And now I give you the $2,400 Bearcat

Includes all Pre-1973 Old model Single-Sixes, Blackhawks,
Super Blackhawks, Bearcats, Super Bearcats, Hawkeye
and Black Powder Old Army.
Brass Frame
Posts: 651
Joined: Thu May 15, 2014 3:22 am

Re: And now I give you the $2,400 Bearcat

Post by 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
Posts: 734
Joined: Sat Aug 16, 2014 11:28 am

Re: And now I give you the $2,400 Bearcat

Post by chet15 »

Brass Frame wrote: Mon May 08, 2023 1:34 pm 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
Posts: 651
Joined: Thu May 15, 2014 3:22 am

Re: And now I give you the $2,400 Bearcat

Post by 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
Posts: 734
Joined: Sat Aug 16, 2014 11:28 am

Re: And now I give you the $2,400 Bearcat

Post by chet15 »

Brass Frame wrote: Wed May 10, 2023 6:48 pm 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
Posts: 734
Joined: Sat Aug 16, 2014 11:28 am

Re: And now I give you the $2,400 Bearcat

Post by chet15 »

chet15 wrote: Sun May 14, 2023 10:51 am
Brass Frame wrote: Wed May 10, 2023 6:48 pm 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
Posts: 734
Joined: Sat Aug 16, 2014 11:28 am

Re: And now I give you the $2,400 Bearcat

Post by 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
Posts: 734
Joined: Sat Aug 16, 2014 11:28 am

Re: And now I give you the $2,400 Bearcat

Post by 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
Posts: 2351
Joined: Tue May 06, 2014 2:31 pm
Location: Alabama

Re: And now I give you the $2,400 Bearcat

Post by 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
Posts: 734
Joined: Sat Aug 16, 2014 11:28 am

Re: And now I give you the $2,400 Bearcat

Post by chet15 »

flattop44 wrote: Fri May 26, 2023 6:41 am 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
Posts: 410
Joined: Fri Jun 20, 2014 12:00 pm

Re: And now I give you the $2,400 Bearcat

Post by radicalrod »

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