I've got an opportunity to buy the subject pistol but I'm not sure how much it's worth. Actually, I don't even know if it's a MkI. It doesn't have any markings on it other than Ruger on the barrel. Was there and original before they started calling them MkI's? It looks like it's had a WHOLE LOT of use and the finish has been worn off quite a bit. Barrel looks good. I don't know how to dissasemble it so I haven't been able to inspect any of the internals. Can anyone give me an idea or point me in the right direction?

Also, I haven't fired it but I manually cycled a full magazine thru it. The bolt didn't lock back after the last round. Is that normal for these?

Thanks in advance,
Clint

I bought one about the same age a while back, that was in 98% condition, with a Hunter holster. I believe the price here in MN about 2 years back was around the $175-$200 range for a plane jane version. I got it for $125 from a private seller. There are a couple different versions of this gun and some are worth double what the others are. I would not take the time to disassemble unless you know your stuff about these guns, they are kinda tricky to tear down and get back together. I also believe that the bolt not locking back on the last round is normal (kind of annoying, you just need to keep count of your shots). If i recall you can use the safety lever as the bolt catch latch (it's been a while) I believe the newer ones have a separate lever for that. Wish I would have kept it but I needed the money. Based off your description I would offer $100 for it.

Yes, there was. Sturm-Ruger's entry into the firearms business was with the pistol they called the Standard Model with a 4" barrel, looking much like a 4" Luger P-08. A few years later they came out with a target model they called the Mark I, with a 6" barrel with a deeply undercut front sight and micrometer adjustable rear sight (Micro, I think), and a better trigger/sear than the Standard Model.

spitfire-er is correct that the bolt is not locked back on an empty magazine, but can be manually locked back with the safety switch.

They were (and are) very rugged pistols. The only thing I have ever heard go wrong with one is the "ears" on the recoil spring guide are easily broken.

Field stripping is a little unusual, but not all that difficult once you have done it a few times, but detail stripping is a nightmare (for me, anyway), but unnecessary in normal use.

Ruger has a manual on-line in PDF format here: http://www.ruger-firearms.com/Firear...Manuals/48.pdf

The pistol is no longer in production, so the one you're looking at is worth whatever someone will pay for it, and that will depend on things beyond my knowledge -- like how badly you want it, and how badly the seller wants to get rid of it/need the cash?

The pistol has been "new and improved" twice, and the standard model has been out of production many years, now, for whatever that's worth in your negotiations.

The Old Guy

One easy way to tell the difference between a Mk I & later models is to look at the back of the receiver. A Mk I is cylindrical all the way back to the slide pull while later models, Mk II & III, are "scalloped" just before the pull. Here are some pics of a Mk I & a Mk II...



And if the magazines are original they only hold nine rounds.

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9 rounds in the magizine + 1 in the tube for the MKI.

10 in the magizine + 1 in the tube for later generations of it.

The magizines for a MKI WILL NOT interchange between the MKI and the MKII and MKIII.

Magizines for the MKII and MKIII will interchange fine to the best of my knowledge?

"Breathalizer test" and "ignition key" are required for the MKIII.

Cheezywan

The MKII and MKIII mags are different, as the MKIII mags have the mag release near the trigger like 1911s, and the MKII uses a lever release at the bottom of the magazine. Followers and springs are the same though.

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My Mark 1 is an incredible shooter.