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Here is the T514 Tapered Ear that we just acquired.

Also a group pic of the others that we have.

That is about as many T514s as I have seen in one place. I need to pay attention and find one for a shooter. Saw one a couple of years ago in "shooter" condition, but just did not get it bought.
Thanks for posting!

I'll confess. I bought 74766 as my shooter its not in the same class as the other 4. It's on my belt whenever I go to the woods - a good snake & armadillo gun.

Nice collections!

Very nice group indeed. A friend of the family had a T514 that I remember in the late 1960's. He has since passed & nobody seems to know what happened to it & other nice pieces he had. Somebody got some good stuff that I hope they appreciate.

Heads Up for any that are interested.

There is a shooter quality T514 up on Gunbroker. 5 days to go. #535095742.

The item on Gunbroker (shooter grade) went for $409.

That's sure sounds reasonable to me. Those MK514 pistols balance well. Someone got a fair deal.
FT44

During the Korean War steel was an important wartime commodity. As a cost cutting measure, Ruger decided to make bolts out of two pieces of stock instead of machining the bolt out of one piece of bar stock. Approx 30,000 of these were made. They are readily identified because the "ears" on the rear of the bolt are tapered instead of being flat.

FYI, Chad Hiddleson's Encyclopedia of Ruger Semi-Automatic Rimfire Pistols * 1949 - 1992 is a great history of the development of the Ruger Standard Automatic, The Target Autos, and the Mark II. You can find the book on Amazon.

Nice collection! I also look for nice T514 guns. If I were Bill n Alex's partner... I would have shunned the costs of manufacturing longer, whippy barrels, certainly the "unfinished, bar-stock" barrels, maybe even the short tapered barrels. The 514 profiles cover everything the Ruger pistols can and are designed to do for me. Besides, its nice when all your pistols fit the same good holster!

I find the 22/45 MkII with the stainless 5 1/4" tapered barrel superior in the breed. But that's my opinion, as the original grip frame angle, while adequate, has just never been instinctive for me. I have always needed to re-adjust my grip during shooting them, something the 22/45 T514 cured for me.

BTW, I have never needed to disassemble my A54- framed Rugers. I'm just not that guy. Buy an ultrasonic cleaner and you'll never look back.