Question for Ruger collectors.......

L

lharrell79

New member
On the older Rugers that came in cardboard boxes, should the date of the serial number match the date on the manual, and also the date on the bottom of the box? Lets say a revolver has a serial that dates to 1985. Should the box have a 1985 date on the bottom? What about the manual?

I'm hearing different opinions about this.
 
Couldn't say in regards to the box(I'm sure someone here knows). I can say that(from personal experience)that the Owners Manuals could be dated pre gun manufature date. However if the manual is stamped with an after gun manufacture date something is obvious screwy ;-)
 
I'm currently interested in a Security Six, but the gun is dated 1982, the box 1978, and the manual 1-80. I'm thinking they're aren't all matching.
 
Is it possible Ruger was delivered a boxcar load of boxes in 1978, another boxcar load of manuals in 1980 that they were still using when the firearm was manufactured and shipped in 1982? Production of that series had to have been very established by that time.
 
Does anyone on the board have an original Ruger in cardboard box, and they're the original owner? If so, could you check the dates?

I was always under the impression that they were supposed to match. Never knew they could be different dates.
 
I have a New Model Blackhawk, that I bought new, in 1983. The box it came in has January 1978 on the back, BUT that might be the date of the printed label (with all the patents) and not the actual date of the box itself.

the Manual does not have a date I can find, but does have the number "MRN 11/40/7-80" on the cover. This might mean the manual is from 7/80, but I don't know.

Also have a super Single Six, also bought new, and in a Ruger box, sorry I don't recall the age of it, but the box says April 1991, and has many more patent #s than the 78 box.

Here's another point to consider, the cardboard boxes were NOT numbered to the guns, and while I know my 83 Blackhawk came in its original box, I also believe that the Single Six probably did not. The dealer went into the back, and came back with a "ruger" box that it fit in, one much larger than the pistol. SO, it is entirely possible that a gun& box could be all "original" in your hands, but not the same as was shipped from the factory.

Hope this helps.
 
Those dates would be print dates, and as one poster pointed out, they were more than likely ordered by boxcar loads.
 
That 45 Blackhawk, was made between 81-82 based on the info in the link you provided. I bought it new off a dealer's shelf in spring 83.
 
I don't know the answer to your specific question. But it is not unusual for frames, receivers etc. for guns to be manufactured and stamped with a SN and sit on shelves for a while before assembly. There have been cases where the SN and date of assembly are years apart.

These usually end being un-cataloged small runs that are a bit different from standard guns.
 
The date on the books would be the year it was printed. If/when they made any little change in the book, or when they ran out of them---the new books would have the new date they when were printed. So NO, the date on the book does not always match the date the gun was manufactured.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top