Hi K, Ruger still shows them catalogued but limited availability on the Lipsey's specials and unavailable on the others.

Ruger® Bearcat® Single-Action Revolver Models

If you keep an eye out they do pop up depending on what model you're after bearcat For Sale – Buy bearcat at GunBroker.com

Frank

 

Hi K, Ruger still shows them catalogued but limited availability on the Lipsey's specials and unavailable on the others.

Ruger® Bearcat® Single-Action Revolver Models

If you keep an eye out they do pop up depending on what model you're after bearcat For Sale – Buy bearcat at GunBroker.com

Frank

Lipseys still lists them, just no mention of inventory. Perhaps that means Ruger will make them in special runs. But gawd dang they are expensive now.

 

Frank,
Yeah, they’ve been listed like that for quite awhile. So long that I was wondering if I had missed something. Maybe it’s a labor shortage or they are prioritizing other models, who knows…
Thanks for the help.

 

I've been on the prowl myself.
No luck so far.
Wishing I bough one during the times of plenty.
It seems like Rugers focus has been on the Wranlers for a few years.
Quantity over quality makes money I guess.

 

Lv2……….you’re probably right about the Wranglers.

 

Got lucky yesterday and found a stainless steel Bearcat local.
Does anyone happen to know when the fixed-sight SS Bearcat was introduced, and how long production lasted?

Edit: SS Bearcat began in 2002, Ruger says "no longer available" but no information on when SS production ended

 

Congrats on finding a Bearcat, @rem33 !

My stainless Shopkeeper was made in 2014. I bought it used in 2018.

If I had to guess, the stainless Bearcats might have been phased out not long after the Wrangler was introduced in 2019. So, maybe production went as far as 2020???

 

The concept to remember is Ruger really doesn't have its own production of various models. Ruger takes "orders" for production from its jobbers. Ruger (more than likely) lists models such as the Bearcat to support dealers and distribution who have remaining inventory and more or less a way to keep the product alive - if - jobbers order it. That is to say, there is investment in tooling and Ruger sure would love to get return on that investment.... but it takes a jobber order to do so. It could be that Lipsey's would ask for a run of Bearcats in XYZ finish and features. Ruger would only be too happy to produce the same.

As a corollary, something like the old Hawkeye single shot, and lots of other models, are not available for jobber orders, again most likely because the investment by Ruger to get those into production would be prohibitive.

That's how the industry works (more or less, with exceptions).

 

I think you are probably correct about the SS Bearcat timeline, coincidently this one was made in 2014 too

 

My Bearcat Shopkeeper was also made in 2014. Must have been a good year! Possibly the last run?

 

My Ruger Bearcat is a stainless steel model #0913. The first five digits of the serial number is 93-713 and the Ruger serial number lookup has it being shipped in 2017.

 

My wifes BC serial number is 93-287xx shipped 2004; mine is 93-304xx also shipped 2004, both model 00913.

EDIT - I was way off on the ship date of the second BC before.

Andy

 

In addition to the above post, keep in mind that most of the firearm factories don't just keep making all the models in their catalog - because, if they did, the companies would have to fund/build a separate production line for each different model firearm.
Just think about how many different models of firearms are in some of those catalogs............ And then think about the cost to create each production line's machinery..

Instead, the factories usually change a given production line's product to whatever firearm they have the most orders for (aka: demand)

.

 

My 2 stainless were made in 2011, ordered through Gallery Of Guns a week apart. Serials are 120 apart.

Bearcats are not a high demand model, so Ruger just makes enough to cover expected sales. That may be a month, six weeks. Maybe 2 batches three months apart. Stainless, blued, Shopkeepers probably have their own separate production schedules.
Mark pistols are likely in continuous production, but only 1 or 2 models at a time.