Rusty but Trusty - My Ruger 22 Aint got no Blue!

R

Rich_357

New member
Well a few months ago, I asked for advice on an inexpensive .22 plinker. I received a lot of good advice and took one to heart. I was patient and looked for an older gun; I like old poop. :P

She arrived this week and I am a happy boy. My Ruger 22 ain’t got no blue!!! :P The receiver is a partial blue/brown patina, the grip is devoid of any blue and the barrel has about 20% left. The bore and chamber are beautiful; the grips….woot woot.

I gave her a good cleaning and oiling today, including pulling the rear sights. The non exposed areas are pretty much spot on. I think that I got the rear sight somewhat back inline; I could use some help on how to ensure that they are proper.

1970 Ruger Mark I Target

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good call and still good catch !!!

I like old poop. :P
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So do I and even in this "Vintage" condition they always look darn good. I once tried to buy one like yours but the owner said that it had been handed down from his Father. Well, that was the end of that conversation. Looks like she has many rounds, left in her. ...... :)


Be Safe !!!
 
Great pistol; OP you are fortunate. I have one about just like it although mine has more bluing left.

Ruger will re-blue it for you at a very reasonable cost if you decide you want to do that.

Ruger Mark pistols are a hoot to shoot.
 
What a beautiful pistol. Many of my favorite guns in my collection are worn like a pair of old shoes from being used since the 50's and earlier.
 
Thanks guys; I didn't get a chance to take her out this weekend but I am definitely looking forward to it. Thanks for the advice about the Ruger re-bluing; I looked into it a bit and that is quite possibly an option. For now though, I like her just as she is. A little aged and rustic :D
 
I'd leave her as is and enjoy her. Just rub a little oil now and then. Or clean and wax with good paste way. . That's how I do my blue guns
 
Nice weapon you picked up there the finish is near perfect to me.
As far as aligning the front an rear sight to be parallel to the bore. Zero the rear sight to the front sight at 15 yards with the blade centered in the sight and then move the whole rear sight in the dovetail until right it is dead on for windage. Now move back to 25 yards and do the same thing but checking back at 15 yards. Eventually everything will be in alignment with each other as far as your eyes can tell. I do this again at 25/50 yards and then call it good as I don't shoot my hand guns any farther than that anymore. After you are in alignment you just use your windage adjustment to correct for wind drift and ammunition adjustments. Doing this is one of my favorite things about getting a new gun and then testing ammunition to see what ones shoot to the same point or at least where and how much to compisate for them.
 
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I got a Sinle Six that was even more worn than that. Most of the barrel didn't have any blueing left on it at all. One $10 bottle of cold blue fixed it right up.
 
I picked up a used Mark I at Turner's two years ago. Took it to the range and after about 300 rounds had an issue. I sent it into Ruger. They replaced a lot of parts that they said had simply worn out, and comped me for the cost of the repair (around $90). I paid only for shipping to Ruger. They sent the gun back and it has been perfect ever since. It is now one of my most treasured shooters.

If you ever need to send yours in, that would be a good time to have them blue it, but it is plenty cool the way it is; the gun has character. Here is my own "old soldier."



This is my Dad's Standard (predates the Mark I). He bought it in 1965 for protection during the Watts Riots. It is about like new as he never shot it.

 
Rich - kind of like cars - doesn't matter if the paint has dulled and a few dents in the fender - i's what's under the hood that counts. Your Ruger is no different! It has "character" and is going to provide you with years of shooting fun! Enjoy! You got a good one! :)
 
The top Ruger in post #13 and the Ruger in post # 14 are the later Ruger Mark I series after the change in 1971 to the A100 frame. This is defined by the higher grip screw hole on the left side, and the change to the mag button to the left side.

The OP's Ruger Mk I is the early series in which the mag button is on the RIGHT side of the magazine and you can see the left grip hole is lower.

I have a 1976 In the Year of Liberty Ruger Mk I (after A100 series).
For years I thought that it did not have a Bolt hold back, as after the last shot on these, the bolt does not stay open. One day I found that the safety button can be pushed up and hold the bolt back! DUH! It only took years of using it in bullseye matches to realize that!
 
@Rogervzv @Texas45 Very nice!!!

@bedbugbilly I couldn’t have said it better myself!

HighValleyRanch said:
One day I found that the safety button can be pushed up and hold the bolt back! DUH!
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Hey that works!!! Thank you!!! :D
 
Neat old Mark. I think you made the right decision keeping the worn patina. I have a 1969Mark I and it has over 34,000 rounds and is still accurate. Only service has been to update the springs and polish the trigger. If you have issues Ruger has great CS.
 
I took her to the range last weekend. I put over 100 rounds (varying from 15 year old 36 grain to new 40 grain) through her; she was flawless. The trigger was absolutely beautiful. I was very surprised by how quickly one could empty the magazine and how accurate one could be while doing it. VERY, VERY NICE!!!:cool:
 
Not much prettier than an old tapered barrel Ruger Mk. Now those original Mk I mags can be pricey!:mad:
 
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