Picked up this nice little Ruger Bearcat in .22lr.
The revolver is made in 1972 and does not have a transferbar.

It works like a guine SA revolver. You have to cock the hammer to halfcock. Then you can spin the cilinder to load it. It is a Ruger alright. When I tried to remove the Triggerguard all kind of spring and parts came out with a poing.

Found out that it where the cilinderstop spring and the rebound spring.
They ar placed back and the revolver worksfine again.

I sure like this tiny revolver.

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My first handgun was a Ruger Bearcat. Purchased used, with holster, from a hardware store for $40 in about 1970. I still have it. I have no idea how many hundreds and hundreds of rounds of ammo has been thru that little gun..

You can go to Ruger web site with the serial # and check the manufacturing date.

Cool little gun...

Nice find and one has been on my list too. I like the old model Rugers as I think the triggers are better. Just keep the cylinder empty under the hammer and you're safe.

I found a nice Super Bearcat several years ago, like new, but the frame had turned plum. The Super Bearcat has a steel frame and I was told on the Ruger forum that it was not uncommon for some Rugers to do this:

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My sgntr is mor thn 30 chrctrs

No doubt about it. They're great little guns.

I bought my first Bearcat for $25 back in 1968 from a guy who needed some cash. A couple of months later, I was in the same situation and sold it to one of my buddies for the same price. Thinking back on that, I could've kicked myself.

Anyway, years later, I was able to pick up another one. There's just something about the Bearcat that is just plain classy. They're the perfect size for slipping into your saddlebags or tackle box along with a box of .22's without adding much weight at all.

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Pack light and cinch tight.

Those are nice little accurate revolvers...two years ago i picked up a three digit serial# bearcat at a pawn for $300. I called Ruger and its a first year production... Its a keeper.

Marko

Bought one of those for my wife for Valentine's Day in I believe 1968. Cost all of $37.50, plus tax, of course. The only one she still claims is "hers".

Mine is made in 1972. Still looking new. I am very happy with it.

Great little gun and cheap in the '60's when I got this one.

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Rush

I bought mine just a few years back for under 300 dollars. It's an early one with a brass trigger guard. Ruger dated it for me but I have forgotten what I was told. It was not returned to Ruger for updating with the transfer bar and I certainly wasn't going to do that! It's still like new - I have fired it a little but it's mostly a barbecue gun* for me; I had a shoulder holster made for it, basically a Colt Paterson-style holster. Works great.

My favorite LGS had it and how do I know they like me? The owner said, "You know, I think we have stag grips that might fit that" and he goes and gets a gorgeous set of stags, they were made for a Bearcat, it turns out, and we put them on directly* (thus, barbecue gun)......and he charged me 75 bucks for them because that's what he had in them and they were useless to anyone except a Bearcat owner.

***GRJ***

I have had several over the years. They are a great gun for slipping in your pocket for walks in the woods. The one I have now wears elk stag grips, and is more accurate than a little revolver like that should be.

Larry

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I've got an early 70's steel-framed version I got used a few years ago. Had 'Ajax' or some other aftermarket grips on it I didn't like.

Although Ruger says the new grips they sell online are for the new production revolvers..I took a chance and ordered a set...they fit perfectly on my old model Bearcat.

Lucky man! I've always wanted one, but it hasn't come together yet. Congrats - yours looks great!

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“What you got, ain’t new.”

Always wanted one, (7/11/12) walked into the LGS and heard my name being called. Cost $345.31 which included taxes.
Made in 1968.



My friend (NRA Instructor) borrows it once in awhile to let the youngsters have a little fun. So I had the safety conversion done and Ruger paid for everything.

But I can replace the original set up if I want to.

Ruger sent all the original parts back to me.





I just think it is one cool little .22 revolver.

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Doesn't hasta call me Johnson

Labworm, nice set up. I inherited my Dad's Ruger SS and sent it back to have the trigger replaced. Yes they returned the old one too.

I bought my wife a Bearcat almost 20 years ago. The neat thing is I was dumpster diving in the junk box at an LGS, found this little bitty cowboy looking holster. It was marked 2 bucks so I bought it. Later when I bought the Bearcat I remembered the holster, it was a perfect fit. Now she has this micro version SA for our woods walks.

It looks just right on my little Annie Oakley.

Nice Post.

Maybe it is just me, but they really feel good in my hand.

Plus they are a Hoot to Shoot

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Doesn't hasta call me Johnson

Those are neat little revolvers and every time I see one I'm tempted to buy it and tuck it away until my son is old enough to shoot it. It would be great if they came out with a version that had adjustable sights like on the Single Ten.

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Ban lunatics and criminals

I had sold my original one, dumbass I know, and years later inherited one from my FIL. It is pretty warn, with the brass frame coating downmto rough aluminum aroundnthe trigger guard. Itbstarted binding up and finally you could not remove the cylinder. I sent it back to Ruger, knowing they would update. It was returned updated, new cylinder rod, action smoothed up, old parts in a bag, plus new grips as well as the old grips, and NO CHARGE. I was out shipping to Ruger, plus I used a gunsmith to handle rather than hassling myself. No appearance change, but the action is smooth, the trigger pull is great, and I like having the ability to carry 6 rounds safely while in my saddle bags or pocket. New grips fit as well as the old ones, and are snazzier (sp) and not oil soaked.
Still shoots as well as I can?

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Wherever my mind isn't
Jim

I always though the plum was ugly (and before I knew better a rust or corrosion problem) but some collectors seek out examples that have turned plum. European guns (certain parts) are especially prone to turning plum, the most common example I can think of is the slide on P7s. Evidently it's a result of the heat treating process used on parts before assembly and blueing (density of part? process used? duration?). That's why some parts turn plum and others don't.

The extractors and sights on my HKs and control levers on some of my old Berettas all seem to have turned plum.

Now if my stainless Bearcat has parts that turn plum I know I have a problem.

I have a client eho has a really nice Bearcat. She told me her late husband bought it in the mid '60s for protection. He worked for John Deere and handled union contract negotiations. Apparently during strikes he was concerned for his safety. Not sure why he picked a Single Action .22.
She told me she was sitting on the floor examining it once and it went off in the dining room. I showed her how to safely handle it.
She even has the box snd paperwork.
Jim

OK, that's it. Now I NEED a Bearcat. You guys are killin' me.

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AL
Pax Per Potens

Great little guns!

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John
S&WCA Life Member

here"s a Ruger Bearcat purchased in 1964 by my Mother at a local hardware store. Shot it alot when I was a kid. Still shoot great and in excellant condition.bearcat.JPG

What do you mean? You need one

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Doesn't hasta call me Johnson

Not any more. I'll post a picture when I get it.

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AL
Pax Per Potens

Didn't take ya long to become one of the Bearcat Boys.
Can't wait to see the pictures

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Doesn't hasta call me Johnson

I wasn't a big fan either, but the gun was priced right (less than 1/2 price of a new one at the time) so I grabbed it. It's grown on me since then.

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My sgntr is mor thn 30 chrctrs

Still waiting

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Doesn't hasta call me Johnson

I've had a hankering for the little Bearcat Shopkeeper but the funds aren't there...My daughter graduated from the University of Cincinnati last Spring. Their football team name is the Bearcats and paying the parent educational loan for her degree is the only Bearcat(s) related item I will be paying for in the next twenty years.

This is my first time posting from my new tablet so it may not work, here is my new to me Bearcat.

http://rs79.pbsrc.com/albums/j137/al...7e.jpg~320x480

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AL
Pax Per Potens

Welcome to the club, very nice pick up.

If the recoil is too much, pick up a box of .22 shorts, a little less recoil, you may be able to shoot it then in one hand.

Good luck with it, Little Bore Al.

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Doesn't hasta call me Johnson