Ruger MKI Question

I need some opinions on this one.

A couple of years ago my uncle gave me his Ruger MKI that was manufactured in 1972 (SN 11-27xxx) that had less than 100 rds through it.....probably around 50. I have put a few hundred rds through it since then and it runs like a top - perfect. The condition is probably 95% +. Only a few very light, tiny scratches. My question is, I am thinking of sending it to Ruger to have all the springs, extractor, etc. replaced. For an additional $80 I can have them refinish it, so.......

Should I have them re-blue the gun, leave it alone (and not send it in yet for new guts) or go the DuraCoat avenue? I just like ALL of my guns to look near perfect, especially blued ones.

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm31/wow6599/DSC00666.jpg

I wouldn't refinish it. I'm super picky about the condition of guns, but if its 95%, and 38 years old, that means it was taken care of for years. Its a survivor, leave it be. Ones that nice are becoming harder and harder to find, while anyone can reblue some hard used Mark I. As it is, I admire your Mark I. If it was to be reblued, I wouldn't be interested.

This is just my opinion, take it with a grain of salt.

I have an almost identical one from the same time period. The only difference is mine has wooden grips whereas yours appears to have black polymer.
Leave it alone. Especially do not duracoat it.

If it has that few rounds fired why replace parts?
I would just shoot it and enjoy.
If at some time in the future it does give you a problem then maybe send it to Ruger.
I would not spend the cash to have it reblued. It's pretty nice as it is.

If it has that few rounds fired why replace parts?

Excellent point. These guns have run for thousands upon thousands of rounds for many people. One hundred fifty is nothing. If the gun is already working properly, you are spending money to gain nothing.

I'm not sure why you ask, do you consider this gun as collectable?

The original finish is always more valuable than a refinish, even done by Ruger.

I returned a collectable gun to Ruger for a mechanical problem and asked that they NOT reblue it.
You guessed it, they reblued it and in the process buffed off all the sharpe edges, and that is an indication to anyone that a gun was re-blued.
It works better now but is worth about 50% of it's value with the original blue.

Get some touchup blueing if it bothers you.

These guns are rarely shot much because of the fixed sights and there are many in mint or near mint condition because of this.

I'm not sure why you ask, do you consider this gun as collectable?
Nah, I know it's not a collectable. I want to send it in for new springs, but mainly because Ruger's CS told me they can update it with a firing pin stop so that dry firing won't damage the pin.....kind of a PITA to try to always rember to stop after 9 shots since the slide/bolt doesn't lock after the last shot. Just thinking what it would look like with new "paint", thats all.

Only a few hundred rounds, that's basically a new gun; I'd pass on replacing parts if it shoots well. And if the original finish is in fact 95% (sure looks it in the photo) I'd pass on the re-blue/Dura as well. You have a keeper there. A 1960s era Ruger Standard was my first new gun, sure wish I still had it.

wow6599:

Thanks for responding to my post.
Good call on that firing pin thing, now I understand why you want to send it back.

If it were me, I'd shoot it until it broke and expect it never will.
After all, Ruger will probably fix it for free.

I grew tired of mine because of the fixed sight thing and bought a MkII for a shooter.

Keep yours, regardless, because of the family ties.
Those scratches are patina from your uncle's own hands and may have a story to go along with them.

I want to send it in for new springs, but mainly because Ruger's CS told me they can update it with a firing pin stop so that dry firing won't damage the pin.....kind of a PITA to try to always rember to stop after 9 shots since the slide/bolt doesn't lock after the last shot.
That's odd, unless you are missing parts, your MARK I already has the firing pin stop; see part number A35B: http://www.ruger.com/products/_manuals/markI.pdf
This is the same stop as found on the MARK II and III pistols.
Regards,
Greg
FWIW: my 1953 standard has the same stop.

That's odd, unless you are missing parts, your MARK I already has the firing pin stop
I thought that's what it was/could be. After I spoke with the CS lady today I broke it down to check it out (lost the firing pin return spring for a while) and couldn't figure out what they would do to "update" it, but took her word for it. I gave her the SN and she informed me of the update?

It's been a truism that Rugers could be dry fired though other rimfires couldn't ever since I first got interested in guns in the early '70s.

I would have to say that from the picture you posted I would leave it alone first, If I had to I would have Ruger re-blue. Duracoat would not be on the list at all. It has it's place, but I do not consider this the place.