Ruger Mark I

C

CLASSIC12

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So here’s the story. I have been looking for a nice Ruger Mark Pistol with a bull barrel, at a reasonable price for some time. In fact I wondered why I didn’t buy one earlier, since I’ve been shooting and buying guns for 30 years. Then I vaguely remembered that the absence of an exposed hammer was a put off for me. Maybe a bad memory of my very first gun, a S&W 422 I didn’t like and quickly traded for a 6” model 66-3 revolver in .357 magnum.

Didn’t know much about them so I educated myself and came to the conclusion that the 5.5” bull barrel Mark II would be the ticket (a 10” would be nice, but I’ve never seen one here in Switzerland).

And as luck has it, shortly after I agreed to buy the Mark II already presented from an elderly gentleman who stopped shooting, this one popped up at a very large auction where I was coveting other guns (but didn’t get them). Hammer came down at $ 320, and all of a sudden I was now the owner of two Ruger Mark Pistols.

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Manufactured in 1978

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Clean barrel without markings

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Only one magazine sadly

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Beautiful pistol.

If you can get the 10 round magazines you can use them in place of the 9 rounders. They will either work as is or you have to switch the loading button to the opposite side. I have a MKI with a 6 7/8th inch taper barrel that uses the earlier mags so I had to switch the sides. Easy to do.
 
Rayfan87 said:
Beautiful pistol.

If you can get the 10 round magazines you can use them in place of the 9 rounders. They will either work as is or you have to switch the loading button to the opposite side. I have a MKI with a 6 7/8th inch taper barrel that uses the earlier mags so I had to switch the sides. Easy to do.
Click to expand...



Thanks for the tip
 
Bullet Bob said:
You may not need it, but here's the best video I've found for the disassembly/reassembly of the Mark I & II.



YouTube
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I totally need it, in fact I was going to ask what the best video for that is.

Edit. I just watched it, very good video indeed, I should be able to do that with ease, rather than have fits trying to figure it out by myself.
 
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Here are a few thoughts from someone who has been a MK Series pistol addict for decades now.
1) WOW, what a beauty! With the box too. Clean classic lines and in excellent condition for a pistol made in 1978 as yours was.. Most 40 yr old MK I's don't fair that well. You did good!
2) The Ruger MK I,II,III and now IV are always VERY well represented in most local bullseye leagues. The 422/622 not so much. I've owned multiples of both lines and believe the MK series is a significantly more capable and better supported pistol than the Smith 422/622.
3) Putting these pistols togeather is ALL about knowing where the Hammer and Spur need to be at various places in the process ( That's where all the 'Point it this way , pull the triger and slap it instruction is trying to get you.) Understand how the insides work and it becomes EASY.
4) You can NEVER have to many Ruger MK pistols. They are as addicting as potato chips :-)
Tight Groups!
 
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I inherited what I thought was a Mk1 when my brother died . I looked it up on their web site and it was made in 1957 , so it might be a pre-Mk1 . The bluing is not perfect , but it's my best shooting .22 .Well , maybe not my 1978 m41 , but I bet that Ruger was a lot cheaper .
 
cherrypointmarine said:
I inherited what I thought was a Mk1 when my brother died . I looked it up on their web site and it was made in 1957 , so it might be a pre-Mk1 . The bluing is not perfect , but it's my best shooting .22 .Well , maybe not my 1978 m41 , but I bet that Ruger was a lot cheaper .
Click to expand...

The Mark 1's actually go all the way back to 1950. The "MK 1 Target" as it was called, was an upgrade to the Standard (and was marketed in parralel.) in that it had an adjustable rear sight, undercut front sight and a longer barrel. If yours has an adjustable rear sight it could very well be a MK I. If it's got fixed sights, it's a Standard. Here is a picture of a nice 1958 MK 1 Target I picked up a couple years back. This one was in the origonal box with spare boxed mag (priced at $4.95:-) and has the 6.8" barrel and Micro rear sight. ( Note if you look close you can see the reciever is stamped "Mark 1" as well.)
 
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Sir, I have that identical gun. I bought it new in 1977 or 78. I also bought a set of Ruger checkered wood grips and 4 or 5 extra magazines. I think I still have the receipt. I think it was less then $150.00 for everything, but I would have to look. I have no idea how many rounds I have put thru it. When it jams, I take it apart and clean it. Maybe every 4,000 or 5,000 rounds. Other then when it is really dirty, I never clean to or take it apart. I just wipe it down with an oily rag and put it away. But is still looks real good. It is the best .22 automatic pistol I own. I bought a S&W Model 41. The Model 41 has been back to the factory twice and still is not as reliable has the Ruger. That is a fine pistol, I hope you enjoy it. I always like your posts, it is interesting reading about gun ownership in other countries.
 
Much as I fancy my Mk IV, I know it’ll never hold a candle to the old Rugers including the Standard, Mk 1, and Mk 2!!!
 
The MKII Target I picked up a couple weeks ago was missing the box, but had the manual, sales receipt, extra mag, and ammo purchased with it and only ten rounds missing. I believe from looking at it that only those ten were ever fired. And I'm only in it for $200!:D

 
In 1974, Mrs. swsig wanted a High Standard .22lr. Our LGS had one, but the owner insisted on test firing it before he would sell it to us. When he couldn't get it to function properly, he suggested a Ruger Standard (5.25" tapered barrel with fixed sights). It test-fired perfectly, so we bought it. Now, 45 years later, we still have it and it still works perfectly. It's had one trip back to the factory (at age 40) to fix a loose ejector, but with Ruger's superb warranty service, it was free, with a one-week turnaround. Finally, our Standard is not only very accurate, it still has the best trigger of any pistol I have ever shot.

Congratulations, CLASSIC12, you'll love yours!
 
This one just followed me home from a gun show last weekend. I won't tell ya what I paid simply because I hate to hear a grown man cry.



Another that lives here.



Any the little one.

 
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