These never show up used at the LGS, I suppose that everyone that has one holds on to them. I've wanted one since I was 10-11 years old but it was never to be at that time. Now, 50 plus years later, I have one and it's all steel (except for the ejector rod housing). Midway sells steel ejector rod housings and I already have one on the way for only $8.99 plus tax & shipping. What a deal!

This one was made about 30 years ago. It's a shooter, my first shot at about 15 yds rang the steel spinner. I can't wait to put some more lead down range.

A good .22 is as much fun as just about anything!

I agree, you never see a used one. I have seen one used Bearcat in my lifetime for sale. It's now at my house.

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I always take precautions

My girlfriend, now wife, bought me this Bearcat in 1972 for my birthday before I left on a 6 month deployment. I still have the box and receipt. $53.

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183rd FBINA

My Bearcat is my regular companion for varmint control when I'm out working around the Faulkner homestead on the tractor or ATV. It is THE most accurate .22 LR handgun of the dozen I own, I've taken quite a few four legged and slithering critters around the hen house and I even took down a coyote with it a year or so back.

I carry it so much that I decided to have Nixon Leather make a custom cross draw rig for it.

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- Change it back -

Faulkner - what a beautiful rig. Tell us about the knife !

I've owned several Bearcats over the years, but the adjustable sight model was my favorite. I'm not a fan of fixed sights on anything but a pocket pistol.

Here is mine. Received it on my 9th birthday in 1959.

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David Reynolds

The Ruger Bearcat is the epitome of what Skeeter Skelton once described as a perfect trail gun or kit gun. Weighs next to nothing and with a box of 50 rounds of .22 in your pocket or saddle bags you're "unaware of its presence until you need it."

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Pack light and cinch tight.

My Bearcat and Varner Favorite are a favorite woods loafing combo of mine. My wife seems to have commandeered them of late. She thinks they’re cute.

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There are no bad pig parts!

My steel frame Super Bearcat made in 1972, a pawnshop find from just a couple years ago.

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SWCA #590
"Colligo ergo sum"

Ruger Bearcat 1.jpg
Here is mine, I picked up at a pawnshop a few years back. I don't shoot it much because it just doesn't fit my hand well but it is a good shooting pistol

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Dogs are better than people.

I like the Super Bearcat better than the regular one. It just feels better with the extra weight. I think the adjustable sighted new model is really cool but I like the original ones more. I purchased an old model Bearcat for my wife years ago cuz she thought they were cute. She never shot it so I traded it away for something else! She is not happy about that so I am going to find her another.
I just helped a guy at the last show in Montrose CO. He had two of them on his table, both with boxes. I sold one for him. The second one had fake stag grips on it so I didn't like it. They do show up from time to time.

I don't have one ; not a single action fan myself. However a good friend has his Grandfathers Bearcat ; an early one. I got him the old stags on it from member DANT.

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Sceva
OGCA SWCA NRA

I have two Bearcats, both with stainless steel frames. I also have 2 of the convertible single sixes. The standard barrel gun has the box and the holster. The birdshead is a Lipsey special in a smaller Ruger box

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Kind regards, Heinz

I've picked up a bunch of Single-Six's at pawn shops but never see Bearcats. This unconverted 1962 model showed up at one a couple years ago and I couldn't leave without it.

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Back in 1970, Montgomery Ward had a new one for $39.99. I had a dollar in my pocket and little chance of earning the remaining $39. When I did get $40 together, the Bearcat was gone and I wound up with a Kimel Industries piece of doo-doo Colt Frontier copy. Scratch rifling in the barrel and doubt I could have hit an outhouse while sitting inside.

Years later, I picked up a nice Super Bearcat. Money got tight and it got sold.

While I was working overseas in the 2000s, a friend of mine picked up a stainless New Model for me. A few years back, I bought a spare cylinder for it and reamed it to .22 Magnum.

Don't expect to ever sell this one.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Nice little sixguns for sure. A bit small for my hands but for those interested Guns International has about a dozen for sale at rather stiff prices.

Don't want to get too far off topic from the OP's Bearcat thread, but the knife is custom made 3/4 sized Old Hickory style sheath knife. A local knife maker had made the one pictured on the left using an old sawmill blade for the metal, the handle is spalted and stabilized maple. It is a dandy utility knife. I liked it so well that about a year later I asked him to make another one (the one pictured right).

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- Change it back -

I always wanted one too. About 10 years ago I saw one on the wall rack at my LGS. I asked about it and the price was $250. I tried to talk him down a bit and he wouldn't budge. Then he said wait a minute and he went to the back room and he brought out the box with all original paperwork, plus a set of real stag grips. I couldn't fill out the 4473 fast enough.

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I'll play.

This one went to Mr. Bowen's . . .

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How God has blessed us!

I have always thought the Bearcat was one of the cutest pistols anyone ever produced. I have never owned one because I have had several Model 34s over the past 60+ years, but I have come close several times. I have never really been a single-action fan except for the nostalgia although I own and have owned several Rugers. They are great for hunting guns, but the tedium of loading them when used as plinkers is just too much! If I couldn't have a Kit Gun I would be all over a Bearcat!

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Gunsmithing since 1961

Never seen a Bearcat in real life, let alone a picture, without the brass trigger frame. What are these blued versions?

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Heavily armed old man.

I figured since everyone else was showing a picture of theirs, I would show mine. Apparently the only picture I have is my biggest Ruger pistol paired with my smallest Ruger pistol. 1997 vintage.

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I always take precautions

Those are the post-'93 ones.

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How God has blessed us!

What did you have Mr. Bowen do to yours??

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Forum consigliere

Was the only handgun my dad owned. It protected us living in the country and on many trips across New Mexico riding in the glove box. Its holster was an old sock and resided in my dad's sock drawer. Only saw him remove it from the sock one time while trying to assist a stranded motorist at night. Different times for sure.

Ditto!!!

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Come and take it!!

This one is called the "New Bearcat", I think they were introduced around 1993. The version that you recall was simply "Bearcat" and was introduced in the early 60's. Somewhere between those 2 models the "Super Bearcat" appeared, sometime in the 70's I think.

Since the ammo in the picture is 22 magnum, I assumed he had it rechambered

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I always take precautions

I'd add to the previous responses that besides the New Bearcat, late Super Bearcats (1972 to '74) can also be found with blued steel trigger guards instead of the "brass" ones. In addition, in 1966 there was a single shipment of 79 Bearcats (with serial numbers ranging from 73465 to 76339) which were annotated on their invoice as having "black trigger guards". Their composition isn't documented so far as I know (possibly simply black anodized aluminum). In any case, this variation constitutes a "grail" gun for the Ruger collector.

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SWCA #590
"Colligo ergo sum"

I think some came with a spare cylinder in 22 mag.

I have a couple of Single Sixes that are a blast to shoot. I’ve always wanted a Bearcat ever since I couldn’t talk my friend out of his when he showed it to me many years ago. I think I’ve only seen one other over the years since but didn’t have the foresight to grab it when I had the chance.

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I reckon so

My Bearcat was a gift from a dear friend of mine many years ago. It’s been down a trail or two:

One of the few still on my list!

Have Ruger Single Six Centennial Colorado Bicentennial but no Bearcat, yet.

Some of the New Model Bearcats came with a spare cylinder in .22 Magnum. Ruger discontinued this version. New Model cylinders are longer than the Old Models.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Hamilton did an action/trigger job and rechambered it, polished off the rollmark and reblued it, and regulated (for .22 Mag) and serrated the front sight (to make it stand out better). It took them a minute, but they're not doing these anymore so I guess I have something to pass down. Seems a little silly in retrospect. It throws 40-grainers at around 1450 fps. Those are Sack Peterson stocks and an unnecessary Belt Mountain cylinder base pin.

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How God has blessed us!

Tuesday is my range day. After reading this thread I took the Bearcat with me today.

I prefer handguns with adjustable sights, but I have a few single actions with fixed sights.

The 'ole Bearcat hit the bull better than my Wrangler. Nevertheless, I didn't take my K22 with me today because I knew it would shame them both.

Bearcat production is on permanent hiatus at Ruger so examples include the wild have become incredibly scarce and pricey.

Don’t let that one go!!

Should have never opened this thread...

A very fancy one auctioned off several years ago: Ruger - Bearcat | Rock Island Auction

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SWCA #590
"Colligo ergo sum"

This is my only Bearcat that I picked up about 7 years ago.

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James
On the Llano Estacado

I think I got my first one around 73 and paid about the same. I’ve had two of the original models and might be wrong but think both had brass trigger guards. I eventually traded both at different times but wound up with a new one with adjustable sights and like it much better. My wife likes it so much she took it for herself but she lets me shoot it and clean it.

A decent article on early Bearcats: Interesting Collectables: “Old” 1st issue Ruger Bearcats | R. Doug Wicker — Author

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SWCA #590
"Colligo ergo sum"

That is some beautiful leatherwork.

Gorgeous!! I still have a rig for a Single Six I had made by El Paso Saddlery… never did buy the Single Six to fill it!

What do you use to store spare ammo if you carry any?

Also, I’m not familiar with the Bearcat action. Do the chambers line up with the loading port like a Colt? Wish my Wrangler did that!

Just checked my New Model BC. Put it on half cock, turn the cylinder until it clicks and you are ready to load 'er up!

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Here is mine. I love this tiny revolver resemblance a Remington model 1890.
You still have to put it on half cock to load it. This one is from the 70 ties.
Overhere in Europe they are very cheap. Last one sold was at a auction from Hermann Historica for 120 euro. To cheap for this very nice revolver. Al Ruger .22 single actions are replaced by the Wrangler now. So treasur yours.

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trigger guards were not brass........were inodized aluminum

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S&W Accumulator

In the collector's literature, they're described as "brass anodized alloy" which is a little ambiguous, but I think you're correct, aluminum made to look like brass.

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SWCA #590
"Colligo ergo sum"