Factory used guns

[Charlie1022]

I have reviewed the information in Bill Workmans books Know your 10/22 and The RUGER 10/22 on specialmarked serial number guns like the U and S and even the D marked guns but can afind no information on the guns with an * in front of the serial number? The box is marked as a factory USED Gun. I was told by the factory that it was returned for what ever reason and could not be sold as a new gun so they mark them as such before they can sell them. How rare are guns marked like this? Thanks for any help and or information.
Charlie1022

[rugerguy]

I think you will find that the 'asterisk' marking came well after Bills book was written....seems to me, in the scheme of things, that the use of the "S" , the "U" and the "*' meant the same thing just different vernaculars for "seconds" salemans samples" "show guns " ( conventions and such), the "U" being the same conditions, used for shows, , used as samples, NRA conventions, whatever, and finally the "*" asterisk, again, same reasoning.....someway to mark, set aside ,recycle, and put back into stock, for resale.....used tobe a dealer south of us, maybe it was in Kentucky , used to buy MANY of these type fo guns...Much like Davidsons would buy LOTS and LOTS (17 pallets at one time) of left overs, and no longer made guns.

[Charlie1022]

Thanks Dan for the information. That was what I was thinking as well on the marking with the * in front of the serial number. Attached is how the box is marked. When I talked to the factory the other day they could not tell me how many used guns were sold.
Charlie1022

[Charlie1022]

The serial number puts the gun made in late 2001 but when I received information form the factory on it was reported as a 2002 gun. This supports that this gun was returned to the factory for what ever the reason so it became a factory used gun.
If anyone has another factory used 10/22 with a * in front of the serial number I would like to hear about it.
Charlie1022