US Army MK2 or not?

[Ricci1165]

Folks, I just aquired a LNIB MK2 Government Target Model, serial number
210-36363...in the box is two manuals, one standard and one technical, TM MKlll-678-1.....I cannot locate a serial number on the Ruger web page in this range. In fact, it's not listed. There is no US stamping above the serial number. I'm lost? What do I have here?...I paid $300.00
Thank you in advance.

 

[Snake45]

Are you sure it's not 218-36363? That would make it a 1994.

All "Government Model" Rugers were not sold to the government, so lack of Army or any other kind of government markings is not unusual.

You paid a fair price. Not what we'd call a screamin' deal, but you didn't get hosed, either. You did well. Let us know how it shoots. :wink:

 

[Ricci1165]

Snake, I just checked again and the serial number is 210-36363. Thank you for the reply....Is this a rarity?

 

[Snake45]

It doesn't fit in the SN list I'm looking at, either. I gave you my best guess as to an explanation for it. But I'm not a Ruger expert or collector--maybe someone here has more or better information. :?

 

[Snake45]

Okay, I googled "ruger mark ii serial number 210-" and came up with a number of mentions of guns like yours with 210- prefixes. Haven't read enough to discover a definitive answer but looks like maybe those guns were part of an overrun of a government contract and built under a special prefix block, or something of the sort.

You can run the same sort of google search I did and dig more into it if you're interested. :wink:

 

[Ruger Packer]

I like that number....... 36363. Wanna sell the gun to me???

 

[chet15]

Folks, I just aquired a LNIB MK2 Government Target Model, serial number
210-36363...in the box is two manuals, one standard and one technical, TM MKlll-678-1.....I cannot locate a serial number on the Ruger web page in this range. In fact, it's not listed. There is no US stamping above the serial number. I'm lost? What do I have here?...I paid $300.00
Thank you in advance.

Although Ruger's dates of manufacture web page is a good source for most dates of manufacture info, it does not contain all the info one needs, especially in the case of your MK678G #210-36363.
Ruger originally came out with the MK678G model in 1984 for the U.S. Governement, building 18,403 of the model from July 1984 to August 1986. These all had the U.S. rollmark above the serial number on the receiver. The highest known is 210-19112.
Once the U.S. contract was filled, Ruger decided to offer the MK678G as a civilian model, without the U.S. rollmark, but with "GOVERNMENT TARGET MODEL" rollmarked at the right rear of the receiver. Ruger continued serial numbering of the civilian MK678G where the U.S. marked guns left off, reaching the end of the serial number block at 210-50000 sometime about mid 1989.
I would guess your gun was probably made about 1988 and as I recall, weren't all of the test targets given a date of the firing in handwritten note by the shooter, along with his initials? You might check the date on that as the date will be pretty close to the day your gun was shipped.
If its not on there, give Ruger a call at their Records dept. in Newport. They will be able to verify the month and year of shipment.
Chet15

 

[Ricci1165]

Hello again folks, and thank you all for the information. I just got off the phone with the Ruger records dept. This 210-36363 was delivered to a distributer in May, 1988...it was NOT an overrun for the U.S. Military but was manufactured for civilian use. I guess that takes care of that. It truly is a beautifully balanced pistol. I will shoot it and enjoy it for sure. Now my 1976 Ruger Standard has a little brother!.....thank you all.

 

[Noah Zark]

Hello again folks, and thank you all for the information. I just got off the phone with the Ruger records dept. This 210-36363 was delivered to a distributer in May, 1988...it was NOT an overrun for the U.S. Military but was manufactured for civilian use. I guess that takes care of that.

So much for the gun show story about being built in Albania on Ruger machinery . . .

Seriously, congrats on the acquisition of a great MkII variant.

Noah