A question for the experts (you know who you are)

[theo98]

Rick,

I spoke to Ruger Mk CS this AM. This Ruger (SN 222-72133) left the factory as a Regular MkII KMK512 all stainless 5 1/2" Target Bull Barrel, Not as a 22/45 polymer KP512!?!

The Ruger Tech stated it either went to a specialty dealer (liked Davidsons) who changed out the barrel with a 22/45 and re-roll marked the SN, or it could have been a production mix up and possibly prove to be a rare puppy?!?

Either way, appears this set up was not original from the factory...just as you suspected!!

Ted

[Rickkling]

Ted,
I’m impressed with your research work!
Now, if any of that could be substantiated, that would be a rare gun!
So maybe 950 ISNT a bad price?
I read somewhere on this forum where someone said (I’m paraphrasing) that the search was half the fun of collecting.
I agree!
I’m gonna watch this one and see if it sells.
Thank you for your help

[theo98]

Ted,
I’m impressed with your research work!
Now, if any of that could be substantiated, that would be a rare gun!
So maybe 950 ISNT a bad price?
I read somewhere on this forum where someone said (I’m paraphrasing) that the search was half the fun of collecting.
I agree!
I’m gonna watch this one and see if it sells.
Thank you for your help

Rick,

Thanks! "When I have the time", homework is always enlightening, educational and enjoyable!

Now, awaiting "Seller" responses to the really tough questions I asked through GB yesterday evening!!

FWIW, service tech strongly suggested obtaining a "letter of authenticity" from Ruger upon new ownership for This particular "MkII"!

Ted

[Rickkling]

Ted,
I doubt I’ll be buying that particular gun.
The house “way and means committee “ (wife) says I’ve overspent on my annual
Gun purchases! (If she knew about all of them, I be in real trouble)
It is a very interesting gun that has inspired a interring discussion.
I’d love to know if the seller responds and if they actually have knowledge of the guns
History.
Thanks again for researching it.
Rick
And ROLL TIDE!!!

[theo98]

Ted...I’d love to know if the seller responds and if they actually have knowledge of the guns History.
Thanks again for researching it.
Rick

Rick,

Haven't had direct correspondence from the seller yet. However, my questions were publicly answered through their insertion of additional historical facts in the "Item Description" (lower paragraph, 2nd sentence)!

Suggestion appears to be, "came from factory As Is"!

Ted

[Rickkling]

Ted,

If that could be documented to be a factory “mistake”, then it would
Be a great addition to any collection. But that’s a big if!
I read the amended description too and while they don’t outright say it’s
A factory gun, they also don’t say it isn’t.
Either way, what an interesting gun.
I’d be willing to make him an offer, but I think I’ll just continue watching.

Rick

[chet15]

Ok, here’s an odd one (or an obvious one!)
While perusing through gun broker, I came upon a a listing of a mkII 22/45.
The gun is a beautiful stainless 22/45 barrel over a stainless mkII frame.
The label on the box is KMK512 and model 00182.
It appears new and is listed “as new in box”.
Soooooo..... is this a factory gun? Or just as it appears, a 22/45 barrel on a mkii frame?
If nothing else, I find it interesting.
And for the record, the “buy it now” is 950.00!

Of course that is a rare gun! I plugged the serial number into Ruger's serial number lookup page and it does come back as Ruger model 0182. The 0182 is the KMK-512 just like it says on the end label. So in no way, shape or form was this gun sold as a KP512 by the factory. It was sold as a KMK512 just like the box labels say.
However, it was mis-marked at the factory with 22/45 markings.
If there is one there are more. But doubt if too many people notice such things.
Worth $950? Probably way too high... you have to have demand for something before an obscure variation like that can be worth a lot more.
Is it worth $100 to $200 more than a normal KMK-512? Probably to a collector.
Chet15

[chet15]

Ok, here’s an odd one (or an obvious one!)
While perusing through gun broker, I came upon a a listing of a mkII 22/45.
The gun is a beautiful stainless 22/45 barrel over a stainless mkII frame.
The label on the box is KMK512 and model 00182.
It appears new and is listed “as new in box”.
Soooooo..... is this a factory gun? Or just as it appears, a 22/45 barrel on a mkii frame?
If nothing else, I find it interesting.
And for the record, the “buy it now” is 950.00!

Of course that is a rare gun! I plugged the serial number into Ruger's serial number lookup page and it does come back as Ruger model 0182. The 0182 is the KMK-512 just like it says on the end label. So in no way, shape or form was this gun sold as a KP512 by the factory. It was sold as a KMK512 just like the box labels say.
However, it was mis-marked at the factory with 22/45 markings.
If there is one there are more. But doubt if too many people notice such things.
Worth $950? Probably way too high... you have to have demand for something before an obscure variation like that can be worth a lot more.
Is it worth $100 to $200 more than a normal KMK-512? Probably to a collector.
Chet15

[chet15]

I did a little more research.
222-72133 must have been made during one of Ruger's periodic "cleanup" times.
Ruger's .22 pistols are usually always made in blocks, whether it be 127 of one model all consecutive, or several thousand of another model all consecutive. It just make sense to have consistency into how your machinery is set up on the autos, run a bunch of one model through, then a batch of the next model.
222-72133 is a one only, shipped as 0182 KMK512.
222-72132 is a stainless KP512 22/45 model 0192
and 222-72134 is a blue P512 22/45 model 0193.
So could be a one only... I would say at that moment anyway, yes.... somebody at Ruger put the wrong grip frame on that gun!!!
Chet15

[chet15]

Ted,

If that could be documented to be a factory “mistake”, then it would
Be a great addition to any collection. But that’s a big if!
I read the amended description too and while they don’t outright say it’s
A factory gun, they also don’t say it isn’t.
Either way, what an interesting gun.
I’d be willing to make him an offer, but I think I’ll just continue watching.

Rick

All you need is right there with the gun and packaging.
"THIS GUN IS ORIGINAL FROM THE FACTORY"
The end label says KMK512, Ruger model 0182.
Ruger says it left the factory as a KMK512, Ruger model 0182.... exactly what the end label says.
The gun obviously says 22/45 on the side.
Ruger will not be able to tell you it says 22/45 on the side.
But the proof is in the pudding.
Sounds like the Ruger tech fed theo98 a line. The label on the end of the box says KMK512. That is what the gun looks like and that is what Ruger shipped it as.
No need to change the barrel to stainless 5-1/2" when that is what it was when it left the factory. And re-rollmarking a serial number by a distributor is a no-no.
The gun is what it is.... a Ruger mistake. The person doing the assembly should have seen the 22/45 rollmark on the receiver and fitted it with a 22/45 grip frame. There is where the error occurred.
Chet15