|
RUGER
SUPER BEARCAT
1971
to 1974
In June 1971, about one year after the original
“Bearcat” production
ended, Sturm, Ruger
& Co., Inc. introduced the steel cylinder/grip frame
“Super Bearcat” single action revolver.
The steel versus the alloy cylinder/grip frame on the
original Bearcat was the major difference in these fine little
kit guns. The Super
retained the 4 inch barrel and oiled walnut grips with the heavy
pressed aluminum medallions and weighed in at 22-1/2 ounces
versus the 17 ounces of its predecessor.
Super Bearcat serial numbers all began with a “91”
prefix. The retail
price was $54.00.
The first Super Bearcats had brass anodized
trigger guards just like the original Bearcats.
They were also shipped in Bearcat boxes with Bearcat
instructions until the supply of these were exhausted.
Boxes marked “Super Bearcat” began to show up in the
last quarter of 1971. About
37,000 Super Bearcats were made with brass anodized trigger
guards. They can be
found with or without “.22 Cal.” Marked on the barrel.
Super Bearcats with blued steel trigger guards
were introduced fairly early in 1972.
About 27,000 of this variation were made.
Only rarely did they not have “.22 Cal.” Marked on
the barrel.
The Super Bearcat proved to be very popular with
outdoorsmen and sportsmen of all types.
In its relative short 2-1/2 year life about 64,000 were
made and sold.
The
known serial numbers range from 91-00001 to 91-64417.
The Super Bearcat was made longer than any of the other
Old Model Ruger single action revolvers which did not have the
safety transfer bar system found in the New Models introduced in
1973. Production
ceased in January 1974.
Bill Hamm
Read more about Bill on the
"About Us" page.
Got something to say about this article? Want to agree (or
disagree) with it? Click the following link to go to the GUNBlast Feedback Page.
The Ruger Owners & Collectors
Society is an active organization for all Ruger Owners, Shooters and
Collectors. Annual Membership includes a ROCS Logo
Brassard, the latest Digest Magazine and an invitation to
ROCS events. There will be two Digest magazines published
every year. For more information and to apply for annual
membership please visit www.Rugersociety.com on
the web or write to ROCS, P. O. Box 1026, Killen, AL
35645-1026. We welcome you!!
|
|
Click pictures for a larger version.
Example
of a Super Bearcat with brass-anodized aluminum trigger guard.
Close-up
view of the brass-anodized aluminum trigger guard on
#91-32828.
Barrel
address without "SR" inside the Ruger Eagle and no
".22 Cal." marking. Found on s/n 91-32828.
Close-up
view of the "Cat" on the Super's roll-marked
cylinder.
Example
of a Super Bearcat with the blue steel trigger guard.
Close-up
view of the blue steel trigger guard on #91-59512.
Barrel
address with the "SR" in the Ruger Eagle and
".22 Cal." marking. Found on s/n 91-59512.
View
of s/n 91-59512's alloy ejector rod housing and short front
sight found on all of the Super Bearcats.
View
of a Super Bearcat box top.
View
of a Super Bearcat box end.
The
early Super Bearcats came in these Bearcat boxes with Bearcat
instructions dated 9/69.
Bearcat
instructions dated 9/69 came with the first Super Bearcats.
Later guns had Super Bearcat instructions; example shown is
dated 9/72.
This
is a picture of Elmer Keith's Super Bearcat, s/n 91-00015. It
is new in its original box with all the papers. This rare gun
is the pride of my modest Super Bearcat collection.
Close-up
view of Elmer Keith's Super Bearcat, serial
number...#91-00015.
Shipping
label on #91-00015's cardboard shipping carton. Sent from
Sturm, Ruger & Co. to a Salmon, Idaho hardware store for
Mr. Elmer Keith.
Picture
of the handwritten note inside of #91-00015's box top from
Elmer Keith to his good friend when he traded the gun to him.
|
