RugerSociety.com

Has anyone requested a letter of authenticity from Ruger lately? I have a few that I would like to request letters for. Their website still says that "The Letter of Authenticity lists the serial number, ship date, model and caliber. We are unable to provide any information beyond that". Well, I need more information than that!

I'm very hesitant to request and pay for letters if there is nothing to be learned from them other than the ship date. It also sounds like I could obtain a suppressor faster.

Sorry,
That's all they give out now and that's all they gave out in the past good number of years.

I'm like you, I'd like to get a bit more info about a few of my Rugers and would gladly pay more to get more of a history but Ruger never really set up any kind of historical department.

Old RCA letters would also give you a production date, and CONFIRM any special features if you mentioned them in your request.

Coogs, I'm not quite sure what you mean. Are you suggesting that one in question may already have an RCA letter and that if I might somehow be able to get ahold of that? I know that one of the guns I was requesting a letter for was an RCA members fairly unique gun.

Back in the hey day of the RCA you could get a letter from them, Which would list serial number, Model, ship date and production date. Some one can correct me if wrong here, but the RCA had access to micro film/fisch that covered all Ruger production. This was just a letter on the RCA stationary, usually, at least all mine were, signed by Nancy Padua, 1st. vice president of the RCA. You could also get a "certificate" for a fee of $25.00, I believe. Covered the same stuff, maybe a little more detail on that model's particular features.

I wouldn't say that there is already a letter out there on the gun you have, could be. Don't know what records the RCA still may have, if they keep copies of letters they sent out, or not. I know the micro film has long since gone back to Ruger though.............

I haven't requested a letter in about three years, but the last one I requested was for a Blackhawk 44 Magnum with a 10-inch barrel. The letter confirmed the model and the month and year shipped only. The RCA for some time provided a little more information (see photos below), but not much. Ruger has always lagged far behind S&W and Colt when it comes to letters of authenticity. The Smith & Wesson Historical Foundation will often be able to provide copies of the original invoice as part of their service (see last photo).

Bill Cross

It is really to bad that Ruger won't provide us with a meaningful letter.

I think most of us would be willing to pay more for it, if we could get more information on the gun in question.

O M CRAZY

That S&W letter is right in line with what I'd like to see Ruger attempt. Heck of a deal only $10 extra for the consecutive SNs too. I remember reading somewhere about a flood or a fire or both that destroyed a bunch of records. Too bad, as I'd be willing to pony up more than $10 for info like that!

We have pleaded for decent letters that "say something" for years. These $10 letters today aren't even signed. Write a letter to Ruger's CEO and tell him why you want a letter. May help. May not. Can't hurt anything.