Pawn shop find: Ruger GP100 full lug fixed sightsADDED PIC

olivehead1 · Jun 10, 2019

Last week while researching something else, I came upon some info on the "ultra-rare" GP100 with both full lug and fixed sights. I see the fixed-sight w/half-lug models from time to time in both blue and stainless, but never the full lug. Didn't even know these had ever been a thing. Then I remembered that about 6 months ago I'd been at a Cash America the day a fixed sight stainless model went out, but didn't pay much attention since it was fixed sights and I guess I assumed it was half lug. Six months later after reading about the full lug version I went in that shop and sure enough, it was full lug. Priced $499, picked up for $360 OTD. Per the Ruger website, manufactured 1992.

It needs a little work, first a real good cleaning, then some ding removal along the top strap and barrel. The action is tight and smooth. I figure if I don't like it in the end I can probably make most of my money back.

kraynky · Jun 10, 2019

Yep, you're not hurt at that price. I haven't seen even a used GP 100 for under $5 bills. I was not aware they made one without adjustable sights myself. They're durn good guns. Congratulations!

ontargetagain · Jun 10, 2019

That's a bargain and a neat find both. Never met a GP100 I didn't like

Nice little project and keeper, have fun!
Karl

Andyd · Jun 10, 2019

I got one of those in .38 Special a few years ago. It was supposedly made for some security firm and mine is an overrun.

gman51 · Jun 10, 2019

You got that at a good price. GP100 are built like a tank. Made to withstand magnum power.

Texas Star · Jun 10, 2019

I had one that I bought at Academy Sports. Wasn't aware that it was rare. I sold it to buy the usual adj. sight version, which I still own.

It and my SP-101 with barrel a trifle over three inches are among my favorite revolvers.

I couldn't find Uncle Mike's grips like those in the OP that'd fit my my gun's frame, so used Pachmayr Grippers, which are a perfect fit.

If it shoots to the sights, a fixed sight GP is a wonderful gun. If you can clean up those dings I think you 'll like this gun.

Texas Star · Jun 10, 2019

Andyd said:
I got one of those in .38 Special a few years ago. It was supposedly made for some security firm and mine is an overrun.

Buffalo Bore makes a really hot .38 Special round that's right at the door of .357 performance. S&W .38-44 Outdoorsman and Heavy Duty revolvers are also ideal for it, when you want added power in a .38. I wouldn't want to fire it in an Airweight J-frame gun, though.

dmthomp32 · Jun 10, 2019

These remind me of the Smith and Wesson 681 model. Simple, strong, efficient!

Sent from my Pixel 3a XL using Tapatalk

olivehead1 · Jun 10, 2019

Well, I think this is about as good as I can get it. Took it apart, sprayed it (brake cleaner--it was as filthy as I've ever seen), scrubbed it with MPro7, tried to minimize the dings, and gave it a light once-over with Mothers, then pulled some take off grips from the parts bin. Not too bad overall.

I find this gun more aesthetically pleasing that the S&W 681, for no reason I can put my finger on.

eveled · Jun 11, 2019

Fixed sight GP’s with long barrels are unusual. I thought they were all full lug AFAIKthey came with the smaller grip, the panels matched the ones on an SP101. For a while those grips were selling for up to $100 on eBay. Now they are available again from Ruger. Anybody with a .38 special GP should check to see if a .357 will fit. Rumor was they didn’t bother to make special cylinders for the special run. Or it could have been bored out already.

eveled · Jun 11, 2019

I bobbed the hammer on mine then checkered the top of it like the old “speed hammers” on the six series. First picture is a factory speed hammer, the next two are my GP.

JayFramer · Jun 11, 2019

Pretty pointless in .38 only caliber. In .357, great service revolver.

k22fan · Jun 11, 2019

I'm sorry to disappoint Jayfarmer but my favorite fixed sight 4" GP 100 is a blued .38 special. Most of us have more than enough .357s and fire more .38 Specials through them than .357s. A fixed sighted revolver is more likely to shoot to point of aim if its sights were designed for its cartridge. Blued sights do not reflect light as bad as stainless. GP 100 fixed sights are larger than any S&W fixed sight that was milled as part of the frame making Ruger's easier to see when the light is less than perfect.

My recollection of reading about 4" fixed sighted .38 Special GP-100s on rugerforum is that full lugs are more common than half lugs. However, that was .38s, not .357s. Probably more of the .38s were sold to prison systems than security guard companies.

For a long time the smaller size rubber grip with wood side panels was standard on fixed sighted GP 100s with all barrel lengths and not standard on any adjustable sighted GP 100s. It is likely that the small grips from the original poster's revolver were sold separately during the time period when they were selling for a premium.

In my experience .38 GP 100s do not accept .357s unless their chambers have been reamed longer. It is so commonly suggested that reaming them to .357 would improve them that it is no surprise that some of the .38s changing hands on the used market were reamed.

kbm6893 · Jun 11, 2019

olivehead1 said:
Well, I think this is about as good as I can get it. Took it apart, sprayed it (brake cleaner--it was as filthy as I've ever seen), scrubbed it with MPro7, tried to minimize the dings, and gave it a light once-over with Mothers, then pulled some take off grips from the parts bin. Not too bad overall.

I find this gun more aesthetically pleasing that the S&W 681, for no reason I can put my finger on.

I had one years ago. Maybe 8 years? A security firm in Nevada was selling them when they switched to Glocks. They were $299 and came in original factory box. I stupidly sold it since I had a 686 at the time and figured the fixed sight was pointless. I’m not sure I even fired it.

Sold the 686 at some point too. Another big mistake for what I paid for it. $525 and it was perfect. No box though. I grabbed a 681 a while back and I shoot that gun with fixed sights better than any gun I have ever shot. Fist sized grouping headshots to target are easy at 15 yards. Empty shotgun hulls On the backstop don’t stand a chance at 15 yards either. It’s a gun I cannot miss with.

I also have a Ruger Service Six and a Security Six. Very nice guns as well.

Andyd · Jun 11, 2019

Texas Star said:
Buffalo Bore makes a really hot .38 Special round that's right at the door of .357 performance. S&W .38-44 Outdoorsman and Heavy Duty revolvers are also ideal for it, when you want added power in a .38. I wouldn't want to fire it in an Airweight J-frame gun, though.

I am an avid reloader and am occasionally putting some .38 Very Special +P+P+ through the GP100 that are at the level of current commercial .357 Magnum levels. I had shot that gun for many years and warmed it up well by taking the ammo out of the old HKS competition ammo boxes for speedloaders.

olivehead1 · Jun 11, 2019

k22fan said:
For a long time the smaller size rubber grip with wood side panels was standard on fixed sighted GP 100s with all barrel lengths and not standard on any adjustable sighted GP 100s. It is likely that the small grips from the original poster's revolver were sold separately during the time period when they were selling for a premium.

I have a takeoff compact grip with wood panels that I thought of putting on there, but I just prefer the full size and think they look pretty good on the gun. Either this gun came with the compact grip, or may have come with the Uncle Mike's as a service gun. This one looks like it was carried a bit but not shot that much. Most of the wear is confined to the top surfaces, which I find typical on a service gun that takes hits on the top surfaces while otherwise protected in the holster.

eveled · Jun 11, 2019

Boston has “special police officers”. They can only carry .38special 6 shot Revolvers and they have to be 4 inch barrels. So those specific guns sell quick and for a premium. Probably other cities have similar?

I always wanted the option to shoot .357’s but usually only shoot .38’s. A dedicated .38 gun would be easier to keep clean if you aren’t going to shoot .357’s.

olivehead1 · Jun 11, 2019

Just FYI, I got curious so took a look at recent completed sales on Gunbroker, and found a full lug stainless model in .38 Special, decent condition with original compact grips, that sold in the last few days for $340. With shipping and transfer, probably not more than $400 OTD. I would think that's a damn good price for a rare model. Any other day, I imagine it might have gone for $500+. Just goes to show you, what we think our stuff is worth and what a given buyer at a given time thinks it's worth can be two very different things.

RUGER - GP100 - CAL. 38 SPL - Revolvers at GunBroker.com : 816770691

olivehead1 · Jun 12, 2019

The Security Six that I picked up last month was asking why I didn't post his pic before posting the new guy's, so here he is. Manufactured 1980.

Pawn shop find: Ruger GP100 full lug fixed sights**ADDED PIC**

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Pawn shop find: Ruger GP100 full lug fixed sightsADDED PIC