CARSINC

Looks like a sprayed on finish.

stev32k

I sure hope you are wrong, but guess I'll find out when it gets here. In fact I will ask the seller to try a magnet on the gun before they ship it. If it is sprayed on the seller may have been fooled. The seller is a reputable dealer that has been in business a long time and it's unlikely, in my opinion, that they would deliberately misrepresent the gun.

P.S. I sent a request to Ruger yesterday for a certificate of authenticity and ask them if they could provide any history or additional information on the production numbers for SS pistols made in 1979.

NucPhysics

Based on the pics, I believe the gun is an original SS. Looking at the 3rd pic, the front edge of the ejection port looks very "silvery" but on the 4th pic it has that dull-tarnish color (of course, colors on monitors will vary). Anyway, I believe the lighting and angles are effecting the image more than one would think. Not unusual for digital cameras - even the good ones.

Bottom line is I would bet it is original SS. Depending how SS is stored, it still can change color some. Also, SS only resists rusting and corroding, it is not immune to it. It may just be overdue for a good cleaning.

bearcatter

I had a Mark I hard chromed back in 1980. I'm sure there are lots of them out there with every finish imaginable.

stev32k

I'm not sure how one could stainless steel plate a gun, or even spray paint SS. I've heard of chrome plating, gold plating, silver plating, nickel plating, etc, but never stainless steel plating. Is that possible?

NucPhysics

I do not believe there is some stainless steel like coating on your gun, especially since the SN# looks clean with no indication of fill. Most likely it is SS just like the day it was made. The only distant possibility is if someone removed the bluing and tried to seal the bare metal with a finish that would resist corroding. Although not unheard of, I also doubt that to be the case. When you receive the gun, give it a good thorough cleaning using a quality solvent and follow up with a coating of a good protecting oil. One that has been shown to be excellent is Weapon Shield (or anything of your choosing).

When done, post some pictures of it. I hope you will be very happy.

moparclan

Almost looks like a bead or sand blasted blued model. The bolt and and charging handle are different color. Even a stainless gun will be magnetic because of the 400 series stainless.

bobmare

+1 that's what I thought also.almost looks like there is a bit of bluing just in front of the bolt ear on the left side.

DQL5150

I'd be inclined to agree with moparclan. It looks like a steel specimen with the bluing removed.

stev32k

OK, here is an update. I called the seller and asked them to look over the gun carefully and try a magnet. The man told me the bolt had been chrome plated and the gun was definitely steel - not stainless steel. He said the magnet was strongly attracted - if it was stainless there would be a weak attraction.

I suspect it has been blasted with something soft like ground up peanut hulls. It may also have had some sort of surface passivisation since there is no sign of rust.

So now I think I should retract my bid. My winning bid was $261 and maybe the gun is worth that or more since it sounds like it has been heavily customized and had the bolt chromed, but I think I'll pass.

What do you guys (& gals) think?

CARSINC

I recommend backing out, or if the seller wants to reduce the price, it might make a good project gun. On second look, I see what looks like pitting. I think this was a standard model with a lot of rust and pitting that got blasted and a spray on finish.

North country gal

Given all the mods, the gun will have little or no collectibility and resale value will also take a hit. With the updated info from the seller, looks more and more like a gun someone tried to salvage at some point. If you want an early Mark/Standard, there are still plenty around. I recently picked up my mint, 1972 vintage, in the box with papers, RSAT-4 for $300, with factory Ruger walnut grips, no less.

NucPhysics

I was really hoping it wasn't a gun with the bluing removed - so much for distant possibility. If it was me, I would back out and run if you can, even if they lowered the price. That is information that should have been provided up front.

Best of luck.

RAC55

Looking close at your pictures of the gun, there is a slight difference in the color cast between the bolt handle and the frame of the gun. I'm tending to think that the gun is plated in a hard matte nickle as it has a slight yellowish cast. The bolt and cocking handle has the blueish cast of steel or stainless. I used to do industrial plating and metal finishing years ago, but I know that there are a lot of modern coatings they are using these days that I'm not familiar with. It could be one of those coatings if the gun has been done recently. I'd love to examine it in my hands as this has my curiosity piqued!

stev32k

Well I retracted my bid and the seller was very understanding and good about the whole thing. They were as surprised as I was about the gun. They said it had been in their inventory for over a year and no one even questioned the SS designation.

I wish to thank everyone that responded to my post. Without your input I would have ended up with something I didn't want.