RugerSociety.com

One issue of the "Ruger Newsletter", about 1982 as I recall, had a nice pic of the original Gold Label concept, which was a bar in wood type Woodside with stainless receiver and highly engraved. This prototype was also serial number 410-00016, numbered right out of the 12 gauge Red Label s...

This may be an after-factory customization, but a letter from the Ruger factory and/or Baron will help to tell the story.
Chet15

I've never heard what happened to it, although some of the stuff is out there in collections, such as the 1964 NRA Show display signs, and I believe also the smoothbore 10/22 serial number 102222.
The impression I got was that he was really disgruntled with the hobby when he left for Florida.
Chet15

These early 89xxx range 10/22's actually had .44 Carbine numbers put on them....then somebody realized their error because 10/22's were nowhere near that range when this one was made. Fast forward to 1966 when Ruger reaches 88999 in the 10/22. They look at the day books, see that 89000 through 90146...

Rumor has it these magazines came from Jack Behn
Chet15

Mike722, earlier you said the Lightweight Single-Six wasn't known.
That gun actually resided in the Debrucque collection and is absolutely NIB with sleeve. Not sure where its at now though...maybe SE Iowa?
Chet15

I agree. There are a lot of great guns still out there...we've only just scratched the surface...which is what makes Ruger collecting unique, because you can't really say that about the collectible old Colts and Winchesters. If somebody has a Colt or Winchester they automatically go to thoughts of b...

This question has come up ever since the "50" was published in Dougan's 1st Decade book. After doing these studies, I have come to the conclusion that just because you see so few of a certain model or variation, it doesn't mean Ruger didn't make them. Where are all the Blackguard Bearcats?...

I have recently come to the conclusion that all Super Blackhawk long type grip frame castings were probably cast with a narrow trigger slot originally, which goes along with the original description of Elmer Keith's "first pilot model" of the Super Blackhawk in his 1959 "GUNS" ar...

Be sure to compare the nuances of the engraving with those in Dougan's Engraved Single-Six book. I would be curious also to see a pic of the signature on the barrel. Saw another gun just like this at a late 1980's Monroeville, PA show, serial number 88884 which was also in a genuine RSSE case. I wou...