Odd Serial Numbering

d findley
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Re: Odd Serial Numbering

Post by d findley »

With speculation running wild here, I called John Dougan to see if he could shed some light of the subject. This was John's reply. I don't think he would mind me posting this here:
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chet15
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Re: Odd Serial Numbering

Post by chet15 »

Though no dates are given as to when Ruger modified the yoke, the only other thing I see there would be a correction to the 4th paragraph and the 2nd from the last paragraph, where Ruger had to add three number wheels for the prefix system instead of two, to accommodate the immediate needs for the 100- prefixed .44 Carbine, 110- prefixed 10/22 and the 130- prefix Number One.
Chet15
d findley
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Re: Odd Serial Numbering

Post by d findley »

I would assume as Ruger knew these S/N changes were coming up they would prepare in advance for it and not be caught in a predicament. I just looked in John's book. Page 114 makes my point: To mark the 3 digit prefix starting in 1970, 2 automatic numbering head rocker style model 151, 9 wheel tools were ordered from Noble & Westbrook on 3/20/70 and was shipped to Ruger on 5/15/70. Also the order included a set of spare wheels. Each wheel had 10 characters each:
wheels 1-5 to read 1 thru 0
wheel 6 to read- (dashes) (10 times)
wheel 7 to read 11111 00000
wheel 8 to read 1 thru 0
wheel 9 to read 111111111 blank
Ruger was taking care of business as these changes came about, however human error could account for some of the abnormalities thus these discussions.
chet15
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Re: Odd Serial Numbering

Post by chet15 »

Aha! So May 15, 1970 is the absolute earliest that Ruger had a one step process for marking the prefix serial number with the new serial numbering heads! That makes sense because Ruger dates of manufacture for 1970 is 10-38890 to 10-75015, so somewhere in there is where the change was made where the serial number actually looks like it was done in one step. 10-65159 in this post has the old 10- with large "0" and dash that is close to that "0". After the change was made, the "0" in the prefix and a "0" in the other five digits will look to be the same font size, and the dash will not be tucked up so close to the "0" in the prefix... and.... no more spacing discrepencies (or pressure differences - light vs. heavy) between the prefix and the other five digits.
Ruger was apparently unsuccessful in opening up the yoke on their earlier serial numbering head? Or they did it, the result just didn't have the desired effect in doing serial numbers?
Very interesting. As Donnie mentions from page 114 of JD's book, wheel 9 represents the first digit of a 3-digit prefix, Wheel 8 the 2nd digit of a 3-digit prefix and wheel 7 the third digit of the 3-digit prefix. Two such serial numbering heads were received on May 15, 1970.
Chet15
Last edited by chet15 on Mon Jan 06, 2020 10:05 am, edited 2 times in total.
chet15
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Re: Odd Serial Numbering

Post by chet15 »

Hmmm.. Another thought.... two stamping heads in May 1970. One for Newport and one for Southport.
Evidently, Ruger did not start serial numbering at Newport until at least the middle of 1970?
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Re: Odd Serial Numbering

Post by Rugerologist »

An earlier example but here's another up/down misalignment and London Nitro Proof marks that you don't see every day on this 1960 T-678.
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chet15
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Re: Odd Serial Numbering

Post by chet15 »

Somewhere between these serial numbers is when the serial number heads switched. If anybody can improve these, please let us know!!

Old sn head - New sn head
.22 pistols 10-65159 - 10- ???
Single Sixes 20-34677 - 20-75487
.357 Blackhawks 30-63969 - 30-71141
.41 Blackhawks 40-05249 - 40-13359
.30 Blackhawks 50-09067 - 50-10727
Super Single-Sixes 60-36474 - 60-46650
M77's 70-20032 - 70-54378
Super Blackhawks 80-10376 - 80-20076
Bearcats 90-12791 - See note below
.44 Carbines 100-15873 - 100-17285
10/22's 110-21731 - 110-90547
Number One's 130-03704 - 130-04931

Note: I think the aluminum framed Bearcat was dropped before Ruger went to the new sn head.
Also, if anybody notices any big discrepencies in distance between the dash and the first digit of the other five, would be interested to see the pics posted, whether it be the end of the dash parked right on the first digit, or a noticeable space away.
Chet15
jowdurt
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Re: Odd Serial Numbering

Post by jowdurt »

I just joined the ROCS and started looking at the forum in the last two days. Much to my surprise and delight there was a picture of my 22 pistol with the strange 10-10247 serial number. Earlier this month I sent a picture of the gun (which at the time I was thinking of buying) to Chad with some of the above questions. After that discussion and a $100 drop in price I bought it. Just picked it up on Tuesday. It goes well with my duplicate serial number guns.

The other neat discovery was that it is in near mint condition. May have been fired once but no scratches or blemishes at all. The Red two part box is almost perfect with bright color and no tears. I have read in Chad's book about the packing or shipping sleeve but had never seen one until now. Has serial number hand written on it and RST4, 22lr, 4 3/4 stamped on the sleeve.
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67stingray
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Re: Odd Serial Numbering

Post by 67stingray »

Here's a pic of the offset s/n on a BKH-34 I seen at the Huntsville show this past weekend. As you can see, the prefix and dash are higher than the rest.
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chet15
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Re: Odd Serial Numbering

Post by chet15 »

Great pic!
Notice the font difference.
Also, I don't ever recall seeing any of those early prefixes with one digit or even the dash higher or lower, almost like they were one unit. The other five digits, yes, they can be all over North or South from level.
Something else of note, being a serial number head with "round wheels" on it, at some point when the number is rolled too far North or too far south, you not only get mis-alignment, but you also have a lighter impression on the far end of the North/South side of the digit the further North or south that digit goes. As an example, we have noted M77 serial number 70- 4478D with a space between the dash and the first number 4. In line with the tops of all the digits is an impression of the bottom line of a number "1", with no more of the digit showing, because that number wheel rolled too far north.
I don't see any softness in the tops of that 30- on the last pic.
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