Posted: Fri May 03, 2019 4:20 pm

.
FYI
The old serial number dating charts are gone from the SN lookup section of Customer Service, replaced by a search window in which to enter the SN.
https://www.ruger.com/dataProcess/serialHistory/
The website then gives one the model number, a photo, approximate ship date and a link to the latest owner's manual and spec sheet.
The website then gives one the model number, a photo, approximate ship date and a link to the latest owner's manual and spec sheet.
.

Posted: Fri May 03, 2019 6:06 pm

Works ok for newer models 90's and newer. Older models you get a, serial number not available, scroll down and select the model and a ship date chart similar to before appears.

Post subject:Re: Ruger Customer Service Change

I also found that if you have a 'flatgate' the gate isn't listed in the parts that is brought up.

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Posted: Fri May 03, 2019 6:25 pm

Post subject:Ruger Serial Number Lookup

Ruger now has in addition to the serial number tables available on their website, they have a serial number lookup available...
See here:
https://www.ruger.com/dataProcess/serialHistory/
Can’t decide if this is better or not, probably is as it provides other very basic information but I just am not used to it so

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Posted: Sat May 04, 2019 6:18 am

I like it, I had to manipulate it some. Shows my 1977 .41 mag BH as 2017-which is when I sent it in for repair. Does'nt list my '85 Single six-but I found my .41 as it should be on the old list. Shows my 2018 .40/10mm as not in production as well as my .44spl FT from 2014. All my other guns are spot on. Doesn't seem to list the newer Bisley's as such, shows them as Blackhawks- Dave

Posted: Sat May 04, 2019 7:10 am

I like it, but I just looked up the recent 9mm/357 convertible I bought. Ruger says it is a 45 Colt /45 ACP caliber. I double checked to make sure I typed in the correct serial number too. Huh?

Posted: Sat May 04, 2019 8:18 am

It says . . .
'Enter your Ruger® serial number above to view its model number, product line, caliber, production status, ship date and instruction manual.'
So I entered a six-digit serial number from one of my Old Models and it came back with a 'can't find that one' answer.
Then it occurred to me . . . it probably cannot search any number that does not have a prefix since that tells the system where to search. There are many serial numbers that, prior to the advent of the prefix system, were applied to several different guns of various models. Basically, it can only search the New Models.
I tried a couple of prefix numbers and it gave me most of the details mentioned, only providing a year for 'ship date'.

Post subject:Re: Ruger Serial Number Lookup

From their site:
Not all serials numbers (particularly ones shipped before records were kept electronically) are available via this lookup. For older records, please select a product line below to view it's approximate first serial number shipped for the indicated year or contact Customer Service.

Posted: Sat May 04, 2019 1:53 pm

Yep, that'll take you to the non-prefix stuff as well as, for instance, the early two-digit prefix offerings like the 20, 30, 40, and 50-prefix single-actions.

Post subject:Re: Ruger Serial Number Lookup

The shipping date is good to have a s a base line but it tells you nothing for sure about the manufacturing date of the receiver or any of the parts. They could be widely different particularly in the early pre-90s era when large runs of parts were stock-piled and assembled in no particular time order.
Later, as the company got away from large inventories of parts and finished guns, the chances improved that parts were made and used soon before assembly and shipping.
wunbe

Posted: Sun May 05, 2019 11:32 am

Knowing the month as well as the year certainly helps since the various 'type' configurations of many of the Old Models are pretty well known and documented in Chet15's Red Eagle News Exchange Reference of Ruger Firearms. His serial number breakouts are considerably more precise than anything Ruger has put out, and his discussion of which parts were used when is further informative. He can, for instance, occasionally come pretty close to revealing within a month's time when certain features/parts were changed in a run of a particular model. There will always be the occasional 'late shipped' gun having bits and pieces that were released considerably after the gun's serial number might indicate, or the occasional gun wearing some older bits from way earlier production that just floated to the top of the 'parts bin' at final assembly. And of course there is always the potential for the 'screwdriver variations' arising from easily-swapped parts that muddy the gun's actual date of origin, either 'early' or 'late'. There is no real way to sort these aberrations out, but in most cases they can be identified as 'suspicious' if that matters to someone. It really doesn't matter, since The Factory didn't record all the individual bits used on any particular gun anyway, so there is no documentation for most of those with the possible exception of some particular grip frames or panels, and these only occasionally.
All this only serves to keep us on our toes and remember that with Ruger, never say never.

Post subject:Re: Ruger Serial Number Lookup

Well,here is what I got when I entered a number.( Sorry, we are unable to locate that serial number.) The Clayton book shows 1V in 1978 came in 22-250, 25-06, 7mm & 300 Mag. 1979 added the 220 Swift and eliminated the 7mm & 300.The number in question is a 1V in 220 Swift,which was supposedly released in 1979,serial in question,131-42xxx dates to 1978 !

Posted: Mon May 06, 2019 11:46 am

Wonder when Ruger started storing numbers electronically.

Posted: Mon May 06, 2019 12:50 pm

I'm glad Ruger is always trying something Innovative.
I did try the SNL (Serial Number Lookup) on my 5 digit
Single Six Flatgate, made in Year 1956.
Unfortunately all I got was; 'Sorry, we are unable to
locate that serial number'.
Guess Ruger has some tweaking to do on that Program.
Anyway, Thank You Ruger for a Great Idea, if your reading.

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