Ruger MKII with Blued Bolt?

[.455_Hunter]

A LGS has a 99%+ Ruger MK II with a blued bolt (opposed to polished "in the white"), short heavy barrel, and adjustable sights. Includes box and papers. Does this model have a special significance? To a layman, it looks just like the SEAL MK II production units. The price is a bit high, but not ridiculous if a relatively unique specimin. Your thoughts?

 

[Carl N. Brown]

Who blued the bolt? Without provenance (paper trail or history) it means little.

I put black Pachmyer grips on my blued MkII and decided to blue the bolt to match my black holster, belt, and magazine pouch. Means nada to the value of the gun if the user did it.

 

[.455_Hunter]

Good idea. I will get the model number off the box and see what the original configuration was from the factory.

 

[Deus Machina]

I'm saying the biggest possibility is someone blued it for looks or with the thought it would prevent corrosion.
If it has some other significance, that's up to you whether it's worth the price.

 

[bannockburn]

.455_Hunter

Maybe ask this over at the Ruger Collectors Association website and see if anyone there knows anything about it.

 

[.455_Hunter]

Well, the LGS thinks they have a nice unfired late 80's MK II. The bought the gun from the estate from a Ruger collector, and don't realize that they actually have one of the 50 - 100 SEAL contract overruns. Everything is correct, including the serialized extra documentation letter from Ruger that was tucked into the normal paperwork that I was able sneak a pit at without arousing unwanted attention.

Asking price is $499...

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Aren't they blackened stainless as opposed to blued?

 

[.455_Hunter]

Aren't they blackened stainless as opposed to blued?

Yes- "Black Phosphate Coating"​

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I would buy it for the novelty

 

[.455_Hunter]

Google image search "SEAL Ruger MK II" and the first picture shows a production example...

 

[horsemen61]

Did you get it?

 

[bannockburn]

.455_Hunter

Very cool! I would have bought it right there and then!

 

[Slamfire]

I looked at my Ruger MKII 512, blued. The bolt is bright. So, if the model you were looking at has a blued bolt, it is something I have not seen before, and, with enough rounds down range, the bolt will lose its bluing.

What matters is whether the trigger is good, the barrel interior is bright without rust, and you want it at the price offered.

 

[Spats McGee]

Buy it!

Until this thread, I'd never heard of this Seal contract with Ruger. Very cool, indeed.

ETA: This is very cool, but I'm not a collector of guns. If I were ever to buy something like this, it's not something I'd shoot.

 

[.455_Hunter]

I secured it for $449.

The salesman was very surprised when I showed him the the Ruger Letter, Ruger Collector's Certificate and the original Bill of Sale.

It's one of 86 released to the public after the production run for the gov't.

Can't say for sure if the former owner did not fire it, as it has definitely been fired at some point, probably the factory. Not to worry, I will soon correct that situation.

Even though the paperwork says it has the special front sight, none of the overrun guns I can tell from the internet have the same front sight as an actual US marked and issued gun, of which there are two known in private hands. These guns do have a sight with a shortened base and different mounting screws/bolt.

 

[Spats McGee]

I think you got a steal there, .455_Hunter!