Ruger #1 Rifle
The extra cylinder, the.22 Magnum in this case, had the last three digits of the serial number stamped on its front face near the cylinder base pin hole. During 1963 Ruger began numbering the extra cylinder with an electric pencil rather than stamping the numbers. Remington - Navy Single Shot Pistols, Model 8, 81, 24, 241, RB Pistols (Types- not serial), RB Rifles- 1870, 71, RB Rifle Models- 1866-1933, Contract Lee Rifles, Pistols and Revolvers 1857-1918 (incomplete serial number for some), Rifles 1866-1933 (ditto), Shotguns 1874-1910 Serial numbers unknown.
Ruger does not necessarily produce firearms in serial number order. There are occasions when blocks of serial numbers have been manufactured out of sequence, sometimes years later. Also, within a model family the same serial number prefix may be used to produce a variety of different models, all in the same block of serial numbers. The old serial number dating charts are gone from the SN lookup section of Customer Service, replaced by a search window in which to enter the SN. The website then gives one the model number, a photo, approximate ship date and a link to the latest owner's manual and spec sheet. Duplicate Serial Numbers: Colt manufactured 60,000 pistols in the Ithaca serial number range (804), 41,696 in the Remington Rand serial number range (900), and 4,171 in the US&S serial number range (10896). Ithaca and Remington Rands where not manufactured or shipped in numerical order.
1967 1-2230
1968 2231-5884
1969 5886-8437
1970 130-00001 to 130-01680
1971 130-01681 to 130-03842
1972 130-03843 to 130-04858
1973 130-04859 to 130-05202
1974 130-05203 to 130-12778
1975 130-12779 to 130-17498
1976 130-17490 to 130-40794
1977 130-40795 to 130-73399
1978 131-03175 to 131-46675
1979 131-46676 to 131-53403
1980 132-01360 to 132-07158
1981 132-07159 to 132-25985
1982 132-25986 to 132-34076
1983 132-34077 to 132-39042
1984 132-39043 to 132-54433
1985 132-54434 to 132-73031
1986 132-73032 to 132-76166
1987 132-76167 to 132-79518
1988 132-79519 to 132-83109
1989 132-83110 to 132-87028
1990 132-87029 to 132-92984
1991 132-92985 to 132-95718
1992 132-95719 to 132-99164
1993 132-99165 to 133-13006
1994 133-13007 to 133-22066
1995 133-22067 to 133-29050
1996 133-29051 to 133-36392
1997 133-36393 to 133-47013
1998 133-47014 to 133-54088
1999 133-54089 to 133-69290
2000 133-69291 to 133-77838
2001 133-77839 to 133-88973
2002 133-88974 to 133-92275
2003 133-92276 to 133-99908
2004 134-00011 to 134-07099
2005 134-07100 to 134-15410
2006 134-15411 to 134-19169
2007 134-19170 to 134-22929
2008 134-22930 to 134-26160
2009 134-26161 to 134-27797
2010 134-27798 to 134-32638

Ruger Single Action Serial Numbers

2011 134-32639 to 134-36487
See
2012 134-36488
Ruger M77
1968 1-
1969 1912-
1970 70-14532 -
1971 70-23555-
1972 70-45045-
1973 70-67406-
1974 70-87509-
1975 71-28501-
1976 71-75101-
1977 72-38101-
1978 73-05351-
1979 73-92701-

Ruger Pistol Serial Numbers Lookup

1980 74-65901-
1981 75-42703-
1982 75-97690-
1983 77-50834-
1984 77-68636-

RUGERCOLLECTING

FOREWORD

More

In the next several series of articles I will attempt to provide a general overview of each of the Ruger Single Action revolvers made from 1953 through 1972.These guns are known as the “three-screw” model or just “old models”.I will also list some of the major types and variations of these guns.I hope these articles will be interesting for the readers and especially the beginning Ruger collectors – and hopefully they will influence some of you to begin to collect Rugers.

I must give credit for much of my Ruger knowledge to my many collector friends from whom Ihave learned so much over the years.Without them I would not have been able to even attempt to pen these articles.A hearty thanks to Rich Machniak, Jim Schafer, Lee Newton, John Dougan,Mike Stewart, Chad Hiddleson,Don Findley,John Krukenberg, Ken Sawyers, Bob Campbell, Allen Daniels, Dale Dalbotten, Carl Laco,Lee Sundermeier, Henry Bone, Budd Given, and the host of others that I have failed toname who have shared your knowledge with me – and a lot of good Rugers that you allowed me to purchase!Also much of my knowledge came from the RCA Journals, Red Eagle News Exchange (RENE), and the other fine books that are listed on this web-site as suggested reference materials on collecting Rugers(see Bill's article at Collecting Rugers - Part 1). They are worth their weight in gold when it comes to building your collection.

There are many advanced Ruger collectors that could easily add much more to these writings.However, I did not feel the need to go so deep and into so many details that it might become confusing and overwhelming to the beginners.I think that it is much better for the new collectors to obtain and read as much research materialas possible on their own.By reading on your own and then handling examples of these fine guns you will learn faster and have a much clearer understanding of these guns and their many variations.

I would appreciate any better or updated information, additional noted variations, corrections or just general comments regarding these articles.I am still learning more about these guns and their variations every day.

In the following articles you will see several terms used that are registeredU. S. trademarks ofSturm, Ruger & Company, Inc.They are the Sturm, Ruger & Company Eagle Logo, Single-Six, Lightweight, Bearcat, Super Bearcat, Blackhawk, Super Blackhawk,Old Army, and Hawkeye.

RUGEROLDMODEL“SINGLE-SIX” REVOLVER

PRODUCED1953 - 1972

GENERALOVERVIEW

Sturm, Ruger & Co. introduced its first single action revolver in June 1953.It was a six-shot .22 caliber called the “Single-Six”.Bill Ruger had recognized that, due to the popularity of the early 1950’s TV and movie westerns, a “cowboy type” gun should be desirable to the gun public.Thus the Single-Six was developed and proved to be a huge success.Its introductory price was $57.50.

Less than 100 guns were actually produced in 1953 but in a short time production was firmly established .About 10,000 guns were produced in 1954 and about 20,000 guns produced1955, and production steadily increased thereafter.

The first production guns were roll-marked on the left side of the cylinder frame “RUGER.22 CAL. SINGLE-SIX ”.These guns had a 5-1/2 inch barrel, a steel cylinder frame, three cylinder frame screws, fixed drift adjustable rear sight, fluted .22 caliber cylinder ( long rifle, long, or short ), flat cartridge loading gate, small serrated ejector rod button, alloy Colt-style XR3black anodized grip frame, andBlack checkered hard rubber grip panels with the trademark Black Eagle medallions.These early production guns are known today as “Flatgates”.

Early on in the Single-Six production, stag and ivory grip panels with the Ruger Black Eagle logo could be purchased from the factory for $8.50 and $16.50, respectively.Varnished Walnut grips later became available around 1955 for $5.00.These varnished Walnut grips actually became the standard about 1960 with the Black checkered hard rubber grips still available but costing $1.00 less.The ivory grips were dropped from the catalogs about 1958 and the stags were dropped when the grip fame was redesigned in 1962.

The original “flat cartridge loading gate” was changed to a “contour or round” Colt-style gate in early 1957.These guns are known as “Roundgates”.The 4-5/8 inch and 9-1/2 inch barrel lengths were introduced around mid-1959.Both of these barrel lengths turned out to be fairly rare and scarce when mated with the early style XR3 grip frame.

The standard Single-Six with dual cylinders (without the “Magnum” marking on the cylinder frame which will be covered in a separate series on the “Magnum Only” Single-Sixes) began to appear around 1961 in the 4-5/8, 5-1/2, and 9-1/2 inch barrel lengths.Both the .22 caliber cylinder and the .22 Rim Fire Magnum cylinder were fluted.The extra cylinder, the .22 Magnum in this case,had the last three digits of the serial number stamped on its front face near the cylinder base pin hole.During 1963 Ruger begannumbering the extra cylinder with an electric pencil rather than stamping the numbers.Normally you will find both cylinders numbered with the last three digits of the serial number when the electric pencil procedure began being used.

Ruger made several changes in their single action revolvers in 1962/63.Three of the most notable changes were the new redesigned black anodized grip frame (marked XR3-RED) versus the original XR3 grip frame, the change to oil filledWalnut grips versus varnished Walnuts, and an aluminum alloy ejector rod housing versus the steel housing.

The 6-1/2 inch barrel length was added to the standard Single-Six line around late 1962/ early 1963.Thus these gun were available in four barrel lengths ( 4-5/8”, 5-1/2”, 6-1/2”, and 9-1/2” ) from about 1962/63 until the end of old model or “three screw “ production in 1972.The 9-1/2” and 4-5/8” are the most scarce.

The first Single-Sixes came in black and red two piece boxes that was to become the standard throughout production of these old model guns.Through the years, these boxes had various forms of identification marking its contents on the end of the box but the basic box remained the same.The boxes were normally numbered by hand on the front left hand corner in lead pencil or grease pencil or the right side in grease pencil on the later guns.These guns also came inside a cardboard shipping sleeve or “bookwrap” that had the model stamped on it and the serial number handwritten in pencil on the side.Pristine complete packages are very hard to find today since most people tended to throw away the box or especially the shipping carton.Today these complete pristine packages will bring a premium from the discriminating collector.

The so-called Old Model or the three screw production ended in 1972 and the New Model Super Single-Six went into production in 1973 and is still in production today.

Ruger Pistol Serial Numbers Lookup Engine

RUGEROLDMODEL“SINGLE-SIX”REVOLVER

SOME OFTHEMAJORTYPESANDVARIATIONS

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Single-Six, Standard Revolver: