And now I give you the $2,400 Bearcat

[Brass Frame]

Chad, I do know that the serial # 40 in the No.1 rifle was received along with five revolvers by the same company. They also received the serial # 40 Hawkeye handgun. brass frame/Lee E

[chet15]

Chad, I do know that the serial # 40 in the No.1 rifle was received along with five revolvers by the same company. They also received the serial # 40 Hawkeye handgun. brass frame/Lee E

Yeah, not sure when the 40's started for that recipient.
Chet15

[Brass Frame]

The Single Six, .357 Flat Top and .44 Flat Top all shipped together in August, 1957. I found the Standard Auto #0040 separate from the others. The Super Blackhawk Long Frame and the Hawkeye were all shipped as production began. The No.1 rifle was also shipped near the beginning of regular production. These had all been split up years ago. Brass Frame/Lee E

[chet15]

The Single Six, .357 Flat Top and .44 Flat Top all shipped together in August, 1957. I found the Standard Auto #0040 separate from the others. The Super Blackhawk Long Frame and the Hawkeye were all shipped as production began. The No.1 rifle was also shipped near the beginning of regular production. These had all been split up years ago. Brass Frame/Lee E

So the first three guns, Single-Six, .357 FT and .44 FT would have went to the same individual I am guessing in Ruger's inventory purge probably on the same day. The Super Blackhawk and Hawkeye also went to the same individual as well as the #1?
This kind of goes along with my thoughts... that the early (matching) numbered Bearcats (1958) and Magnum Single-Sixes (July 1959) weren't shipped to anybody but the writer's (Fred Davis, Jr. is an exception and maybe there were a couple others?) I'll have to look back at #26 auction to see if he got the Bearcat or Magnum Single-Six.
Chet15

[chet15]

The Single Six, .357 Flat Top and .44 Flat Top all shipped together in August, 1957. I found the Standard Auto #0040 separate from the others. The Super Blackhawk Long Frame and the Hawkeye were all shipped as production began. The No.1 rifle was also shipped near the beginning of regular production. These had all been split up years ago. Brass Frame/Lee E

This kind of goes along with my thoughts... that the early (matching) numbered Bearcats (1958) and Magnum Single-Sixes (July 1959) weren't shipped to anybody but the writer's and employees (Fred Davis, Jr. is an exception and maybe there were a couple others?) I'll have to look back at #26 auction to see if he got the Bearcat or Magnum Single-Six.
Mike said that the recipient of the #26 did indeed receive the Bearcat.
Any other subscriber numbers out there that received the Bearcat or Magnum Single-Six who wasn't a writer or employee?
Chet15

[chet15]

Here's a 99xxxx range 6-digit Bearcat that recently sold for $1,025. The gun is mint, but non matching box and non matching sleeve...

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/978521562

Chet15

[chet15]

Bump.
Looked back on my notes for the #46 collection of Jack Packard and found that the Bearcat was probably his first #46. He also set aside the Magnum Single-Six #300046 for himself.
Anybody else know of any subscribers (besides employees or writers and a couple of others) who got their number in the Bearcat or Magnum Single-Six? There were a bunch of matching numbered two-digit flattops and Single-Sixes that were purged to "others" in August/September 1957. But I don't think the "others" got their number in the Bearcat and Magnum Single-Six, which verifies why two-digit Bearcats and Magnum Single-Sixes are tougher to put in a collection than the two-digit matching numbered flattops.
Yeah... if you see a two digit Bearcat, better grab it!!
Chet15

[flattop44]

Chet15, Herb Glass received his #16 Bearcat. Shipped 8/22/1958. Herb told me that Bill Ruger asked him to test it and let him know what he thought. He said it shot well and was very accurate but needed a lower front sight since it shot consistently low. Herb filed #16s front sight blade down. Ruger later put lower front sight blades on all Bearcats being made.
FT44

[chet15]

Chet15, Herb Glass received his #16 Bearcat. Shipped 8/22/1958. Herb told me that Bill Ruger asked him to test it and let him know what he thought. He said it shot well and was very accurate but needed a lower front sight since it shot consistently low. Herb filed #16s front sight blade down. Ruger later put lower front sight blades on all Bearcats being made.
FT44

Right... forgot about that one. Another instance of a friend of the factory who got the Bearcat. Chet15

[radicalrod]

Well #6 Bearcat and #300006 Magnum both went to Hal Seagraves .....