Subscription Guns - Subscriber Serial Numbers

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SteelShooter
Posts: 46
Joined: Thu Dec 04, 2025 12:37 pm

Subscription Guns - Subscriber Serial Numbers

Post by SteelShooter »

Was wondering who is the subscriber with serial number ending in "00004", I think fairly recently this was Mike Fifer, but certainly could be way off! If that's correct I've got his KLCR-357.

If there a listing of subscribers and their numbers over time? Know a lot changed when the new regime came in and subscribers had to actually pay for their firearms. Many left the program at that time and numbers were reassigned.

Also interested in who had numbers 27 and 33, I have 3 guns associated with those subscriber numbers.

00027: SBC-4-50 & S-47N-50
00033: S-47N-50

Appreciate any help on these and possibly matching with their past or current owners.
 

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67stingray
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Location: Iron City, TN

Re: Subscription Guns - Subscriber Serial Numbers

Post by 67stingray »

I think Walter Berger had the serial number 4 subscription.
Bennett
 

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johncdougan
Posts: 88
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Re: Subscription Guns - Subscriber Serial Numbers

Post by johncdougan »

Good morning everyone,

Walter Berger was indeed the original recipient of the #4 guns. After Walt's death his widow sold them to Hansen Guns in Southport, CT who assumed the serial number as well, and continued to receive guns until the program was suspended. Hansen sold them to Sonny Johnson in the late 1970s. They sold again in the mid 1980s to the late Cal Shaefer. Over the years Cal purchased more #4 guns from Hansen as they came available. I think his family still retains them.

Regards, John
 

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t.hinckley , flattop44 , arcticruger , T.A. Workman
radicalrod
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Re: Subscription Guns - Subscriber Serial Numbers

Post by radicalrod »

I meet Cal on my Ruger Road Trip in 2008 I have SC5 #500004 and offered to trade him but he was content with his #60-00004 gun......he was happy to let us look the group over though....many were well used.....the good old days 8-) 8-) 8-)
 

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chet15
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Re: Subscription Guns - Subscriber Serial Numbers

Post by chet15 »

The #4 long guns were split away from the Single-Actions a long time ago though... maybe when Sonny made the deal with Cal.
The most neat #4 handgun I saw in the collection though, even better than the #4 Single-Six with gold anodized grip frame and factory pearl grips without medallions in my opinion, was the #4 flattop in .44 Mag. That very well could be the only gun under serial number 200 that has a factory original small square button ejector rod.... and it is a single digit.
I can imagine seeing Walt Berger taking the steps to be sure he got his example right off the line as it was manufactured.
Chet15
 

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ruger66
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Re: Subscription Guns - Subscriber Serial Numbers

Post by ruger66 »

I don't think any of the long guns are together. I know where the 4 earliest are.
 

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radicalrod
radicalrod
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Re: Subscription Guns - Subscriber Serial Numbers

Post by radicalrod »

ruger66 wrote: Mon Feb 09, 2026 4:30 pm I don't think any of the long guns are together. I know where the 4 earliest are.
I can make a wild guess :roll: :roll: :roll:
 

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Rugerokie
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Re: Subscription Guns - Subscriber Serial Numbers

Post by Rugerokie »

My father bought the serial #4 No.1 from Joe Clayton in the late 80's. I never hunted with it but did shoot it at the range. He sold it on to Lee Newton sometime in the 90's. Lee of course has not parted with it since.
 

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