Unrecorded Ruger serial number

[1mathom1]

Anybody have trouble looking up a Ruger Bisley Blackhawk serial number from the mid-80s?
The customer service forms and the s/n lookup forms say it does not exist. Does not appear to be an overstrike.
I can get an approximation of the mfg year by looking at ranges but no specific information.

 

[Catt57]

You may have to call Ruger. Maybe they will have an idea.

 

[turkeyrun]

Call Ruger

 

[1mathom1]

Yeah, I'll likely have to call.

I've got a message into them. I'll see where that leads before I call.

 

[mtngunr]

Anybody have trouble looking up a Ruger Bisley Blackhawk serial number from the mid-80s?
The customer service forms and the s/n lookup forms say it does not exist. Does not appear to be an overstrike.
I can get an approximation of the mfg year by looking at ranges but no specific information.

The plug-n-play thing works on newer guns, but lacking on older ones. AFTER you attempt a number, if you scroll down that page, there is a clickable link which will take you to a page where you can click on all the various model guns which will then give you the SN range by year. Make sure you click the correct model, as Single Six will not give you SNs for the Single Six Magnum, nor will Blackhawk for a Bisley Blackhawk, nor Super Blackhawk for Blackhawk, etc but you might think so because SNs overlapped....suchlike the Single Six listing will show a range for a year quite newer than will the .22 Magnum list for a magnum Single Six. This FYI as you might by now have already talked to someone...

 

[1mathom1]

The plug-n-play thing works on newer guns, but lacking on older ones. AFTER you attempt a number, if you scroll down that page, there is a clickable link which will take you to a page where you can click on all the various model guns which will then give you the SN range by year. Make sure you click the correct model, as Single Six will not give you SNs for the Single Six Magnum, nor will Blackhawk for a Bisley Blackhawk, nor Super Blackhawk for Blackhawk, etc but you might think so because SNs overlapped....suchlike the Single Six listing will show a range for a year quite newer than will the .22 Magnum list for a magnum Single Six. This FYI as you might by now have already talked to someone...

I did follow that link and it looked like a 1985 build. Couple of days later I got a note from Ruger that confirmed September 1985 as well as confirming model number physical characteristics that I already knew.....41 mag Bisley w/7.5" barrel and fluted cylinder.

 

[OK Corgi Rancher]

Ruger's serial number lookup page is light years ahead of Colt's.

About 1 in 50 Colt serial numbers will actually return a mfg date.

 

[mtngunr]

I did follow that link and it looked like a 1985 build. Couple of days later I got a note from Ruger that confirmed September 1985 as well as confirming model number physical characteristics that I already knew.....41 mag Bisley w/7.5" barrel and fluted cylinder.

If you bought it new, you knew that. If you'd struck out with my initial suggestion, I was going to suggest trying the Blackhawk list as when the Bisley was relatively new, it seemed everybody and their brother was ordering Bisley parts from Ruger and converting Blackhawks, especially stainless versions since far easier to fit gripframes and them match since no reblue required. Glad to hear yours is all original.

 

[1mathom1]

If you bought it new, you knew that. If you'd struck out with my initial suggestion, I was going to suggest trying the Blackhawk list as when the Bisley was relatively new, it seemed everybody and their brother was ordering Bisley parts from Ruger and converting Blackhawks, especially stainless versions since far easier to fit gripframes and them match since no reblue required. Glad to hear yours is all original.

Got it the day before I placed the original post. Only issue with it is that whoever had it before me used a scope mount that goes in place of the rear sight. No screw holes but it did rub just a bit on the top strap.

 

[mtngunr]

Got it the day before I placed the original post. Only issue with it is that whoever had it before me used a scope mount that goes in place of the rear sight. No screw holes but it did rub just a bit on the top strap.

Good for you! Now you can enjoy it rather than worrying about that first new car scratch, which is important in Oklahoma where the only flat surfaces free from dust and grit are in surgical suites, maybe, and holsters, never.