Tri-color Lightweight Model

[wotter9]

Hello All,
(This is my first post, so be patient....;-)
I have just purchased this lovely little Tri-color Lightweight Model revolver and it is in very nice condition; pretty much unmarked.
It doesn't seem to fit into any particular variation of the LWAC or LWSC's, so I was hoping to learn more about it.
Some details:
Serial is 2037xx, which I think puts it into the Variation 1 range.
Weight is 27oz and the cylinder looks to be steel, which I understood are normally in the fifth variation (LWSC)
(Obviously another cylinder could have been fitted at some stage.)
Contoured loading gate, very dark chocolate XR3 grips, anodised black trigger guard, round dimpled rod thumb piece.
Apart from serial number and scrolling on the top of barrel, there are no other marks.
(Not stamped anywhere with an 'S').
Any thoughts?

 

[bedfordboy]

I believe that you are correct that someone has replaced the cylinder and loading gate, possibly other parts as well. Hang tight someone else more knowledgeable will be along shortly and sort out any other issues and recommendations for getting it back to original.

 

[contender]

Welcome to the Forum!

Depending upon the last 2 digits of the serial number, that gun is either very late 1956 or very early 1957. In 1956,, the numbers ended in 203786 & in 1957 they started with 203787.

You are correct in that it should have an alloy cylinder, a small serrated ER button, and a flat loading gate.
HOWEVER,, there were some of them that WERE shipped with the concave ER button,, but still having a flat loading gate. The earliest known variation like that has a serial number of 203597. We call this the "parts bin" assy. As an assembler got low on parts,, they would get a bunch more,, and often, older ones would be on the bottom of the bin, and not used up immediately. This variation went to # 205250.

I would venture a guess that either someone wanted an all steel cylinder & a contoured gate & very possibly a round button at some point & swapped out the parts. Due to the values of a Lightweight,, I'd doubt someone would salvage parts off it to make another gun into something else.
Getting the original parts for the loading gate & the ER,, are much easier than finding an alloy cylinder. Those are VERY hard to find.
The grip frame on your gun appears correct.
Much of the info above came from the RENE Reference Guide.

 

[twriggen]

Spend the $10 and get a letter from Ruger on it. I'm going with some modifications after the fact regarding the steel cylinder and loading gate.

 

[rugerguy]

aside from the fact that some were sent back , for either the flatgate and its hard to use ,hard on the thumbnail to open it up, or the chipping on the first "greenish" ( coated cylinders, if you sent it back , they put in a steel cylinder....also the second ,aluminum cylinder that was "blackened", they too suffered excessive wear on the ratchets, they being softer, aluminum and the pawl was steel, could "chew" them up with a lot of use, even dry firing the gun, or worse yet mis-use ,even putting the cylinder in and out improperly...some folks just gotta take things apart, over and over again, we used to see this when they brought their guns into the shop many years ago......seen few erly lightweights really rode hard , and put away wet, more abuse than use.......main reason why most of the collectors put a higher value on ANY of the models that are in "pristine" shape,,,but like the oldman ( Mr Ruger) told us years ago, he wanted for us to use, the guns ,shoot, try and wear them out, so we'd buy another one, NOT sit in a safe , he called the 'collectors', a "secondary market"..

 

[wotter9]

Hi guys, thank you for feedback. This literally must have been amongst the first half dozen made in 1957. I'm in Australia and this is the first one I have seen over here. Have been looking for a long time. Got it from a gunshop on otherside of country so have no information on who previously owned it or for how long. Very unlikely the loading gate was swapped out over here, although the cylinder change is possible. Life's little mysteries! Probably the closest I'm going to get to a Lightweight, so very happy to have found it. Thanks again.

 

[contender]

Well, you may not know where the gun was when the parts were swapped out. I'm SURE you'll have a hard time over there finding the correct parts.

But,, there is always places like "sleezbay!" You never know!

 

[Randyzzz]

Well, you may not know where the gun was when the parts were swapped out. I'm SURE you'll have a hard time over there finding the correct parts.

But,, there is always places like "sleezbay!" You never know!

There’s been a cylinder and misc parts for a LWAC on EBay for some time now.

https://ebay.us/m/ktu6jk

 

[contender]

Yeah,, but look at the price he wants. However,, it does have the complete ejector parts he needs as well, INCLUDING the flat loading gate. The other parts,, could be possibly resold.

If I had a Lightweight that needed all those parts,, I'd consider contacting the seller & seeing if I could work out a deal.

 

[chet15]

Spend the $10 and get a letter from Ruger on it. I'm going with some modifications after the fact regarding the steel cylinder and loading gate.

Yes... chances are you are correct.
I do know of one example however that showed up a year or two ago, a late shipped silver framed lightweight with steel cylinder (not an "S" gun, shipped in something like 1960. I'm at work at the moment but believe I mentioned something about this one within the last two years of RENE issues.
Chet15

 

[wotter9]

Hey guys, what is the process in getting a letter from Ruger?
I think that could be quite interesting and might explain a few things.
Is there a link I could get?
Thanks

 

[Randyzzz]

https://ruger.com/pdf/letterOfAuthenticity.pdf

I have no idea why this posted 5 times…phone must have been freaking out!

 

[hittman]

Hey guys, what is the process in getting a letter from Ruger?
I think that could be quite interesting and might explain a few things.
Is there a link I could get?
Thanks

Thread 'ALL COLLECTOR INFORMATION IS NOW HERE'

May 15, 2022

Post Your .44 FLATTOP November shipped Blackhawks!!

https://www.rugerforum.com/threads/post-your-44-flattop-november-shipped-blackhawks.238187/

BKH47 list

https://www.rugerforum.com/threads/bkh47-list.228951/

Lightweight Serial Numbers

https://www.rugerforum.com/threads/lightweight-serial-numbers.128084/

Serial numbers S47-6 1/2"

https://www.rugerforum.com/threads/serial-numbers-s47-6-1-2.146854/

10" .44 flattop numbers..

https://www.rugerforum.com/threads/10-44-flattop-numbers.151334/

RUGER RECORDS NEW...

• Dan in MI
• Replies: 1
• Forum: Ruger & Other Firearm Collecting

• 

Thread 'RUGER RECORDS NEW PROCEDURES 05-2019'

Jun 7, 2012

Jan 2026 ~ EDIT TO ADD:

This program is at least temporarily suspended by Ruger.

YES! Even the pre-1981 Ruger's ARE listed on their web site.
=================================================

The following was posted by member RugerHound:

From Ruger ~

We have changed our procedure on providing serial number information: For details on your specific serial number you may contact our Service Departments:

• Rifles, Shotguns, Revolvers: 603-865-2442
• Pistols: 928-541-8892

For serial numbers manufactured prior to our electronic records, or for an official letter...

• hittman
• Replies: 2
• Forum: Ruger & Other Firearm Collecting

 

[wotter9]

Thanks again.
What sort of info do they provide for the early Rugers, other than shipping date?

 

[Hondo44]

Well from the standpoint of it being a shooter, not a collectible, it's got all the good parts; full loading gate, the decent size ejector button, the shorter (front to back) early style XR3 grip frame, and the steel cylinder. The only improvement for a lightweight, and to compensate a little for the heavier steel cylinder would be to replace the steel ejector rod housing with the later alum alloy housing.

 

[contender]

A Ruger factory letter will give you the model it shipped as, the month & year it was made, the month & year it was shipped & where it originally shipped to.

 

[wotter9]

Hi all got the Ruger letter, and it was made in March 1957.
So presumably it was made to the specifications at the time and had the cylinder and loading gate etc swapped out sometime in the last 68 or so years!
Personally I like it like this. As Hondo44 said, all the good parts have been fitted.

 

[wotter9]

Now knowing this Lightweight was made in March 1957, I have been closely reading thru my two John C. Dougan books on the early Rugers.
It appears there are about five main variations of the Lightweight Single Six, with minor or transitional variations in between each main one.
And the details for each main variation have changed a tad over the decades.
In other words, the specifications are not completely hard and fast.
The Round dimpled ejector rod thumb-piece was introduced in Dec 1956
And the rounded loading gate was introduced in March 1987.
So both these parts would be expected to be on this revolver.
The choice between an aluminum or steel cylinder was offered in the 1957 catalogue for the 'All-Blue Lightweight'.
However, (quoting John), "It is unclear as to the method of ordering since the catalogue number didn't differentiate the silver from the black finish of the All-Blue LWAC". (I'm presuming he is referring to the silver and black finished cylinder frames).
So perhaps this was made with a steel cylinder in March 1957, given it was an option at that time.
Maybe this revolver is original after all (or most of it is)?!

 

[chet15]

Welcome to the Forum!

Depending upon the last 2 digits of the serial number, that gun is either very late 1956 or very early 1957. In 1956,, the numbers ended in 203786 & in 1957 they started with 203787.

You are correct in that it should have an alloy cylinder, a small serrated ER button, and a flat loading gate.
HOWEVER,, there were some of them that WERE shipped with the concave ER button,, but still having a flat loading gate. The earliest known variation like that has a serial number of 203597. We call this the "parts bin" assy. As an assembler got low on parts,, they would get a bunch more,, and often, older ones would be on the bottom of the bin, and not used up immediately. This variation went to # 205250.

I would venture a guess that either someone wanted an all steel cylinder & a contoured gate & very possibly a round button at some point & swapped out the parts. Due to the values of a Lightweight,, I'd doubt someone would salvage parts off it to make another gun into something else.
Getting the original parts for the loading gate & the ER,, are much easier than finding an alloy cylinder. Those are VERY hard to find.
The grip frame on your gun appears correct.
Much of the info above came from the RENE Reference Guide.

The large ejector button is actually correct for that gun. I really think March 1957 is too early for a steel cylinder, even if the gun did happen to be produced as the tri-color cylinder was dropped. Steel cylinder Lightweights don't start showing up until about 206225, so March 1957 tells me it would have to have at least been an all blue alloy cylinder. The factory letter will tell you if it left as LWAC or LWAC.
But who knows... When the all blue Lightweights came out, their PR guy Ed Nolan had sent a letter out to all distributors asking their opinion if whether they preferred the alloy cylinder or a steel cylinder in the all blue format.
Chet15

 

[wotter9]

Hi Chet15,
Thankyou. Yes, I agree.
Unfortunately the factory letter didn’t state If it was a LWAC or LWSC. That would have been useful. I might spend another $10 and ask specifically if they can give me that info.
Have a Beaut Xmas all.

 

[chet15]

Another reason it probably left with an alloy cylinder. No need to call it an LWAC if the people noting the guns in the log books had no idea there was anything different offered (LWSC)... so you just call it Lightweight Single-Six.