We are making two posts with several displays each and include a short description. If some displayers want to add more detail, please feel free to use the reply function.
Skeeter was employed as a Marine, Border Patrolmen, a deputy sheriff, then Sheriff of Deaf County, and finally a DEA Agent where he retired from. Skeeter was also the Handgun Editor for Shooting Times from 1966 to his death in 1988. Skeeter was an avid handgun hunter and shooter. Skeeter wrote about and talked about this revolver more than any other handgun that he owned. Skeeter polished the grip frame bright raw aluminum, and made the thin grips that are on the Ruger. Skeeter also preformed the trigger job making this trigger 1lb and 12 oz pull. The revolver is extremely accurate with the Skeeter load as attested to me and two friends who have shot it proficiently. Finally, this Ruger is perhaps the most famous Ruger Blackhawk Flattop mid frame 44 magnum in existence.
This is a small sample of Ruger US Marked Mark I pistols ranging from 1956 to 1963 with different US government contracts being represented. Also, an example of the box they were shipped in. The information includes serial number ranges of the contracts. The display has a picture of the firearms packaging.
"Ruger Double Action Revolvers & Law Enforcement"
I have some rare ones.
One of two mis-marked San Francisco Sheriff's Dept. mis-marked Speed Six as a Service Six.
2 Specially ordered without the "warning label" (1 of 2, each) for the State Police of Crawford & Erie Counties.
Service Six in 380 Rim without the word "Police" ordered for the Bolivian Police - 1 of 3 known in the States. Previously owned by S. Skelton.
There is also a "5 inch, 38 Spl. Service Six made up as a sales sample to, unsuccessfully, secure a contract with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). 1 of 15 or 20 sold privately in the U.S."
Title - Ruger Old Army Idaho 1890 - Centennial - 1990 .44 BP Revolver (BP-7)
Description - The Idaho Centennial Commission originally ordered 101 Old Army Idaho Centennial handguns to be produced by Nels Largent, a well-known master gunsmith and engraver, and owner of Silver Shield Gun Shop in Boise, Idaho. Each handgun was meticulously engraved by Nels Largent or Terry Newell, also a master engraver. Because there were to be 101 handguns produced each gun was to be engraved on the bottom of the receiver with a year to signify each year of statehood (1890 through 1990). This gun's year is 1943 (s/n 145-58148), which would have made it the 54th gun produced if they were produced in chronological order by year. I doubt they were. However, Nels Largent and Silver Shield Gun Shop completed 44 handguns before Mr. Largent passed away sometime in the early 1990's. The remaining 57 handguns were never produced!
Included in this display are items offered during the Idaho Centennial celebration & a Speer Idaho Centennial bullet board.
Investment Arms Inc. in Fort Collins, Colorado developed a special edition Sturm Ruger 10/22 rifle in commemoration of Placerville’s 150th Birthday. Per Investment Arms Inc., “Because of the special occasion the rifle commemorates, more rifles than usual will be made. A normal run is about 25 rifles, but this edition will include 50 rifles, plus a proof.” Displayed here are two of these rifles (#2 of 50 & the PROOF), along with items from Placerville’s historical past & present, including photographs depicting Placerville history. Less than 25 rifles were actually produced.
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