KMK514 Question

Stopped at a LGS this afternoon to do a little browsing. Imagine my surprise when I saw this in a showcase, and at a very reasonable price especially with the CrimsonTrace grips. Brought it home even though I already have one, or so I thought. What you see is what I got.



So here is what I have, serial number 217-41XX, stamped in small digits, one piece bolt and mainspring assembly housing, silver/black logo magazine with the small button and the questionable (to me) grips. When I looked it up on Ruger.com it said shipped 1992 and model number 00158. My other KMK514, which I have the shipper and everything says model 00181? I can't find a reference to 00158 in RENE anywhere, but I've been known to miss things before. I did find a web site post by someone else that had a similar serial number KMK514 and they indicated that Ruger said theirs was a 00158 as well.

So the question, what grips? I'm somewhat confident that it wasn't born with the CrimsonTrace grips. I was planning to put on a set of laminated target grips until I saw the picture of the other 00158 mentioned above. It had black checkered plastic grips with the silver/black logo. Which are the correct grips for my pistol? Any insight would be appreciated.

Nice gun and was one of my favorites ,till I traded out of it and ended up with the same upper but on a 22/45 frame,, which I preferred then,,,my first one, like yours above had the black plastic grips with silver medallions...still a nice gun, we like it....

The KP514 was my first 514 but I never really warmed up to it. Here it is with my other KMK514 (00181). Maybe I'll find a blue one some day. Anyone know how many models there are of those???

Highstandardguy said:

Stopped at a LGS this afternoon to do a little browsing. Imagine my surprise when I saw this in a showcase, and at a very reasonable price especially with the CrimsonTrace grips. Brought it home even though I already have one, or so I thought. What you

So here is what I have, serial number 217-41XX, stamped in small digits, one piece bolt and mainspring assembly housing, silver/black logo magazine with the small button and the questionable (to me) grips.

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Nice!

I've got that same gun. After my cup of coffee I'll go look at the serial number.

I'm fairly certain mine has a one piece bolt. And when I bought mine, used but as new still in the yellow and black box; it came with those thin black plastic grips.

Great guns too, but man, oh man, that front sight has some razor sharp edges on it.

I'm on the computer now. I didn't catch the part where you said you have the model with the shorter barrel.

Here is mine. 216 serial number prefix. Two piece bolt, not one. And I just did the Ruger Serial Number Lookup, Model 00153 shipped in 1992.

Spring for the Ruger $10 letter.
Maybe those fancy grips came on an ultra rare distributor exclusive or something similar.
Ya never know and $10 is certainly cheap enough.

I wonder if it originally had the 2 piece bolt and it was changed? A friend of mine had a KMK4 with the 2 piece bolt that had the ears separate on him. In any case you snagged a good pistol. Kevin you have a great looking cat! My Walter is with me now and is my constant companion when I am home. There should be a pistol and pootie-tat thread! I tawt I taw a pootie-tat!!!!

Kevin said:

I'm on the computer now. I didn't catch the part where you said you have the model with the shorter barrel.

Here is mine. 216 serial number prefix. Two piece bolt, not one. And I just did the Ruger Serial Number Lookup, Model 00153 shipped in 1992.

View attachment 45726

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Yes, there is a difference. My KMK678 is a model 00184 and it's from 2000.

Watertender said:

I wonder if it originally had the 2 piece bolt and it was changed? A friend of mine had a KMK4 with the 2 piece bolt that had the ears separate on him. In any case you snagged a good pistol. Kevin you have a great looking cat! My Walter is with me now and is my constant companion when I am home. There should be a pistol and pootie-tat thread! I tawt I taw a pootie-tat!!!!

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I believe the bolt is original. No way to tell for sure, but based on the newish condition of the pistol and it's visible parts, I kind of doubt it. I'll have a little better feel for it once I've done a detail cleaning.

hittman said:

Spring for the Ruger $10 letter.
Maybe those fancy grips came on an ultra rare distributor exclusive or something similar.
Ya never know and $10 is certainly cheap enough.

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Yeah, after considering them a bit I realized they're identical to the CrimsonTrace grips that came on my KMKIII45HCL. I'm guessing that Ruger didn't ship a MKII with MKIII style grips, especially in 1992. It looks like I have a non-mysterious KMK514. I'll probably just pop them off, put on the correct plastic grips and forgo the Ruger letter.

Highstandardguy said:

I'll probably just pop them off, put on the correct plastic grips and forgo the Ruger letter.

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I also remember one distributor (Outdoor Sports, perhaps?) had a version with laminated "camo" thumrest grips.

It's not in that serial number range.

At any rate you scored a very nice MKII Ruger! I love that barrel length with the adjustable sights. Just curious what this one set you back? If you don't want to say that's fine because it's none of my business.

$412.90 OTD which I thought was a really good price considering the condition and the CT grips even though nothing else came with it. However I've never seen the utility of laser grips on a .22 and they've already been replaced with original plastic grips. CT grips may show up later in the Classifieds if my son doesn't want them.

Group photo in current attire. It's the one on the top. It's in really good condition showing little wear anywhere.

Good buy! It's worth every cent of that price.