10/22's Made in the 200th Year of the American Liberty Sporter/Carbine

Includes .44 & 10/22 Carbines; Mini-14, 30 & 6.8; Model 96 & 99/44 Deerfields; M77s; PC 4s & 9s; AC-556; MP9; XGI.
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Ken1187
Posts: 34
Joined: Sat Sep 19, 2020 8:58 am
Location: Canada

10/22's Made in the 200th Year of the American Liberty Sporter/Carbine

Post by Ken1187 »

I just Received my Ruger 10/22 Sporter today made in 1976 SN 116-41828 with the Barrel Stamp "Made in the 200th Year of the American Liberty". I just purchased this Sporter to go alongside the carbine my father owns and has in his collection.
Can anyone correct me if I am wrong but wasn't the Last SN Produced with the barrel stamp around 116-25017 as suggested on their website?

Would this be a "rare" gun and a better find than I anticipated?
I'm assuming Ruger had a few extra barrels from '76 and that they put together a Sporter and shipped it out.? Can anyone help me with true information?

I bought it off a guy who was the original owner and he said he bought it new off the shelf in 1978. Unfortunately he has been shooting with it sine day 1. The gun is in really great condition though with only a few minor dings in the buttstock. The barrel and receiver are in pretty well perfect condition except where he had the rail mounted since day 1 as well..

Here are a couple Pics.. I will Post Better Full Photos when I have Better Lighting set up.
IMG_2539.JPG
IMG_2538.JPG
Thanks,

Ken1187
67stingray
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Joined: Thu Jul 26, 2018 7:35 pm
Location: Iron City, TN

Re: 10/22's Made in the 200th Year of the American Liberty Sporter/Carbine

Post by 67stingray »

Ken, nice find, it should have an aluminum buttplate and according to R.E.N.E. known serial numbers go to 116-37619 for the 10/22DSP. Hopefully Chad or another member can tune in with more information.
Bennett
Any day without learning is a day of backing up.
Ken1187
Posts: 34
Joined: Sat Sep 19, 2020 8:58 am
Location: Canada

Re: 10/22's Made in the 200th Year of the American Liberty Sporter/Carbine

Post by Ken1187 »

Thanks Bennett,

So I'm Waiting on my book by Workman " The Ruger 10/22". I have read it but I do not have my own copy.

I found a post that dates back to 2014 that reads: (I copied and pasted this)

"Per Workman's book on the 10/22, the serial numbers 115-42738 through 116-46233 are confirmed as being marked "Made in the 200th year of American Liberty".

That's 103,495 10/22s. The oddity here is that Ruger only shipped 99,329 10/22s in 1976, so the rest were shipped in early 1977, which makes sense given that 1977 production started at 116-25017. That leaves 116-25017 through 116-46233 as being shipped in 1977.

And according to Workman the range of Liberty guns could be larger. 10/22s at or below 115-38772 are not marked but it's unclear above that number. For a point of reference, 115-40029 was shipped 1-23-76 and could have been made in 1976 but is not marked as a Liberty gun. So it's not real clear exactly when they started marking them in 1976.

At the other end of the the Liberty production, it's not known whether, or how many serial numbers from 116-46234 to 116-47682 are marked or not. According to Workman, 116-47682 has been reported and confirmed as being Liberty marked, but no 10/22 above 116-47682 has been reported to be a "200th year gun" other than 116-90829, which had not been verified when Workman's book went to print. I suspect these later "200th year" marked guns were probably 10/22s that were assembled using barrels that got over looked earlier.

In any case about 67% of the Liberty 10/22s were Carbines while the rest were Deluxe Sporters." ( End of Pasted Post")

Assuming this information is still relatively correct.?

I've came up with this information. Correct me if I am wrong Please.....

I have a "American Liberty" Sporter made in 1977.
Approx. 21,000 guns were produced in 1977 with the barrel stamp.
There were approx. 4,100 to 4,400 guns produced with the stamp after SN 116-41828 (my Gun) + Unknown Extras above SN's 116-46XXX to 116-47XXX.???


Question: Is there any information that would suggest Carbines and Sporters were both made in 1977 with this stamp? or just Sporters?

Ken
chet15
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Joined: Sat Aug 16, 2014 11:28 am

Re: 10/22's Made in the 200th Year of the American Liberty Sporter/Carbine

Post by chet15 »

Don't read too much into Ruger's serial numbers, or the dates of manufacture on their website. Somewhere I can tell you how many 10/22's were shipped during 1976.
But... Ruger made the statement in one of their company fliers that All guns anticipitated to be "shipped during 1976" would have the Liberty rollmark.
If they still had Liberty rollmarked guns sitting at the factory on December 31, they would have shipped in 1977.
Chet15
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