Ruger Serial Number Lookup: Year by Model, 1949 to 2017

Last updated October 10, 2026

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You’ve got a Ruger on the bench and you want to know how old it is. For most Rugers shipped through 2015 that takes about a minute, and the numbers come from Ruger itself.

Ruger has put out a serial number history for 144 of its models, one small page per model. Most of those pages aren’t linked from its website anymore, but they’re still there. We pulled every line of every one onto this page, checked them against the tables behind Ruger’s lookup box, and put a year finder on top. No hopping between models, and no guessing which list your gun is on.

One thing to know before you start. Ruger’s numbers are the approximate first serial number shipped each year, and Ruger says it doesn’t always build guns in serial number order. So the answer you get is the year your gun most likely left the factory. Most of the lists stop at 2015 and a few run to 2017. For anything newer, Ruger’s own lookup is the tool, and we’ll show you how to use it.

Table of Contents

Used Rugers for Sale Right Now

These are the lowest-priced used Rugers our dealers list right now, pulled live, with the current-catalog models left out so what you see is the older stuff this page dates.

See every used Ruger in stock.

Where to Find the Serial Number on a Ruger

Ruger stamps the number on the one part the law treats as the firearm. Its instruction manuals name that part for each model, and it’s the first place to look. Here’s what the manuals say.

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co. instruction manuals, linked from ruger.com Instruction Manuals, accessed October 10, 2026.

On every 10/22 we’ve handled, the number is on the left side of the receiver, up front. The museum carbine in the photo above shows it plainly. Revolvers are just as easy. Turn a Single-Six or a Blackhawk so the loading gate faces you and the number is on the frame, below the cylinder.

The .22 pistols take a second look. On the Mark II we photographed for this page, the number is on the right side of the receiver, just ahead of the ejection port. That fits the manual, which calls the barrel and receiver assembly the serial numbered part.

Copy every character, and copy the dash. Ruger’s own lookup tells you to enter the number exactly as it appears on the gun, hyphens and leading zeroes included. Our tool wants it the same way.

Got a convertible with two cylinders? Ruger’s New Model manuals say the numbers on the front face of both cylinders should match the last three digits of the serial number on the frame. It’s a quick way to check that the spare cylinder started life with your gun.

How to Read Ruger’s Serial Number List

Every line on a Ruger list is a year and one serial number. Ruger describes that number as the approximate first serial number shipped for that year. So you’re looking for the last line that starts at or below your number.

Take the Smithsonian’s 10/22 from the photo above, serial 38753. The 1966 line starts at 22906, which is lower. The 1967 line starts at 77384, which is higher. That carbine shipped in 1966.

If you’ve used our Winchester serial number lookup, notice the difference. Winchester lists the last number of each year. Ruger lists the first. Read a Ruger list the Winchester way and you’ll be a year off.

How far should you trust it? Ruger is plain about that. Each list is a point of reference only, and the number shown is not necessarily the very first one shipped that year. Then comes the line that matters most. In Ruger’s words: Ruger does not necessarily produce firearms in serial number order.

Ruger goes on to say that blocks of numbers have been built out of sequence, sometimes years later, and that guns can sit in storage for a while before they ship. Treat the year as a close answer, not a birth certificate. For a shooter-grade 10/22 or Blackhawk it’s all most owners need.

Around 1969 the numbers change shape. Ruger’s lists go from plain numbers to a two or three digit prefix, a dash, and five more digits. The Standard pistol list makes the switch at 10-00001 for 1969, and the 10/22 list shows 110-20100 for 1970. We cover the prefixes in their own section further down.

Where do the lists come from? Ruger has two sets and we used both. The tables behind its lookup box cover 70 product lines and stop at 1999. Its older per-model history pages cover more models and keep going, most of them to 2015. Every line the two share is the same on both, so we print the longer list and link each table to the Ruger page it came from.

A star beside a number is Ruger’s own footnote mark, and we’ve copied its note into the table the first time it shows up. Where a line has two numbers joined by the word and, Ruger had two blocks of numbers running that year.

Ruger 10/22 Serial Numbers by Year, 1964 to 2017

The 10/22 is the Ruger we get asked about most. Its list opens at serial 1 for 1964 and reaches 0008-51313 for 2017. Plain numbers run through 1969, and the prefix numbers begin with 110-20100 for 1970.

Watch the jump in 1989. The 1988 line starts at 129-20927 and the 1989 line starts at 230-25136, so the prefix leaps from the 120s to the 230s in one step. It happens again later, when the 2012 line starts at 359-35112 and the 2013 line starts at 822-42506. Nothing is missing. That’s simply how Ruger numbered them.

The newest rifles look different again. For 2015 the list switches to a four digit prefix, starting at 0002-94940. Type those with the leading zeroes.

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger 10/22 Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: 10/22 Rifle | Caliber: 22 LR. Lines through 1999 match the Serial Number Lookup table 10/22 Rifle. Accessed October 10, 2026.

A serial at or above 0008-51313 means 2017 or later, and for that you want Ruger’s own lookup. We’ve put thousands of rounds through the current rifle for our Ruger 10/22 review. A new 10/22 Carbine starts at $299.99 with the sellers we track, and if you’re fixing up an older one, our Ruger 10/22 parts and accessories guide covers what’s worth bolting on.

Ruger 10/22 Magnum

The 10/22 Magnum has its own short list with its own prefix. It runs from 1998 to 2006.

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger 10/22 Magnum Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: 10/22 Magnum Rifle | Caliber: 22 Magnum. Lines through 1999 match the Serial Number Lookup table 10/22 Magnum Rifle. Accessed October 10, 2026.

Ruger Standard, Mark I, Mark II, Mark III and 22/45 Pistol Serial Numbers

This is the pistol that started the company. Ruger files the Standard and the Mark I together on one list that runs from serial 1 for 1949 to 17-70981 for 1982. The Mark II picks up that same year at 18-00001, and the Mark III takes over in 2004.

Ruger Standard and Mark I

Plain numbers run through 1968 and the list changes to 10-00001 for 1969. One odd step is printed in the plain numbers. The 1965 line starts at 276308 and the 1966 line starts at 406740, a much bigger jump than any year around it. We’ve left it exactly as Ruger shows it.

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger Standard and Mark I Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: Standard & Mark I Pistol | (manufactured from 1949 to 1982) | Caliber: 22 LR. Lines through 1982 match the Serial Number Lookup table Standard & Mark I Pistol. Accessed October 10, 2026.

Ruger Mark II

The Mark II list needs a careful read. From 1992 through 1998 Ruger prints two starting numbers on each line, because two blocks of numbers were running at once. One of them is the 218 block, which starts at 218-00001 for 1992. Our lookup checks your prefix and reads the right block.

Ruger’s label says the Mark II was made from 1982 to 2005, and the list runs the whole way. Its last line is 225-84467 for 2005.

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger Mark II Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: Mark II Pistol | (manufactured from 1982 to 2005) | Caliber: 22 LR. Lines through 1999 match the Serial Number Lookup table Mark II Pistol. Accessed October 10, 2026.

Ruger 22/45

The polymer-framed 22/45 has its own list starting at 220-00001 for 1992 and ending with the 2005 line. Its 1999 line is the same number as the Mark II’s, 222-36510, so by then the two pistols were sharing a block.

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger 22/45 Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: 22/45 Pistol | (manufactured from 1992 to 2005) | Caliber: 22 LR. Lines through 1999 match the Serial Number Lookup table 22/45 Pistol. Accessed October 10, 2026.

Ruger Mark III

The Mark III list starts at 227-00001 for 2004 and runs to 2015. Ruger’s label says the pistol was made until 2016, so its last year has no line of its own. The 2009 line carries a second, starred number, because Ruger’s note says the Mark III was numbered in with the 22/45 Mark III Hunter from that year.

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger Mark III Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: Mark III Pistol | (manufactured from 2004 to 2016) | Caliber: 22 LR. Accessed October 10, 2026.

Ruger Mark III Hunter

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger Mark III Hunter Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: Mark III Hunter Pistol | (manufactured from 2004 to 2016) | Caliber: 22 LR. Accessed October 10, 2026.

Ruger 22/45 Mark III

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger 22/45 Mark III™ Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: 22/45 Mark III Pistol | (manufactured from 2004 to 2016) | Caliber: 22 LR. Accessed October 10, 2026.

Ruger 22/45 Mark III Hunter

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger Mark III Hunter Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: 22/45 Mark III Hunter Pistol | (manufactured from 2004 to 2016) | Caliber: 22 LR. Accessed October 10, 2026.

Ruger 22/45 Lite

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger 22/45 Lite® Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: 22/45 Lite Pistol | (manufactured from 2012 to 2016) | Caliber: 22 LR. Accessed October 10, 2026.

Ruger Mark IV

Ruger’s Mark IV page has a single line, WBR100001 for 2016. That’s a letter prefix, so type the letters too. Anything above it reads as 2016 or later, and Ruger’s own lookup will narrow it down.

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger Mark IV Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: Mark IV Pistol | Caliber: 22 LR. Accessed October 10, 2026.

If you’re shopping for a new one, we rank them all in our guide to the best Ruger Mark IV pistols. The Mark IV Standard starts at $473.99 with the sellers we track.

Ruger 22 Charger

Ruger splits the 22 Charger across two pages, 2008 to 2013 and 2014 to 2015. They share one prefix, so we’ve joined them in order.

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history pages Ruger 22 Charger Serial Number History and Ruger 22 Charger Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: 22 Charger Pistol | Caliber: 22 LR. Accessed October 10, 2026.

Ruger SR22 Pistol

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger SR22® Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: SR22® Pistol | Caliber: 22 LR. Accessed October 10, 2026.

Ruger Single-Six and Bearcat Serial Numbers

Ruger splits the Single-Six across several lists, and picking the right one is half the job. The old guns are filed as the Standard, Lightweight, Magnum and Super Single-Six. The New Model Single-Six list picks up in 1973.

Single-Six Standard Model

The first list starts at serial 1 for 1953, and the 1954 line starts at just 50. That makes the flat gate gun in our photos, serial 1715, a 1954 revolver by Ruger’s list, even though its owner calls it a first-year gun.

There’s a hole in this one. The list runs yearly to 187367 for 1962 and then skips to 20-00001 for 1969. A plain number at or above 187367 can only be placed somewhere from 1962 to 1968, and our lookup says so.

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger Single Six Standard Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: Single-Six Standard Model Revolver | (Manufactured from 1953 to 1973) | Caliber: 22 LR. Lines through 1973 match the Serial Number Lookup table Single-Six Standard Model Revolver. Accessed October 10, 2026.

Single-Six Lightweight Model

The Lightweight got its own block of numbers, starting at 200001 for 1956.

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger Single Six Lightweight Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: Single-Six Lightweight Model Revolver | (Manufactured from 1956 to 1959) | Caliber: 22 LR. Lines through 1959 match the Serial Number Lookup table Single-Six Lightweight Model Revolver. Accessed October 10, 2026.

Single-Six Magnum Model

The .22 Magnum guns start at 300001 for 1959.

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger Single Six Magnum Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: Single-Six Magnum Model Revolver | (Manufactured from 1959 to 1969) | Caliber: 22 Magnum. Lines through 1969 match the Serial Number Lookup table Single-Six Magnum Model Revolver. Accessed October 10, 2026.

Super Single-Six

The adjustable-sight Super Single-Six starts at 500001 for 1964 and moves to a 60 prefix for 1970.

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger Super Single Six Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: Super Single-Six Revolver | (Manufactured from 1964 to 1972) | Caliber: 22 LR. Lines through 1972 match the Serial Number Lookup table Super Single-Six Revolver. Accessed October 10, 2026.

New Model Single-Six

The New Model list starts at 62-00001 for 1973 and runs to 2015. Like the Mark II, it shows two starting numbers a year for a long stretch, 1994 through 2014, with a 268 block running beside the main one.

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger New Model Single Six Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: New Model Single-Six | (Includes Bisley Models & 50th Anniversary Model) | Caliber: 22 LR, 22 Magnum, 17 HMR. Lines through 1999 match the Serial Number Lookup table New Model Single-Six. Accessed October 10, 2026.

Ruger still makes the New Model Single-Six, and a new convertible starts at $535.99 with the sellers we track. If you want the same idea for a lot less money, read our Ruger Wrangler review.

New Model Single-Six SSM in 32 H&R Magnum

Ruger’s label says the SSM was made from 1984 to 2015, but the list has holes. It carries lines for 1984 through 1994, picks up again from 2000 through 2006, and then has one last line for 2015.

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger New Model Single Six Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: New Model Single-Six - SSM Revolver | (Manufactured from 1984-2015) | Caliber: 32 H&R Mag. Lines through 1994 match the Serial Number Lookup table New Model Single-Six - SSM Revolver. Accessed October 10, 2026.

Single-Nine

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger Single-Nine Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: Single-Nine® | Caliber: 22 WMR. Accessed October 10, 2026.

Single-Ten

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger Single Ten Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: Single-Ten® | Caliber: 22 LR. Accessed October 10, 2026.

Special Runs

Two special runs get one line each. The Colorado Centennial starts at 76-00001 for 1976, and the S32X special model starts at 610-00001 for 1988. Ruger files the S32X two ways. Its lookup calls it a New Model Single-Six and its older history page calls it a New Model Blackhawk. The line is the same on both.

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger New Model Single Six Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: New Model Single-Six Colorado Centennial Revolver | Caliber: 22 LR. Lines through 1976 match the Serial Number Lookup table New Model Single-Six Colorado Centennial Revolver. Accessed October 10, 2026.

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger New Model Blackhawk Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: New Model Blackhawk S32X Special Model Revolver | Calibers: 32 Mag, 32-20. Lines through 1988 match the Serial Number Lookup table New Model Single-Six S32X Special Model Revolver. Accessed October 10, 2026.

Bearcat and Super Bearcat

The old Bearcat list has two lines no other early Ruger list has. The 1959 and 1960 lines are letter-prefixed numbers, F483 and X454. For a plain number below 5600, the first 1961 number, our lookup answers 1958 to 1960, because it can’t tell where the letters fit.

One more thing for Bearcat owners. Ruger’s New Bearcat manual says a free factory safety retrofit is available for older Bearcats made from 1958 to 1973 with serial numbers below 93-00000. If yours is one of those, it’s worth a call to Ruger.

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger Bearcat and Super Bearcat Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: Bearcat & Super Bearcat Revolver | (manufactured from 1958 to 1974) | Caliber: 22 LR. Lines through 1974 match the Serial Number Lookup table Bearcat & Super Bearcat Revolver. Accessed October 10, 2026.

New Bearcat

The New Bearcat list runs from 1993 to 2015.

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger New Bearcat Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: New Bearcat Revolver | Includes 50th Anniversary Model | Caliber: 22 LR. Lines through 1999 match the Serial Number Lookup table New Bearcat Revolver. Accessed October 10, 2026.

Ruger Blackhawk, Super Blackhawk and Vaquero Serial Numbers

Ruger numbered the old Blackhawks by caliber, so each caliber has its own list starting from serial 1. Pick the caliber first. The old model lists stop at 1973 or earlier, and the New Model lists start at 1974 and run to 2015.

Blackhawk in 357 Magnum

The .357 is the original, starting at serial 1 for 1955. The flat top in our lead photo is serial 2237. The 1956 line starts at 1737 and the 1957 line starts at 7318, so Ruger’s list makes it a 1956 gun.

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger Blackhawk Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: Blackhawk Revolver | (manufactured from 1955 to 1973) | Caliber: 357 Magnum. Lines through 1973 match the Serial Number Lookup table Blackhawk Revolver. Accessed October 10, 2026.

Blackhawk in 44 Magnum

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger Blackhawk Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: Blackhawk Revolver | (manufactured from 1956 to 1962) | Caliber: 44 Magnum. Lines through 1962 match the Serial Number Lookup table Blackhawk Revolver. Accessed October 10, 2026.

Blackhawk in 41 Magnum

Ruger’s label on this one says 1965 to 1971, but its own list carries lines through 1973. We’ve printed both as Ruger shows them.

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger Blackhawk Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: Blackhawk Revolver | (manufactured from 1965 to 1971) | Caliber: 41 Magnum. Lines through 1973 match the Serial Number Lookup table Blackhawk Revolver. Accessed October 10, 2026.

Blackhawk in 30 Carbine

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger Blackhawk Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: Blackhawk Revolver | (manufactured from 1968 to 1973) | Caliber: 30 Carbine. Lines through 1973 match the Serial Number Lookup table Blackhawk Revolver. Accessed October 10, 2026.

Blackhawk in 45 Colt

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger Blackhawk Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: Blackhawk Revolver | (manufactured from 1971 to 1973) | Caliber: 45 Colt. Lines through 1973 match the Serial Number Lookup table Blackhawk Revolver. Accessed October 10, 2026.

Super Blackhawk

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger Super Blackhawk Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: Super Blackhawk Revolver | (Manufactured from 1959 to 1973) | Caliber: 44 Magnum. Lines through 1973 match the Serial Number Lookup table Super Blackhawk Revolver. Accessed October 10, 2026.

New Model Blackhawk in 357 Magnum

The 2005 and 2006 lines carry a second number from a 520 block. Ruger’s note marks that block as the 50th Anniversary Model.

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger New Model Blackhawk Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: New Model Blackhawk Revolver | (Includes Bisley Models and 50th Anniversary Model) | Caliber: 357 Magnum. Lines through 1999 match the Serial Number Lookup table New Model Blackhawk Revolver. Accessed October 10, 2026.

New Model Blackhawk in 41 Magnum

From 1981 the .41 and the .45 share a list. Ruger’s note says the .41 caliber serial numbers were rollmarked with the .45 caliber revolvers beginning that year, and the two tables match from the 46-63651 line on. Then in 2013 Ruger’s notes say the .41, the .45 and the .30 Carbine were all numbered in with the .357 guns, which is why the last lines of all three lists carry a 38 prefix.

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger New Model Blackhawk Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: New Model Blackhawk Revolver | (Includes Bisley Models) | Caliber: 41 Magnum. Lines through 1999 match the Serial Number Lookup table New Model Blackhawk Revolver. Accessed October 10, 2026.

New Model Blackhawk in 45 Colt and 45 ACP

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger New Model Blackhawk Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: New Model Blackhawk Revolver | (Includes Bisley Models) | Caliber: 45 Colt/45 ACP. Lines through 1999 match the Serial Number Lookup table New Model Blackhawk Revolver. Accessed October 10, 2026.

New Model Blackhawk in 30 Carbine

This list runs backwards for a stretch. The 1984 line starts at 51-31564, the 1985 line at 51-31260 and the 1986 line at 51-30927. It also has no lines for 1994 through 1996. Our lookup gives a span of years for numbers caught in either spot.

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger New Model Blackhawk Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: New Model Blackhawk Revolver | Caliber: 30 Carbine. Lines through 1999 match the Serial Number Lookup table New Model Blackhawk Revolver. Accessed October 10, 2026.

New Model Blackhawk in 357 Maximum

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger New Model Blackhawk Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: New Model Blackhawk Revolver | (Manufactured from 1982 to 1984) | Caliber: 357 Maximum. Lines through 1984 match the Serial Number Lookup table New Model Blackhawk Revolver. Accessed October 10, 2026.

New Model Blackhawk S3840 Special Model

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger New Model Blackhawk Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: New Model Blackhawk S3840 Special Model Revolver | Caliber: 38-40/10mm. Lines through 1990 match the Serial Number Lookup table New Model Blackhawk S3840 Special Model Revolver. Accessed October 10, 2026.

New Model Blackhawk 50th Anniversary in 44 Magnum

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger Blackhawk Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: New Model Blackhawk Revolver | (50th Anniversary Model) | Caliber: 44 Rem Mag. Accessed October 10, 2026.

New Model Super Blackhawk

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger New Model Super Blackhawk Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: New Model Super Blackhawk Revolver | (Includes Bisley Models and 50th Anniversary Model) | Caliber: 44 Magnum. Lines through 1999 match the Serial Number Lookup table New Model Super Blackhawk Revolver. Accessed October 10, 2026.

New Model Super Blackhawk Hunter

The Hunter list has a gap. It carries lines for 1992 through 1994 and then nothing until 2001.

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger New Model Super Blackhawk Hunter Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: New Model Super Blackhawk Hunter Revolver | Caliber: 44 Magnum. Lines through 1994 match the Serial Number Lookup table New Model Super Blackhawk Hunter Revolver. Accessed October 10, 2026.

Vaquero

The original Vaquero list runs from 1993 to 2005. The New Vaquero that replaced it has its own list and its own prefix.

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger Vaquero Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: Vaquero Revolver | (Includes Bisley-Vaquero Models) | Calibers: 357 Mag, 38-40 Win, 40 S&W, 44-40 Win, 44 Mag, 45 Colt | (Manufactured from 1993-2005). Lines through 1999 match the Serial Number Lookup table Vaquero Revolver. Accessed October 10, 2026.

New Vaquero

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger New Vaquero Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: New Vaquero Revolver | Calibers: 357 Mag, 45 Colt. Accessed October 10, 2026.

Old Army, Blued

The cap and ball Old Army has two lists, and both run to 2008. Ruger’s note says the blued guns were numbered in with the stainless ones beginning in 1982, and both lists show two starting numbers a year from 1994 on.

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger Old Army Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: Old Army Cap & Ball Blued Model - BP Revolver | Caliber: 45 Black Powder Only. Lines through 1999 match the Serial Number Lookup table Old Army Cap & Ball Blued Model - BP Revolver. Accessed October 10, 2026.

Old Army, Stainless

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger Old Army Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: Old Army Cap & Ball Stainless Model - KBP Revolver | Caliber: 45 Black Powder Only. Lines through 1999 match the Serial Number Lookup table Old Army Cap & Ball Stainless Model - KBP Revolver. Accessed October 10, 2026.

Hawkeye Single-Shot Pistol

The Hawkeye pistol is the shortest story here. Two lines, 1963 and 1964, and it was gone.

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger Hawkeye Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: Hawkeye Single-Shot Pistol | (manufactured from 1963 to 1964) | Caliber: 256 Win Mag. Lines through 1964 match the Serial Number Lookup table Hawkeye Single-Shot Pistol. Accessed October 10, 2026.

Ruger Security-Six, GP100, SP101, Redhawk and LCR Serial Numbers

The double-action revolvers are the easy ones. They all came after the prefix system, so every number has a dash.

Security-Six, Speed-Six and Police Service-Six

Ruger files all three under one list, which starts at 150-00001 for 1972 and ends with the 1988 line at 162-39887. Ruger’s label gives 1972 to 1988 as the production years.

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger Security Six, Single Six, Service Six Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: Security-Six, Speed-Six, Police Service-Six Revolver | (Manufactured from 1972 to 1988) | Calibers: 357 Mag, 38 Spl, 9mm. Lines through 1988 match the Serial Number Lookup table Security-Six, Speed-Six, Police Service-Six Revolver. Accessed October 10, 2026.

GP100

The GP100 replaced the Security-Six, and its list starts at 170-00001 for 1986 and runs to 177-34524 for 2015. We’ve shot the current gun a lot for our Ruger GP100 review, and it starts at $871.99 with the sellers we track.

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger GP100® Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: GP100® Revolver | Calibers: 22 LR, 38 Spl, 357 Mag, 10mm Auto, 44 Spl. Lines through 1999 match the Serial Number Lookup table GP100 Revolver. Accessed October 10, 2026.

SP101

The SP101 list starts at 570-00001 for 1989 and runs to 2015. The .22 version has a short list of its own. Our Ruger SP101 review covers how the current guns carry and shoot.

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger SP101 Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: SP101 Revolver | Calibers: 327 Fed, 32 Mag, 9mm, 38 Spl, 357 Mag. Lines through 1999 match the Serial Number Lookup table SP101 Revolver. Accessed October 10, 2026.

SP101 in 22 LR

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger SP101 Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: SP101 Revolver | Calibers: 22 LR. Accessed October 10, 2026.

Redhawk

The Redhawk starts at 500-00001 for 1980 and runs to 2015. If you’re weighing one up, here’s our Ruger Redhawk review.

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger Redhawk Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: Redhawk Revolver | Calibers: 357 Mag, 41 Mag, 44 Mag, 45 Auto, 45 Colt. Lines through 1999 match the Serial Number Lookup table Redhawk Revolver. Accessed October 10, 2026.

Super Redhawk

The Super Redhawk list ends at 2014. From 2005 each line has a second, starred number from a 530 block, which Ruger’s note marks as the Alaskan models.

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger Super Redhawk Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: Super Redhawk Revolver | (Including Alaskan models) | Calibers: 44 Mag, 454 Casull, 480 Ruger, 10mm Auto. Lines through 1999 match the Serial Number Lookup table Super Redhawk Revolver. Accessed October 10, 2026.

LCR

The LCR isn’t one list. Ruger keeps five, one per caliber, and each has its own prefix. The original .38 starts at 540-00001 for 2009, and all five end at 2015.

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger LCR® Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: LCR® | Caliber: 38 Spl +P. Accessed October 10, 2026.

LCR in 357 Magnum

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger LCR® Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: LCR® | Caliber: 357 Magnum. Accessed October 10, 2026.

LCR in 22 LR and 22 WMR

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger LCR® Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: LCR® | Caliber: 22 LR, 22 WMR. Accessed October 10, 2026.

LCR in 9mm

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger LCR® Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: LCR® | Caliber: 9mm Luger. Accessed October 10, 2026.

LCR in 327 Federal Magnum

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger LCR® Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: LCR® | Caliber: .327 Federal Magnum. Accessed October 10, 2026.

Ruger Mini-14 and Mini Thirty Serial Numbers

Mini-14 owners need to know which Mini they have. Ruger keeps the original Mini-14 and the Ranch Rifle on separate lists with separate prefixes, and starts new lists again for the rifles made from 2005 on.

Mini-14

The Mini-14 list starts at 180-00001 for 1974. Ruger labels the first four years, 1974 to 1977, as their own group, and the main run begins with the 1978 line at 181-07488. That’s where the 180 series name for the early rifles comes from. The list ends at 2004.

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history pages Ruger Mini-14 Serial Number History and Ruger Mini-14 Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: Mini-14 Rifle | (Manufactured from 1974 to 1977) | Caliber: 223 Rem; Mini-14 Rifle | (Manufactured from 1978 to 2004) | Caliber: 223 Rem, 222 Rem. Lines through 1999 match the Serial Number Lookup table Mini-14 Rifle. Accessed October 10, 2026.

Mini-14 Ranch Rifle

The Ranch Rifle starts at 187-00001 for 1982 and its list ends at 2004. We ran the current one for our Ruger Mini-14 review.

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger Mini-14 Ranch Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: Mini-14 Ranch Rifle | (Manufactured from 1982 - 2004) | Caliber: 222 Rem, 223 Rem. Lines through 1999 match the Serial Number Lookup table Mini-14 Ranch Rifle. Accessed October 10, 2026.

New Mini-14 Ranch Rifle

This is the 580 series. The list starts at 580-00001 for 2005 and runs to 2015.

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger New Mini-14® Ranch Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: New Mini-14 Ranch Rifle | Caliber: 223 Rem, 5.56 NATO, 300 BLK. Accessed October 10, 2026.

Mini Thirty

The Mini Thirty starts at 186-00501 for 1986. Ruger keeps a second Mini Thirty list for the later rifles, which starts in 2006 with a 581 prefix. Our Ruger Mini-30 review covers the current rifle.

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger Mini Thirty Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: Mini Thirty Rifle | (Manufactured from 1986 - 2004) | Caliber: 762x39. Lines through 1999 match the Serial Number Lookup table Mini Thirty Rifle. Accessed October 10, 2026.

Mini Thirty, 581 Series On

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger Mini Thirty Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: Mini Thirty Rifle | Caliber: 762x39. Accessed October 10, 2026.

Ruger M77, Hawkeye, American, No. 1 and Other Rifle Serial Numbers

M77, Original Tang Safety Model

The original M77 starts at serial 1 for 1968 and moves to a 70 prefix for 1970. Ruger splits the list at 1985, and by 1986 the prefix has grown to three digits at 770-12293. The last line is 1992.

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history pages Ruger M77 Serial Number History and Ruger M77 Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: M77 - Original Tang Safety Model Rifle | (Manufactured from 1968 to 1984) | Calibers: 22-250 Rem, 223, 220 Swift, 6mm Rem, 65mm, 243, 257, 25-06 Rem, 250/3000, 264 Win, 270 Win, 280, 284 Win, 7x57, 7mm Rem., 7mm-08 Rem, 30-06 Sprg, 300 Win Mag, 308 Win, 338 Win, 350 Rem, 35 Whelan, 358 Win Mag, 416 Taylor, 458 Win Mag, 458 Rem Mag; M77 - Original Tang Safety Model Rifle | (Manufactured from 1985 to 1992) | Calibers: 22-250 Rem, 223, 220 Swift, 6mm Rem., 65mm, 243, 257, 25-06 Rem, 250/3000, 264 Win, 270 Win, 280, 284 Win, 7x57, 7mm Rem Mag, 7mm-08 Rem, 30-06 Sprg, 300 Win Mag, 308 Win, 338 Win, 350 Rem, 35 Whelan, 358 Win Mag, 416 Taylor, 458 Win Mag, 458 Rem Mag. Lines through 1992 match the Serial Number Lookup table M77 - Original Tang Safety Model Rifle. Accessed October 10, 2026.

M77 Mark II

The Mark II list starts at 780-00001 for 1989 and runs to 792-48644 for 2013.

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger M77 Mark II Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: M77 Mark II Rifle | (including Frontier Models) | Caliber: 204 Ruger, 22-250 Rem, 22PPC, 222, 223, 220 Swift, 6mm Rem, 6mm PPC, 65x55mm, 243, 250/3000, 257, 25-06 Rem, 260 Rem, 264 Win, 270 Win, 270 WSM, 280, 284 Win, 7x57, 7x64 Brenneke, 7mm Rem, 7mm RSU, 7mm WSM, 7mm/08, 762x39, 30-06 Sprg, 300 Win Mag, 300 JRW, 300 RSU, 300 WSM, 308 Win, 338 Win, 35 Whelan, 358 Win Mag, 350 Rem Mag. Lines through 1999 match the Serial Number Lookup table M77 Mark II Rifle. Accessed October 10, 2026.

M77 Mark II Magnum

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger M77 Mark II Magnum Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: M77 Mark II Magnum Rifle | Calibers: 375 H&H, 416 Rigby, 458 Win, 458 Lott. Lines through 1999 match the Serial Number Lookup table M77 Mark II Magnum Rifle. Accessed October 10, 2026.

M77 Mark II Deluxe and Express

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger M77 Mark II Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: M77 Mark II Deluxe / Express Rifle | (Manufactured from 1992 - 2002) | Calibers: 25-06 Rem, 270, 7mm, 30-06 Sprg, 300 Win, 338 Win. Lines through 1999 match the Serial Number Lookup table M77 Mark II Deluxe / Express Rifle. Accessed October 10, 2026.

Hawkeye

The Hawkeye list starts at 710-00501 for 2006 and runs to 712-11579 for 2015. We compare new and used M77s in our Ruger M77 Hawkeye review.

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger Hawkeye® Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: Hawkeye Rifle | Caliber: 204 Ruger, 22-250 Rem, 223, 243, 257, 25-06 Rem, 270 Win, 280, 68 SPC, 7mm Rem, 7mm/08, 762x39mm, 30-06 Sprg, 300 Win Mag, 300 RCM, 308 Win, 338 Win, 338 Federal, 338 RCM, 65 Creedmore, 65 PRC, 358 Win Mag, 375 Ruger, 416 Ruger. Accessed October 10, 2026.

Guide Gun

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger Guide Gun Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: Guide Gun Rifle | Caliber: 30-06 Sprg, 300 RCM, 300 Win Mag, 338 RCM, 338 Win Mag, 375 Ruger, 416 Ruger. Accessed October 10, 2026.

American Rifle

The American Rifle list starts at 690-00000 for 2012 and runs to 696-28041 for 2017.

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger American Rifle® Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: Ruger American Rifle® | Caliber: 5.56 NATO, 223 Rem, 22-250 Rem, 243 Win, 270 Win, 7mm-08 Rem, 300 BLK, 30-06 Sprg, 308 Win, 6mm Creedmoor, 7mm Rem Mag, 7.62x39, 300 Win Mag, 450 Bushmaster. Accessed October 10, 2026.

American Rimfire

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger American Rimfire® Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: Ruger American Rimfire® | Caliber: 17 HMR, 22 LR, 22 WMR. Accessed October 10, 2026.

Precision Rifle

Ruger’s Precision Rifle page has one line, and it uses a four digit prefix.

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger Precision Rifle® Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: Ruger Precision® Rifle Bolt-Action Rifle | Caliber: 5.56 NATO/223 Rem, 243 Win, 6mm Creedmoor, 6.5 Creedmoor, 308 Win, 300 Win Mag, 338 Lapua Mag. Accessed October 10, 2026.

No. 1 Single-Shot

The No. 1 list starts at serial 1 for 1967 and runs all the way to 2015.

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger No.1 Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: No. 1 Single-Shot Rifle | Calibers: 204 Ruger, 218 Bee, 22 Hornet, 222 Rem, 223, 22PPC, 22-250 Rem, 220 Swift, 6mmPPC, 6mm Rem, 243, 257, 25/06, 264, 270 Win, 270 Weatherby, 280, 65 Rem, 6.5-284, 7x57, 7mm Rem, 7mm STW, 7mm/08, 30-06, 30-40 Krag, 300 H&H, 300 Weatherby, 300 Win Mag, 308 Win, 338 Win Mag, 357 Mag, 375 H&H, 38-55 Win, 404 Jeffrey, 405 Win, 416 Rem, 416 Rigby, 45-70 Govt, 450 Marlin, 458 Win, 458 Lott. Lines through 1999 match the Serial Number Lookup table No. 1 Single-Shot Rifle. Accessed October 10, 2026.

No. 3 Single-Shot

Ruger’s note says No. 3 serial numbers were rollmarked with the No. 1 rifles beginning in 1980, which is why the prefix changes that year.

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger No.3 Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: No. 3 Single-Shot Rifle | (Manufactured from 1973 to 1986) | Calibers: 22 Hornet, 223, 30-40 Krag, 375 Win, 44 Mag, 45-70 Govt. Lines through 1986 match the Serial Number Lookup table No. 3 Single-Shot Rifle. Accessed October 10, 2026.

44 Carbine

The .44 Magnum carbine starts at serial 1 for 1961. Ruger splits its list in two, 1961 to 1974 and 1975 to 1985, and we’ve joined them in order.

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history pages Ruger .44 Carbine Serial Number History and Ruger .44 Carbine Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: 44 Carbine Rifle | (Manufactured from 1961 to 1974) | Caliber: .44 Magnum; 44 Carbine Rifle | (Manufactured from 1975 to 1985) | Caliber: .44 Magnum. Lines through 1985 match the Serial Number Lookup table 44 Carbine Rifle. Accessed October 10, 2026.

Deerfield Carbine

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger Deerfield Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: Deerfield Rifle | (Manufactured from 2000 to 2006) | Caliber: 44 Magnum. Accessed October 10, 2026.

77/22 and 77/17

The end of this list is odd. The 2016 line starts lower than the 2015 line, and the last line is dated 2018 with a different prefix. We’ve printed it the way Ruger does, and our lookup gives a span of years where the numbers overlap.

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger 77/22 & 77/17 Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: 77/22 & 77/17 Rifle | Calibers: 22 LR, 22 Mag, 17 HMR, 17 WSM, 17 Hornet. Lines through 1999 match the Serial Number Lookup table 77/22 & 77/17 Rifle. Accessed October 10, 2026.

77/22 Hornet

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger 77/22 Hornet Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: 77/22 Hornet Rifle | Caliber: 22 Hornet. Lines through 1999 match the Serial Number Lookup table 77/22 Hornet Rifle. Accessed October 10, 2026.

77/44

Ruger’s note says the 77/44 wasn’t produced from 2006 to 2008, so the list has no lines for those years.

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger 77/44 Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: 77/44 Rifle | Caliber: 44 Magnum. Lines through 1999 match the Serial Number Lookup table 77/44 Rifle. Accessed October 10, 2026.

77/357

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger 77/357 Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: 77/357 Rifle | Caliber: 357 Magnum. Accessed October 10, 2026.

77/50 Muzzleloader

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger 77/50 Muzzleloader Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: 77/50 Muzzleloader - Includes Standard and Officer's Models | (Manufactured from 1997 - 2004) | Caliber: 50 Black Powder Only. Lines through 1999 match the Serial Number Lookup table 77/50 Muzzleloader - Includes Standard and Officer's Models. Accessed October 10, 2026.

Model 96 in 22 and 17 Calibers

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger Model 96 Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: Model 96 - 96/22 and 96/17 Rifle | Caliber: 22 LR, 22 Magnum, 17 HMR. Lines through 1999 match the Serial Number Lookup table Model 96 - 96/22 and 96/17 Rifle. Accessed October 10, 2026.

Model 96/44

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger Model 96 Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: Model 96 - 96/44 Rifle | Caliber: 44 Magnum. Lines through 1999 match the Serial Number Lookup table Model 96 - 96/44 Rifle. Accessed October 10, 2026.

PC9 Carbine

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger Carbine Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: Ruger PC9 Carbine Rifle | (Manufactured from 1996 to 2006) | Caliber: 9mm. Lines through 1999 match the Serial Number Lookup table Ruger PC9 Carbine Rifle. Accessed October 10, 2026.

PC4 Carbine

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger Carbine Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: Ruger PC4 Carbine Rifle | (Manufactured from 1997 to 2006) | Caliber: 40 Auto. Lines through 1999 match the Serial Number Lookup table Ruger PC4 Carbine Rifle. Accessed October 10, 2026.

SR-22 Rifle

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger SR-22® Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: SR-22® Rifle | Caliber: 22 LR. Accessed October 10, 2026.

SR-556

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger SR-556® Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: SR-556® Autoloading Rifle | Caliber: 5.56 NATO/223 Rem, 68 SPC. Accessed October 10, 2026.

SR-762

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger SR-762® Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: SR-762® Autoloading Rifle | Caliber: 308 Win/7.62 NATO. Accessed October 10, 2026.

AR-556

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger AR-556® Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: AR-556® Autoloading Rifle | Caliber: 5.56 NATO/223 Rem, 450 Bushmaster. Accessed October 10, 2026.

AR-Lower Elite

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger AR-556® Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: AR-Lower Elite. Accessed October 10, 2026.

Silent-SR Suppressor

Not a rifle, but Ruger gave its suppressor a history page too, with one line.

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger AR-556® Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: Silent-SR™ Suppressor | Caliber: 22 LR, 22 WMR and 17 HMR. Accessed October 10, 2026.

Buying new? We rank the whole current lineup in our guide to the best Ruger rifles.

Ruger P-Series Pistol Serial Numbers

Ruger gave every P-Series variant its own page, which makes 25 pages. Many of them are copies of each other. The manual safety, decocker and double-action-only versions of a model mostly share one block of numbers, so we’ve shown each shared list once and named every variant it covers.

Two pairs don’t agree, so we print both. The P90 and P90D pages show different numbers for 2003 and 2004, and the P95PR and P95DPR pages show different numbers for 2006.

P85 and P85 MKII

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger P85 Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: P-Series - P85 - P85MKII Pistol | (manufactured from 1987 to 1992) | Caliber: 9mm. Lines through 1992 match the Serial Number Lookup table P-Series - P85 - P85MKII Pistol. Accessed October 10, 2026.

P89, P89D and P89DAO

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger P89 Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: P-Series - P89 Manual Safety Model Pistol | Caliber: 9mm. The same lines also appear on Ruger P89 Serial Number History, 1993 to 2009, Ruger P89 Serial Number History, 1993 to 2004. Lines through 1999 match the Serial Number Lookup tables P-Series - P89 Manual Safety Model Pistol, P-Series - P89D Decocker Model Pistol and P-Series - P89DAO Double-Action Only Model Pistol. Accessed October 10, 2026.

P90

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger P90 Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: P-Series - P90 Manual Safety Model | Caliber: .45 ACP. Lines through 1999 match the Serial Number Lookup tables P-Series - P90 Manual Safety Model and P-Series - P90D Decocker Model Pistol. Accessed October 10, 2026.

P90D

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger P90 Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: P-Series - P90D Decocker Model Pistol | Caliber: 45 ACP. Accessed October 10, 2026.

P91D and P91DAO

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger P91 Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: P-Series - P91D Decocker Model Pistol | (manufactured from 1992 to 1994) | Caliber: 40 Auto. The same lines also appear on Ruger P91 Serial Number History, 1992 to 1994. Lines through 1994 match the Serial Number Lookup tables P-Series - P91D Decocker Model Pistol and P-Series - P91DAO Double-Action Only Model Pistol. Accessed October 10, 2026.

P93D and P93DAO

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger P93 Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: P-Series - P93D Decocker Model Pistol | (manufactured from 1994 to 2004) | Caliber: 9mm. The same lines also appear on Ruger P93 Serial Number History, 1994 to 2004. Lines through 1999 match the Serial Number Lookup tables P-Series - P93D Decocker Model Pistol and P-Series - P93DAO Double-Action Only Model Pistol. Accessed October 10, 2026.

P94, P94D and P94DAO

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger P94 Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: P-Series - P94 Manual Safety Model Pistol | (manufactured from 1994 to 2004) | Caliber: 9mm. The same lines also appear on Ruger P94 Serial Number History, 1994 to 2004, Ruger P94 Serial Number History, 1994 to 2004. Lines through 1999 match the Serial Number Lookup tables P-Series - P94 Manual Safety Model Pistol, P-Series - P94D Decocker Model Pistol and P-Series - P94DAO Double-Action Only Model Pistol. Accessed October 10, 2026.

P944, P944D and P944DAO

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger P944 Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: P-Series - P944 - Manual Safety Model Pistol | Caliber: 40 S&W. The same lines also appear on Ruger P944 Serial Number History, 1995 to 2009, Ruger P944 Serial Number History, 1995 to 2004. Lines through 1999 match the Serial Number Lookup tables P-Series - P944 - Manual Safety Model Pistol, P-Series - P944D Decocker Model Pistol and P-Series - P944DAO Double-Action Only Model Pistol. Accessed October 10, 2026.

P95, P95D and P95DAO

Ruger’s note on the P95 says its serial numbers were rollmarked with the P89 pistols beginning in 1998, so the two lists match from that year on.

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger P95 Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: P-Series - P95D Decocker Model Pistol | (Manufactured from 1996-2005) | Caliber: 9mm. The same lines also appear on Ruger P95 Serial Number History, 1996 to 2005, Ruger P95 Serial Number History, 2001 to 2005. Lines through 1999 match the Serial Number Lookup tables P-Series - P95D Decocker Model Pistol and P-Series - P95DAO Double-Action Only Model Pistol. Accessed October 10, 2026.

P95PR

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger P95PR Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: P-Series - P95PR Manual Safety Model Pistol | Caliber: 9mm. Accessed October 10, 2026.

P95DPR

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger P95PR Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: P-Series - P95DPR Decocker Model Pistol | Caliber: 9mm. Accessed October 10, 2026.

P97D and P97DAO

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger P97 Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: P-Series - P97D Decocker Model Pistol | (manufactured from 1999 to 2004) | Caliber: 45 ACP. The same lines also appear on Ruger P97 Serial Number History, 1999 to 2004. Lines through 1999 match the Serial Number Lookup tables P-Series - P97D Decocker Model Pistol and P-Series - P97DAO Double-Action Only Model Pistol. Accessed October 10, 2026.

P345 and P345D

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger P345 Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: P-Series - P345 Manual Safety Model Pistol | Caliber: 45 ACP. The same lines also appear on Ruger P345 Serial Number History, 2004 to 2009. Accessed October 10, 2026.

Ruger LCP, LC9, SR9 and Other Later Pistol Serial Numbers

These are the pistols that came after the P-Series. Ruger’s pages for them are short, and most end at 2015.

LCP

The LCP list starts at 370-00000 for 2008. In 2013 Ruger drops the dash and the numbers become nine digits long, starting at 370018421. Type yours the way it’s stamped.

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger LCP® Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: LCP Pistol | Caliber: 380 Auto. Accessed October 10, 2026.

LCP II

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger LCP® II Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: LCP II | Caliber: 380 Auto. Accessed October 10, 2026.

LC9

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger LC9® Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: LC9® Pistol | Caliber: 9mm Luger. Accessed October 10, 2026.

LC9s

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger LC9s® Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: LC9s® Pistol | Caliber: 9mm Luger. Accessed October 10, 2026.

LC9s Pro

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger LC9s® Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: LC9s® Pro Pistol | Caliber: 9mm Luger. Accessed October 10, 2026.

LC380

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger LC380® Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: LC380 Pistol | Caliber: 380 Auto. Accessed October 10, 2026.

EC9s

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger EC9s™ Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: EC9s™ Pistol | Caliber: 9mm Luger. Accessed October 10, 2026.

Security-9

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger® Securtiy-9® Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: Security-9® | Caliber: 9mm. Accessed October 10, 2026.

SR9

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger SR9® Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: SR9 Pistol | Caliber: 9mm. Accessed October 10, 2026.

SR9c

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger SR9c® Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: SR9c Pistol | Caliber: 9mm. Accessed October 10, 2026.

9E

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger 9E® Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: 9E Pistol | Caliber: 9mm. Accessed October 10, 2026.

SR40

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger SR40® Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: SR40 Pistol | Caliber: 40 S&W. Accessed October 10, 2026.

SR40c

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger SR40c® Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: SR40c Pistol | Caliber: 40 S&W. Accessed October 10, 2026.

SR45

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger SR45™ Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: SR45 Pistol | Caliber: 45 Auto. Accessed October 10, 2026.

SR1911

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger SR1911® Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: SR1911 Pistol | Caliber: 45 Auto, 10mm Auto, 9mm Luger. Accessed October 10, 2026.

American Pistol

Ruger has two pages for the American Pistol and they don’t agree. Both give 860-00000 as the first number, but one page dates it 2016 and the other dates it 2015. We’ve printed both, and we wouldn’t trust either year for an early gun.

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger American Pistol® Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: Ruger American Pistol™ | Caliber: 9mm Luger, 45 Auto. Accessed October 10, 2026.

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger American Pistol® Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: Ruger American Pistol™ | Caliber: 9mm Luger, 45 Auto. Accessed October 10, 2026.

Ruger Red Label and Other Shotgun Serial Numbers

Ruger numbered the Red Label by gauge. The 20 gauge came first, at 400-00001 for 1978, and the 12 gauge followed at 410-00001 for 1982. All three gauge lists end at 2011, and a separate page covers the 12 gauge guns shipped from 2013 to 2015.

Red Label, 12 Gauge

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history pages Ruger Red Label Serial Number History and Ruger Red Label Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: Red Label Over-and-Under Shotgun | (Manufactured from 1982 to 1994) | Gauge: 12; Red Label Over-and-Under Shotgun | (Manufactured from 1995 to Present) | Gauge: 12. Lines through 1999 match the Serial Number Lookup table Red Label Over-and-Under Shotgun. Accessed October 10, 2026.

Red Label, 12 Gauge, 412 Series

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger Red Label Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: Red Label Over-and-Under Shotgun | Gauge: 12. Accessed October 10, 2026.

Red Label, 20 Gauge

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history pages Ruger Red Label Serial Number History and Ruger Red Label Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: Red Label Over-and-Under Shotgun | (Manufactured from 1978 to 1995) | Gauge: 20; Red Label Over-and-Under Shotgun | (Manufactured from 1996 to Present) | Gauge: 20. Lines through 1999 match the Serial Number Lookup table Red Label Over-and-Under Shotgun. Accessed October 10, 2026.

Red Label, 28 Gauge

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger Red Label Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: Red Label Over-and-Under Shotgun | (manufactured from 1995 to 2011) | Gauge: 28. Lines through 1999 match the Serial Number Lookup table Red Label Over-and-Under Shotgun. Accessed October 10, 2026.

Woodside

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger Red Label Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: Woodside Over-and-Under Shotgun | (Manufactured from 1995 - 2002) | Gauge: 12. Lines through 1999 match the Serial Number Lookup table Woodside Over-and-Under Shotgun. Accessed October 10, 2026.

Gold Label

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger Gold Label Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: Gold Label Side-By-Side Shotgun | Gauge: 12. Accessed October 10, 2026.

Trap Shotgun

Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co., serial number history page Ruger Gold Label Serial Number History. Ruger’s label: Trap Shotgun | Gauge: 12. Accessed October 10, 2026.

Ruger Serial Number Prefixes by Model

The digits in front of the dash are the fastest way to tell what you’re holding. Ruger gave each model family its own prefixes, so a 150 number is a Security-Six and a 170 number is a GP100. This table lists every two or three digit prefix that starts a line on Ruger’s lists, lowest first.

Two cautions. A prefix can be missing here and still be real, because a block that was used up inside one year never starts a line. And Ruger says that within a model family the same prefix may cover a variety of different models, all in the same block of numbers.

Built from the tables above, which come from Ruger’s serial number history pages and its Serial Number Lookup page, accessed October 10, 2026.

How to Look Up a Ruger Newer Than These Lists

Every list on this page stops somewhere. Most end at 2015, the 10/22 and the American Rifle run to 2017, and nothing goes past 2018. Models that arrived after Ruger stopped adding to these pages have no list at all. The Wrangler, the LCP MAX, the MAX-9, the Security-380 and the current PC Carbine are five of them.

For those, go straight to Ruger’s Serial Number Lookup. Type the number in and Ruger says it will show the model number, product line, caliber, production status, ship date and instruction manual. That’s more than any table can give you, and it’s free.

It has limits. Ruger notes that the service is a reference only and that accuracy isn’t guaranteed. It also says not every serial number is in there, particularly ones shipped before its records were kept electronically. When a number isn’t found, Ruger’s page offers year tables for its older product lines, and those match the history pages we used line for line.

One page has gone missing. The Gunsite Scout Rifle had a history page, and Ruger’s site now sends that address to its manuals page instead, so we have nothing to print for it.

Still stuck? Ruger’s customer service is the next stop. Have the full serial number and the model in front of you before you get in touch.

What the Serial Number Doesn’t Tell You

You get a ship year and that’s it. People ask a serial number to do a lot more than it can.

• What it’s worth. Nothing on Ruger’s lists speaks to value. Condition, originality and the box set the price, and two Blackhawks a few numbers apart can sell for very different money.
• Exactly what it is. The lists don’t show barrel length, finish or grips. Ruger also says one prefix can cover several different models, so the number alone won’t settle a variant.
• Whether it’s stolen. No public list answers that, and this page doesn’t try. If you have doubts about a gun, call your local police or sheriff’s office and ask them to run the number.
• Who owned it. Ruger’s records don’t offer that either.

Ruger Letter of Authenticity

For years Ruger offered a Letter of Authenticity for collectors who wanted the ship date on paper. Ruger’s own description is short. The letter lists the serial number, ship date, model and caliber, and Ruger says it can’t provide any information beyond that.

Right now you can’t order one. When we checked, Ruger’s lookup page said it is temporarily unable to offer the Letter of Authenticity service and that it looks forward to offering it again soon. The request form the old notes point to came back as a page not found.

So we’re not going to quote you a price or a mailing address that Ruger itself has taken down. Check the notice on Ruger’s Serial Number Lookup page before you send anything. In the meantime, Ruger’s lookup and the tables above give you the same ship year the letter would.

What It’s Worth, and Selling It

Now you know the year, and the next question is always money. Start with condition, because a year without a grade tells a buyer very little. Our gun values guide walks through the NRA condition grades and shows how to turn a grade into a price.

If you’re selling, put the year in the listing along with the model, caliber and barrel length. Our guide on how to sell a gun covers where each kind of gun sells best and what each channel costs you. For a private sale, print our free firearm bill of sale and write the serial number on it exactly as it’s stamped, dash included.

Old model Blackhawks, flat gate Single-Sixes and early 10/22s are the Rugers collectors chase, so check the year before you take the first offer. Dating a lever gun next? Our Winchester serial number lookup page works the same way.

Serial Number Lookups for Other Makers

More than one old gun in the safe? We’ve built the same kind of page for six other makers, each from that maker’s own records where they exist.

• Winchester serial number lookup: Winchester’s own year-end tables for the Model 94, Model 70, Model 12 and 30 more, plus how to order a factory letter from Cody.
• Browning serial number lookup: The two-letter date code decoded, with Browning’s own dating pages for the Auto-5, Citori, Hi Power and BAR.
• Remington serial number lookup: How to decode the barrel date code on an 870 or a 700, with factory serial tables for the older models.
• Marlin serial number lookup: Reading the year from the serial prefix on a 336, a 39A or a Model 60, plus the antique lever guns.
• Colt serial number lookup: How Colt’s own online lookup works, the serial ranges a public list puts years on, and what an archive letter costs.
• Smith & Wesson serial number lookup: There’s no year chart for these, so it covers what the number format tells you and how to get a factory letter.

Photo credits: the lead photo of an early Single-Six and a flat top Blackhawk is by Stephen Z, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0, cropped.

Ruger Serial Number FAQ