All 1976 Rugers have that ....

That said, I scored a '76 10/22 in a pawn shop, looks like it lived behind a truck seat or something, was nasty sticky with some type of residue. Beat 'em up on the price and combined it with normal-retail cost on a second 10/22 with a rather fancy maple stock, took both home. Parted out the '76 - barrel, walnut stock and metal butt plate for more than I had in the whole gun, kept receiver etc. for a build (still have it).

 

If you keep all the original parts it can always be returned to OEM spec, IF you should determine that it has "collector" value.

 

Thanks. I'll keep the parts, but my guess is that so many were made it'll be like beanie babies or cabbage patch kids... if they ever have collector status the owners will have been pushing up daisies for millennia.

But I had to check before doing anything to it.

 

1976 Ruger 10/22 Bicentennial 200th Year of American Liberty - Semi Auto Rifles at GunBroker.com : 980797904
This one went buy it now but had 9 bids of interest for a little over $550 counting tax and shipping and its condition is pretty rough so yes, I would say there is some collector interest. Were it me, I would watch the classifieds here and Gunbroker for something already upgraded with some of the parts you are considering for a great discount. After you score whatever, sell your collectible intact for all the dough. Meanwhile try to enjoy it as is.

 

It seems I'm like a politician waffling on an issue but over this, thanks.

That really does surprise me that it has any collector value.

 

Liberty Rugers do command a slightly higher price than the same model in other years, typically $75 to $100, BUT that is for prime examples, as new in the box, mint or at least very good condition, guns in a condition to attract collector or vintage Ruger interest. Just the fact that your gun was made in 1976, prior to Ruger stamping a warning to read the manual on the barrel, adds to sales value on the vintage Ruger market. For well used and rough examples, being a Liberty gun is probably irrelevant, no big deal.

Note that all Rugers in good condition from that 60s and 70s era, 10/22s included, are bring higher prices, now. A liberty version just makes it all the sweeter. As always, though, buyers shopping for vintage Rugers want guns in factory original condition. Any irreversible mods you do will take your 10/22 out of that market, should you ever decide to sell. For reversible mods, just be sure to keep the original parts. Your call, of course.



.

 

I agree ^

as with most things that can become collectable, condition, and originality is everything...for example, if it's had the stock refinished, it's not as valuable to a collector, as an original finish in just OK condition

 

Collector value= YES, many of the old 22 cal.s are becoming collectable as the years go on. Any gun/ firearm 50 years or older can be bought with a C&R to C&R license exchange. unless it is a full auto that goes into the licensing a machinegun category. Fingerprints, and all. If its old, it is collectable to someone. You will need to look up the details online. hope this helps some.

 

Yes, "Liberty" Rugers DO have collector value.

The degree of value depends on condition.......NIB Etc.

Do research on Gun Broker to learn more.

 

I’d leave it alone, and buy a CZ as a tack driver. You’ll spend less money that way.😉

 

Stolen from another site.
"Per Workman's book on the 10/22, the serial numbers 115-42738 through 116-46233 are confirmed as being marked "Made in the 200th year of American Liberty".

That's 103,495 10/22s. The oddity here is that Ruger only shipped 99,329 10/22s in 1976, so the rest were shipped in early 1977, which makes sense given that 1977 production started at 116-25017. That leaves 116-25017 through 116-46233 as being shipped in 1977.

And according to Workman the range of Liberty guns could be larger. 10/22s at or below 115-38772 are not marked but it's unclear above that number. For a point of reference, 115-40029 was shipped 1-23-76 and could have been made in 1976 but is not marked as a Liberty gun. So it's not real clear exactly when they started marking them in 1976.

At the other end of the the Liberty production, it's not known whether, or how many serial numbers from 116-46234 to 116-47682 are marked or not. According to Workman, 116-47682 has been reported and confirmed as being Liberty marked, but no 10/22 above 116-47682 has been reported to be a "200th year gun" other than 116-90829, which had not been verified when Workman's book went to print. I suspect these later "200th year" marked guns were probably 10/22s that were assembled using barrels that got over looked earlier.

In any case about 67% of the Liberty 10/22s were Carbines while the rest were Deluxe Sporters." ( End of Pasted Post")

 

I just saw this article because I have a Ruger 1976 10/22 200 year Liberty Rifle. The above article states that my serial number 116-35044 was delivered in 1977. I received my Ruger December 23, 1976 on my 16th birthday. So they had to have released those serial numbers in 1976. My twin brother received one as well, though his was stolen many years ago. My rifle is in near mint condition. It's been kept in a rifle bag since the day I got it. The finish is totally intact. Some Minor scratches. Over all excellent condition.

 

Thanks, yes mine is the sporter version. I never liked the models with the barrel band. I'd need to take it to someone who knows more about condition than I do, but mine is cherry. No box but I have the original mag' with the straight slot that has been used in other 10/22s over the years, so that magazine shows wear.

Right now this is about researching options should other rifles in the safe not work for me for what I have planned. But should that happen I like the idea of selling it and getting something that is built to work. Heck, it's a safe queen, so maybe it's time to put it in the hands of someone who will appreciate it more than I did. There's nothing wrong with it I just had other .22s that always took precedence over it. I don't see that changing; it's just a forgotten gun.

 

Unless it is new in the box or in exceptionally good condition , I do not believe it is worth any more than any other 10/22.
I also believe that if you remove the marking , it will be worth less than it is now.

 

I could not bring myself to mod a rifle like that. These were only made for 1 year.
Yea the stamping on the barrel is the only difference between it and the year before and the year after. But these are "pre warning" barrels, meaning they do not have the lawyer required warning labels on them. A lot of people like that. I do and I have a 1975 made 10/22 and it is just so much cleaner looking than the newer ones.
I actually would really like to have one of bicentennial models and kinda casually look for one every so often, just never really found the right one.
Keep it as-is and do not modify it. Buy another more common model to mod, or one that has already been modded.
If you want to sell, shoot me a PM, I may be interested.

 

I bought my 10/22 new in 1976..
It is not marked.

 

I should have finished this story sooner but frankly, I forgot about it.

I didn't change a thing on the rifle. I sold it as is and put the $ from the sale (and additional sales) into a KIDD SG. The new owner saw the tiger stripe figure on the walnut stock and I suspect he's also going to keep it original. It went to a good home as all of my firearm sales do. I've been known to lose $ to get them to where I want my firearms to be.