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Doing more GP100 research

Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2020 5:35 pm
by RoninPA
Well, I'm still working on my GP100 listing and have been using Ruger when I need to. Have taken a different route in that I am also researching the Model numbers versus the descriptions and matching them up with the catalog numbers where I can find them.

One that I am 99.9% sure they made but I can't find a model number. Hesitant to email Ruger with just a description to see if they can give me a model number but I may have to. Here is the description:

GP100, Blued, .357 mag (or .38 Spl), 3" barrel, full under lug, ADJ SIGHTS (Ruger makes/made one in stainless (model 1708, KGP-131))

The catalog number would/should be GP-131 or GP-331 for the .357, GP-831 for the .38 Spl

I am sure I heard of this catalog number, and it may have been a TALO, Lipseys or Davidsons special but I'll be darned if I can find anything about it.

Two things, one I would like to get it added to my listing and two, more importantly, I'd like to get one to match my KGP-131 and add to my GP100 collection.

If anyone can point me in the right direction to search or has any info that I might be able to use to track it down I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you very much.

Re: Doing more GP100 research

Posted: Fri Jan 17, 2020 8:39 pm
by hittman
Hey Ron,

That's another new one to me. Never heard of it or seen one before.
I'll keep an eye out and will report back if I learn something about one.

Re: Doing more GP100 research

Posted: Wed Jan 22, 2020 6:44 am
by chet15
The GP-131 should be the same as the GP-331, blue with adjustable sights, 3" barrel and full lug underneath.
Perhaps Ruger had a GP-131 designation before they had any .38 special models so when the .38 came out they found it necessary to go to GP-331 for .357 and GP-831 for .38.
We've noted they did the same thing with the earliest SP101's. The KSP-182 became the KSP-821.
Chet15

Re: Doing more GP100 research

Posted: Wed Jan 22, 2020 5:21 pm
by RoninPA
Chad,
That's what I have found in the GP100's, some of the catalog numbers use -1xx to designate a .357 and others use -3xx to designate a .357. Ruger has been pretty consistent though using -8xx to designate a .38 spl.

The problem I am having is actually trying to find out if they truly made them. After the Huntsville show I'll try talking to Ruger to see what they say. They made one in Stainless (KGP-131) because I have one and that is the catalog number on the box.

Oh, the joys of Ruger collecting ;)

Re: Doing more GP100 research

Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2020 5:12 pm
by chet15
Serial range on the KGP-131?
Chet15

Re: Doing more GP100 research

Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2020 5:35 pm
by RoninPA
Not sure Chad, mine is 177-66819

Re: Doing more GP100 research

Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2020 2:14 pm
by JAYDAWG
Ron,
Sent you a PM

JAYDAWG

Re: Doing more GP100 research

Posted: Fri Mar 27, 2020 12:07 pm
by chet15
I had a revelation the other day that the KGP-131 may have morphed into the catalog number KGP-331 when the .38 Special was added to the lineup (KGPF-831), because the first number digit now represented the caliber, "3" for .357 and "8" for .38 Special.
Chet15

Re: Doing more GP100 research

Posted: Fri Mar 27, 2020 12:46 pm
by RoninPA
Chad,
I don't know what to think about Rugers model numbers any more for the GP's. They started out with the "1" first digit to designate a .357 and later went to a "3" but even with the newer models they still use both the 1 and 3 to designate a .357. They seem to have used the "8" as the first digit for the .38 Spl all along though.

Examples:
Model# Catalog #
1768 GP-35751 Blued, .357 mag, 5", half lug, adj sights, walnut grips
1772 GP-1417 Blued, .357 mag, 4", full lug, 7 shot adj sights, Insert grips

Re: Doing more GP100 research

Posted: Fri Mar 27, 2020 8:30 pm
by chet15
Oops, misspoke there.
Isn't the 331 only seen with a fixed sight gun? Sure it says GPF or KGPF before that, but I've never heard the designations GP331 or KGP331 which would be adjustable sight guns.

I'm not sure I'd worry about Ruger's later designations and what they mean, although the individual letters and numbers are "supposed" to represent the features of the gun. But remember the 50th Anniversary .357 flattop was given the catalog number NVB-34-50, yet it surely isn't a Vaquero. Sure, the Vaquero ran with the BNV- and KBNV- designations, but what is the "V" in the 50th gun supposed to represent.
Ruger confuses themselves sometimes.
Chet15