Hello All,

I would like to know the history of the MICRO Rear Sight on Ruger Mark I's. In particular; were these sights standard equipment throughout the Mark I production run? If not, what year were they phased out?

I picked up a Mark I Target Model with 6 7/8" barrel earlier today, and this sight was one of the features I found very appealing on this gun. This one probably shipped from the factory in 1960, according to the serial number, and although I haven't really paid much attention to Ruger Mark I's in years and years; my brother bought one new a couple of years before they were phased out for the newer Mark II models, and I don't recall it having this type of sight. That might just be faulty memory on my part. That's entirely possible.

Anyway, this sight is all steel; quite a difference from the current aluminum examples.

Here are some photos. I apologize in advance for the fuzz and dirt. I haven't attempted to clean this gun yet.

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I tried an on line search in an attempt to answer my own question on this and could only determine that the MICRO Sight was installed at the inception of the Target Models; but I wasn't able to find an answer to when it may have been phased out.

Thanks in advance for any information y'all are able to provide.

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Dave Brown
SWCA #3279

The flattop OM .357s came with a Micro rear sight also. They disappeared when Ruger came out with a similar sight, but I don't know the date.

I suggest you join the Ruger Forum to get the answer

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

You should check at BOTH Ruger boards. Each has experts and at least one will see and answer your question.

My MK I bull barrel had the Ruger replacement for the Micros and was the gun shown in my article on Ruger .22 auto pistols in the Nov/Dec, 1980 American Handgunner. You can locate that Online. I think you'd be very interested in some of the info included that has never been published elsewhere, to my knowledge.

My wife got that gun in our divorce and I replaced it with a stainless one and added the wooden Ruger grips like you have.

It's a nice combo. I prefer the MK II to any other version of the gun.

Hi Muley Gil and Texas Star,

Thank you for responding to my inquiry! I sincerely appreciate it!

Looks like I need to be more diligent in my on line search, or as suggested, membership in a Ruger specific forum is warranted.

I'll continue the search later today.

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Dave Brown
SWCA #3279

Hi Texas Star,

I agree with you on the Mark II. It's my favorite as well! However, the only feature from the Mark II that appears to be absent from this new to me Mark I is the bolt lock on last shot feature. I put a Mark II magazine in it (with the loading button reversed), so the available round count is the same for both versions. What this Mark I has that was really worth it to me s a super consistent <2 3/4# trigger that's as crisp as any I've ever encountered on any of the various Marks!

Added to the above, the $283.20 out the door price! I just couldn't pass it up!

Thanks again!

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Dave Brown
SWCA #3279

Wow! You got a deal. Congratulations! That gun looks to be in fine condition.

From Chad Hiddleson's excellent Encyclopedia of Ruger Semi-Automatic Rimfire Pistols 1949-1992, page 122, the Micro rear sight was changed to the aluminum one in mid-to-late 1968. Development of the first Mk I target models began in 1949, with the first production models shipped in early 1951.

The Mk II was officially introduced in 1982.

Thank you! You've helped clear up a lot! This means the Mark I my brother had was NOT equipped with the MICRO Rear Sight! I guess at 61, at least some of my memory is still intact!

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Dave Brown
SWCA #3279