Confused by Mark I serial number

[JiminMaine]

I recently picked up a Mark I with a 6 7/8" barrel. I checked the serial number on the Ruger site and it states it was made in 1965. Then since I was on the site I decided to see what year my Mark I with the 5 1/2" Bull-barrel was made. According to the site it was made in 1978, serial # 14-711##. Here is what confuses me, I know I traded for this "used/like new" pistol in the fall of 1975. I had a Beretta O/U shotgun that I had picked up during my first enlistment in the Navy (I got out in Oct 1974) that I traded for three other guns including this Mark I. I had it with me when I re-enlisted in May of 1976 and went back to Norfolk, Virginia. These are the only Mark I pistols I have ever owned.

How can the serial # list be this far off?

 

[contender]

That's an interesting question.

Looking at the RENE Guide,, in 1975,, the serial number range is 12-81988 to 13-99096. And the 14-711xx is 1978. In 1978,, the serial number range is 14-69121 to 15-36232.

The older records like this are pretty accurate. And I seriously doubt that Bill allowed a gun to be marked so far out of sequence. (ATF records etc,)

You can request a letter from Ruger for $10.00 and it'll give you a mfg date & a ship date. They are required by law to keep such records.

Maybe you are somehow mistaken about the timeframe you got this gun?? Truly a mystery.

 

[Fox Mike]

The 1978 serial number is correct. The numbers for that year were 14-69121 - 15-36232. Any prior to 1969 did not have a prefix in the serial number. I see contender and I were answering at the same time.

 

[hittman]

RENE shows same date.
Musta been during your drinking days and YOUR dates are off? LOL

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[Watertender]

Interesting.... 2 great pistols though. Only one problem that I see is that you can't use the same magazines in them.

 

[chet15]

As a further confirmation, all Ruger firearms expected to be shipped during 1976 were marked with the 200th Year of American Liberty Rollmark. Those can only be found between 13-52292 and 14-10337.
Chet15

 

[JiminMaine]

Interesting.... 2 great pistols though. Only one problem that I see is that you can't use the same magazines in them.

I didn't realize that until I went to the range with them both last week.

I have been thinking about this for the last week. All I can think of is that back in the early 80s I used to go shooting with a friend in South Carolina and at the end of each shooting session we would go back to his house and clean all the guns. He also had a Mark I 5 1/2" bull-barrel. We would compete to see who could shoot thier's the best. I wonder if at one of those cleaning sessions we got them mixed up. I have him checking his records.

HITTMAN:
"Musta been during your drinking days and YOUR dates are off? LOL"
I thought about that, but I quit drinking in 1972.

 

[Watertender]

Makes sense that you might have mixed up pistols with your friend. I bet you will find out that you did. If the one that you have shoots better you might have made a good trade.