Ruger newbie needs Mark I? help

[detectivesonnybonds]

My father just recently gave me the very first gun I shot when I was 10 (30 now).

I believe it's a Mark I. Serial #408537. I don't know anything about Rugers (I'm a Walther guy) and tried doing research online to find the year.

Since 1966s the serials are 406740 and 1967s are 436226, does that make mine manufactured sometime between those years?

 

[WIL TERRY]

Possibly.
BBL length?
Fixed sights ?
Adjustable sights ?
Writing on the frame ?
Graphics help bigtime !!!!
And so it goes...

 

[detectivesonnybonds]

Possibly.
BBL length?
Fixed sights ?
Adjustable sights ?
Writing on the frame ?
Graphics help bigtime !!!!
And so it goes...

I don't know how to measure BBL length, but from end to end it's 8-3/4" and 3-1/2" from end to front of body of the pistol.

Has fixed sights

Writing on frame says "Ruger 22cal long rifle automatic pistol" on left side. Right side says "Sturm, Ruger & CO. Southport, Conn., U.S.A." And of course serial stamp next to that "408537"

 

[contender]

Welcome to the Forum!
Ruger Standard model, also known as an RST4. The barrel length is measured from the bolt face to the end of the barrel. In your case it's a 4-3/4" barrel. If it was a Mark I, it'd have adjustable sights & a different barrel profile. It was shipped in 1966.

 

[WIL TERRY]

BINGO ! THOSE are the flagship of the ensuing entire line of Sturm, Ruger & company pistols.

 

[detectivesonnybonds]

Thanks guys! I will never sell the gun, so I'm not disappointed that it's not a Mark I.

The only thing I knew about it was my father bought it right before he was deployed to Okinawa for Vietnam. Probably his first gun purchase. Cool stuff! Thanks again.

 

[dakota1911]

Nice old guy. My oldest left is a MkI I bought in the 70s. Here with a MkII and a MKIII.