are distibutor exclusives of guns okay to buy?

[fishblade2]

I have found a version of the Mark III 22/45 pistol that I want but it's from Talo's. I first wanted to know if distributor exclusives meant that ruger still built the pistol but the company just made minor cosmetic adjustments to it. I just wanted to make sure overall that the reliability of a great gun is not disturbed by distributor exclusive changes. Thanks for the help

 

[Sam1911]

Those are simply unusual variations that a distributor has orderd a special run of. They are factory guns, just in configurations the manufacturer didn't originally plan to sell.

Talo exclusive guns have often been quite well received.

Like this 3" S&W 629: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=542718

 

[mgmorden]

The distributor isn't even the one that makes the changes. All they do is contract with Ruger (or whoever else, though Ruger does a lot of exclusive editions) to build one a little differently for them. No need to worry.

 

[Snag]

What Sam1911 said. Distributors like Talo's and Lipsey's can convince manufacturers to make a gun a certain way that people want because they're willing to buy a few thousand or more.

For example, if you wanted something like the newer midsize Vaquero's in 45 Colt.....but with adjustable sights...and a steel grip frame you would be out of luck. Ruger doesn't normally make such an item. Apparently lots of people had the same thought and Lipsey's got Ruger to make a bunch.

 

[Legion489]

A distributor special, like the Ruger .40 S&W/.38-40 Blackhawks Lipsey sold, are just special order firearms. I seem to remember they had to buy a minimum of 2,500 of each model to get them, but what Ruger collector wouldn't love to get a Blackhawk that is "one of 2,500" in a special cartridge/caliber?

If it is in some cartridge you like and is a gun you want, buy it.

 

[Naybor]

My Ruger Mk III is a stainless steel standard model from a Sports South Distributor Exclusive. I went this way to get the standard model with stainless steel. It's still made by Ruger and all parts are interchangeable. I wouldn't trade it for anything. Wonderful handgun!

The Ruger site http://www.ruger.com/products/markIII/index.html has it's regular models and examples from Sports South and Talo for you to view. You can't go wrong altho a little more expensive.

I also got rosewood grips from www.Altamontco.com and get lots of compliments on it. Everyone seems to want to look at it.

 

[WardenWolf]

My Ruger 22/45 Mark III Hunter is a Davidson's Exclusive that's blued instead of stainless. It dropped about $250 off the cost, with that minor change.