T514 Trifecta

[1gunsnotenough]

Well finally got a MK514. Got it at the Atlanta gunshow today. Now have all the MKII 514 models that I know of. Gun in excellent condition except a very small rust spot. Cost me $295.00 OTD.

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[Dbl Auto]

Congrats on the find.
I need one like that middle kmk 514T.
Doug

 

[Highstandardguy]

Looks like you're getting there but there's still the first issue stainless model with the plastic grips and then there's the one with the funky ramp front sight. And since you're already collecting 514s you might as well go ahead and get a MKI 514.

Just pointing out some options. :lol:

 

[street]

Looks like you're getting there but there's still the first issue stainless model with the plastic grips and then there's the one with the funky ramp front sight. And since you're already collecting 514s you might as well go ahead and get a MKI 514.

Just pointing out some options. :lol:

And if you start on the MK-I T514s. You will need at least one with the regular bolt, and at least 2 with the tapered ear bolt. One with the flat on the top and one with the flat on the bottom. And while you are at it you may as well get one with the muzzle break. And, well it just goes on and on. :roll: :roll: :roll:

 

[chet15]

I concur. If that KMK514 is in the 216-42263 to 216-43553 serial number range, you've got the good one as it was a special distributor model when the stainles 514 came out. The distributor had Ruger put desert camo thumbrest grips on them. Since you appear to have the the tough one, shouldn't be too difficult finding the KMK514 with plastic grips. Here's what I have on the Outdoor Sports gun, from the reference.

KMK514 special distributor model. Features a regular production KMK514 with Desert Camo thumbrest grips. Known s/n range 216-42263 to 216-43553. About 1,500 produced for Outdoor Sports (OH) in 1990.

One other note for you....your KMK514 with the laminated thumbrest grips has tapered bolt ears, indicating Southport Manufacture. When production was moved to Prescott, starting again in 1992, all stainless Mark II production had normal bolt ears, including the last of the KMK514 production.
Chet15

 

[1gunsnotenough]

I concur. If that KMK514 is in the 216-42263 to 216-43553 serial number range, you've got the good one as it was a special distributor model when the stainles 514 came out. The distributor had Ruger put desert camo thumbrest grips on them. Since you appear to have the the tough one, shouldn't be too difficult finding the KMK514 with plastic grips. Here's what I have on the Outdoor Sports gun, from the reference.

KMK514 special distributor model. Features a regular production KMK514 with Desert Camo thumbrest grips. Known s/n range 216-42263 to 216-43553. About 1,500 produced for Outdoor Sports (OH) in 1990.

One other note for you....your KMK514 with the laminated thumbrest grips has tapered bolt ears, indicating Southport Manufacture. When production was moved to Prescott, starting again in 1992, all stainless Mark II production had normal bolt ears, including the last of the KMK514 production.
Chet15

serial #216-43185. One of the good ones.

 

[Highstandardguy]

Okay, now you've got me going. What do 'desert camo thumbrest grips' look like and how are they different from the laminated versions?

 

[chet15]

Yup...you got it! Congrats! The only way you can tell this variation is by serial number range as the Outdoor Sports guns were all in one block. Thing is, Ruger didn't differentiate these with a different catalog number or model number.

Highstandardguy: The desert camo's are also laminated. See the pic above. The pic makes the grips look darker than I believe they are, but he may have also got a little darker color variation of the desert camo.
Chet15

 

[NZshooter]

If that KMK514 is in the 216-42263 to 216-43553 serial number range, you've got the good one as it was a special distributor model when the stainles 514 came out

What makes it "good", just the limited availability of a special distributor model? I know that's important to the serious collectors, just wondering if there were any significant differences besides grips.

shouldn't be too difficult finding the KMK514 with plastic grips ... tapered bolt ears, indicating Southport Manufacture. When production was moved to Prescott, starting again in 1992, all stainless Mark II production had normal bolt ears, including the last of the KMK514 production.

So that means that there were a lot more than 1,500 KMK514s made in total, yes? (1,500 total is the number I most commonly see). There's 1,500 of the distributor model + plastic grip/tapered bolt ear version + Prescott mfg. = any guesstimate to how many? Mine is in the 217 serial # range w/ plastic grips & tapered bolt ears, so I guess that means plain old boring Southport mfg.

BTW I shot mine today, the 514 just balances wonderfully

 

[Highstandardguy]

Sorry, I guess the grip differences are just to subtle for me identify. I have a set with the black logo and slide release notch and a set with the red logo and no slide release notch. They both look pretty much the same as the set above with maybe a very slight color difference.

Could someone post a picture of them side by side?

 

[chet15]

There are several people who collect Rugers by the distributor "special" notation as they have something different about them that is different than regular production. If these differences were done "after factory" they wouldn't be collectible I.M.O.
As far as production numbers on the 514's, I think a very good guess would be less than 10,000 total for each model. If those records are ever released, it may go to as few as 5,000 or less of each model.
Chet15

 

[HAWKEYE#28]

Had the good fortune of purchasing a SN 25xxx T514 from the Ruger Family, early January........Think you will require that First variant as well. Ruger should never have stopped production of this barrel length, JMO, as it is far more functional than the T678........ :wink:

 

[chet15]

Had the good fortune of purchasing a SN 25xxx T514 from the Ruger Family, early January........Think you will require that First variant as well. Ruger should never have stopped production of this barrel length, JMO, as it is far more functional than the T678........ :wink:

I think the biggest reason the T514 was discontinued in 1954 is that it literally took forever for any Mark I model to be popular (today is vastly different!!). I don't think there were too many people who were willing to spend the extra $20 because the gun had adj. sights. And once they were willing to spend that, they went with the longer sight radius model (the T678), also because it was the one seen in Ruger's pistol champion shooting advertisements. By the end of 1960 Ruger had only shipped about 32,000 Mark I's as opposed to about 175000 of the standard models in 4-3/4" and 6" barrels. The T514 must have been ahead of its time.
Chet15

 

[street]

Had the good fortune of purchasing a SN 25xxx T514 from the Ruger Family, early January........Think you will require that First variant as well. Ruger should never have stopped production of this barrel length, JMO, as it is far more functional than the T678........ :wink:

The T514 must have been ahead of its time.
Chet15

Kind of like the Hawkeye. It too was ahead of it's time.