My first Bearcat!

[Colorado Expat]

I went up to visit some family about 3 hours away a few days ago; having some time to spare in town, I stopped by a gun store nearby and found a sweet Bearcat, which whispered "Take me home with you - they don't appreciate me here!" It has a 5-digit S/N in the 83xxx range (1967), 4 inch barrel, "brass" anodized trigger guard, and is unconverted; I'll take it down & clean / lube it tomorrow.

The guy even threw in 2 40-round boxes of American Eagle .22 and a Hunter brand holster.

I have a range trip in the offing!

[gunman42782]

Congratulations! They are fun little guns.

[Marksman]

Let this be the first of many, they are some of the nicest Rugers....and they stand out in every display.
I bet if Ruger made a Single Six size Bearcat many more would be sold.

[flattop44]

Great find and great little guns. I have a few myself, love them.
Bill

[chet15]

Out of curiousity, when you have the grips off of that 83xxx range cat, I am curious if it is without the "ALCOA" founders mark on the inside of the grip frame.
Chet15

[Colorado Expat]

On the right side of the grip frame, in the web at the base of the grip - cast in it is "PR-1". There is also a fainter 1/8" high partial rectangle parallel to the backstrap with the letters "ALC" inside it just above the locator pin.

[Fox Mike]

Be very careful; they tend to reproduce. I too started with one that 'spoke to me'. It called all it's buddies.

[chet15]

Out of curiousity, when you have the grips off of that 83xxx range cat, I am curious if it is without the "ALCOA" founders mark on the inside of the grip frame.
Chet15

I have the change noted from an ALCOA marked frame to a frame without the mark occurring between 83215 and 84558. Can you send a note to my email of CHRugers@aol.com on the full serial number of your gun so I can update my records for the Ruger Reference? Thanks!
Chet15