an RST6




If it's a Ruger Mark I Target. It will say so on the left side of the receiver.

 

[Waldo Pepper]

I remember when in 80's and 90's we referred to them as pre MkII, but I guess times change with internet and calling them by frame number if Ruger geek is okay here if you want to be that way, just try not to sound so condescending. Anyway the 4" standard in top picture looks like it has been modified, trigger for sure, adjustable rear sight looks like new model, never saw one with gold graphic's but any things possible I guess. I like the MK-I, wished I had bought the one NIB in '79 when I had the chance, but money was tight back then and is again....damn it.

 

[Vajinyan]

Just an update and a "Thanks to all of You" for all the wonderful info about this grand old pistol. Thanks to you all I have a better understanding and appreciation pistols unique history.

A few days later after my last post I received the parts needed to get the ole girl up and shooting and it shoots wonderfully and surprisingly accurate. The trigger is far better than my other two Mark II's and a newly acquired Mark III Hunter. Can't wait for this blizzard to blow over so I can take these guys out and do some plinking with them. I'm not to sure I'm going to like the "V" notch rear sight and the day glow front on the Hunter model so I went ahead and ordered the square notch front & rear for the Mark III. My eyes see the day glow front sight as a blurry orb that offers little definition.

Cheers Guys and thanks again for all your input.

 

[SGW Gunsmith]

I remember when in 80's and 90's we referred to them as pre MkII, but I guess times change with internet and calling them by frame number if Ruger geek is okay here if you want to be that way, just try not to sound so condescending. Anyway the 4" standard in top picture looks like it has been modified, trigger for sure, adjustable rear sight looks like new model, never saw one with gold graphic's but any things possible I guess. I like the MK-I, wished I had bought the one NIB in '79 when I had the chance, but money was tight back then and is again....damn it.

Well, I remember in the late 60's, early 70's, we called them by their correct nomenclature, because that's what Ruger named 'em. Mark I's are the target versions, with adjustable rear sights. The RST4 is the 4¾ barrel version, the RST6 is the 6-inch, and are the Standard Models. Then, there were those with the A54 and A100 grip frame. And geee, this all, was way before Al Gore invented the internet. Guess I'd rather be called a "Ruger geek" rather than an ignorant 'ol "grumpy pants". :lol: Oh, and you forgot to mention that the grips were changed on the RST4, to a pair of custom panels that I made.

 

[RSIno1]

BOOKS have been written upon such questions. To get to the straight skinny on your numerous needs you should call Ruger and get the manuals for the STANDARD, MKI, MKII, and MKIII pistols and have ALL the details in front of you to compare.
And so it goes...

You can also download them from their website.

 

[Waldo Pepper]

Well, I remember in the late 60's, early 70's, we called them by their correct nomenclature, because that's what Ruger named 'em. Mark I's are the target versions, with adjustable rear sights. The RST4 is the 4¾ barrel version, the RST6 is the 6-inch, and are the Standard Models. Then, there were those with the A54 and A100 grip frame. And geee, this all, was way before Al Gore invented the internet. Guess I'd rather be called a "Ruger geek" rather than an ignorant 'ol "grumpy pants". :lol: Oh, and you forgot to mention that the grips were changed on the RST4, to a pair of custom panels that I made.

I don't remember them ever called anything but a Ruger Standard in the 50's and 60's but I lived in small town of 16,000 until I went off to the USN in '63 and after that never even looked at another 22 pistol in gun shop and the one time I did it was at least a year or two after Mk II came out and I didn't belong to a shooting club as I was too busy all over the world till I retired in '93 and moved back to home town.