Old Model Bearcat

[alinct]

Picked up an old model bearcat tonight, serial #18xxx. It's used, but doesn't appear to be abused. It has the brass colored trigger guard and a pair of smooth wood grips that I don't think are original (they don't have the ruger medalion on them). When the clerk brought out the box for it, we discovered that it had an unopened packet of parts. These were the original parts that ruger returned when they upgraded it to the transfer bar- hammer, base pin, pawl, bolt, ect.

Handling it, it's very compact and light- did a little bit of research and found out that the old models had aluminum frames. Online I've found that at some point during the early 70's they switched to steel frames. Anything I should watch out for with the aluminum frame? How do the old models hold up to the new?

The whole thing just comes off as being so handy. I think I found my perfect little kit gun. Can't wait to bring it to the range this weekend.

Thanks for any info you can give.

Al

[sackpeterson]

Those are probably the original grips, if they are of the red wood grain resin type. Bearcats didnt have medallions until serial 30,000 or so.

[Boge Quinn]

May 31, 2011 22:31:09 GMT -5 alinct said:

Picked up an old model bearcat tonight, serial #18xxx. It's used, but doesn't appear to be abused. It has the brass colored trigger guard and a pair of smooth wood grips that I don't think are original (they don't have the ruger medalion on them). When the clerk brought out the box for it, we discovered that it had an unopened packet of parts. These were the original parts that ruger returned when they upgraded it to the transfer bar- hammer, base pin, pawl, bolt, ect.

Handling it, it's very compact and light- did a little bit of research and found out that the old models had aluminum frames. Online I've found that at some point during the early 70's they switched to steel frames. Anything I should watch out for with the aluminum frame? How do the old models hold up to the new?

The whole thing just comes off as being so handy. I think I found my perfect little kit gun. Can't wait to bring it to the range this weekend.

Thanks for any info you can give.

Al

Congrats, Bearcats are among my very favorite sixguns! Early Bearcat grips did not have medallions. Here's some good info:

Bill Hamm's article on Old Model Bearcats:
www.gunblast.com/Hamm_Bearcat.htm

Bill Hamm's article on Old Model Super Bearcats:
www.gunblast.com/Hamm_SuperBearcat.htm

Jeff's article on the New Bearcat:
www.gunblast.com/Bearcat.htm

Jeff's article on the Stainless New Bearcat:
www.gunblast.com/Stainless_Bearcat.htm

Jeff's article on the 50th Anniversary New Bearcat:
www.gunblast.com/Ruger-50thBearcat.htm

Some old fat guy's article on a Bowen Old Model Custom Bearcat:
www.gunblast.com/Boge_BowenBearcat.htm

And a Bowen "Perfected Bearcat":
www.gunblast.com/Boge_Bowen-PerfectedBearcat.htm

[carl]

The early Bearcats had plastic grips like those pictured above. They also were fitted with
steel ejector housings.

Enjoy!

Carl

[Sarge]

I'm not a '22 guy', generally preferring to use reduced loads in my centerfires. But the Bearcat is a special case and Al summed it up as well as anyone when he wrote "The whole thing just comes off as being so handy." I don't own one at the moment, but I intend to rectify that at the earliest opportunity.

If Boge was a bear and you wanted to trap him, you wouldn't set out a jar of honey. Just set out a Bearcat in a Mason jar, and he'd never knew what hit him LOL

[Boge Quinn]

Jun 1, 2011 7:52:57 GMT -5 Sarge said:

If Boge was a bear and you wanted to trap him, you wouldn't set out a jar of honey. Just set out a Bearcat in a Mason jar, and he'd never knew what hit him LOL

If I was a bear I'd be smaller...



...but that would be a good way to ketch me!

[cdcash]

Thanks for the links Boge. Great stuff....just bought my first Bearcat(stainless) and and can't wait to get my hands on it.

[Frank V]

I'd like to thank you for the links too Boge.
Frank

[alinct]

Thanks everyone.
Boge, thank you for those links, and thank Mr. Hamm for doing all that research.

[Boge Quinn]

Y'all are welcome, that's why Gunblast is there.

[Sarge]

You boys are definitely offering a level of information not available elsewhere. I direct folks there on a regular basis and never worry about them getting fed bullshit or wrong information. Thanks to you all.

[Boge Quinn]

Thankee, Sarge, I do appreciate that.

[mic214]

This is great info....I just checked my Bearcat and it is a "P" series with a flat button ejector rod. I looked at Ruger's website and it appears that mine was made sometime between 1959 and 1960...

[agrizz]

My first Bearcat came to me in the spring of 1966 and has remained with me since. Great little revolvers.