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You may have seen this image in your latest Digest. Too small to read the print? Here are a couple of photos, large enough to read, pointing out the differences between the prototype and a production P85.
Left click image for a better pic.

Several years ago I bought a bunch of papers and Factory photos. They came from the ad dept. at Ruger. Several 8 X 10 B&W photos were in that stuff. One of the photos was of a prototype P85 serial number V000031. Small world.

Carl,
Not clear; was your P85 #V00031 or 300-00031?
Lee

Carl,
Did you get the #31 No.1? Or do you know where it is?
Lee

Production pistols closely resemble this prototype of the P85, serial number 880-00078.

Early production P85s came with a 2 piece barrel. Back portion was cast, front portion of cylindrical barrel steel. Change came to cut production time and cost.

That is interesting, learn something everyday! Good info Don.
FT44

X1Ruger wrote:Lee
I had 300-00031 that was part of the Robert Dearden collection.

Was number 31 assigned to Robert Dearden? I know that 63 was Bob Thompson and 148 was Marie Sorge, do you know who any of the other top 200 where?

After reading the new Army requirements for a service pistol, including specifications on what the serial numbers should be on prospective prototypes, I wonder if that V000022 serial number range was actually what was requested of those manufactures who submitted examples for the Army trials in the mid-1980's?
Chet15

Mr. Findley: were there ever any prototypes that had Firehawk stamped on them or was that merely a concept that never made it to reality?