I recently picked up a Standard Auto that has a Salt Cod Box. The provenance that accompanies it from original owner leads one to believe it was shipped in late October or Nov. of 1949 as well as Ruger ship dates listed on the Ruger site.
As I researched the early standard Autos in Mr. Dougans Vintage Ruger book I came across an interesting paragraph on page 50. Apparently this gun which is number 2127 (you can also see that number on the side of the COD box picture attachment) was a replacement for the first returned Ruger, as per Mr. Dougan. The original owner has a letter from Ruger saying his order will ship shortly after 9/1/1949. The original owner wrote October 28,1949 on the envelope. What I’m wondering is it possible that the gun he recieved in late October may have been 144, as you mention on page 50 and this gun (2127) is the replacement gun shipped in January?
#0144 would have been the pistol referenced for the October 1949 shipping date. The front sight base was damaged and the consignee returned it for repair. As we know, the sight base is machined integral with the barrel and can not be removed and a replacement soldered on. The entire barrel would have to be scrapped and a new barrel fitted to the receiver. This is not an easy job, the barrels were seated to a receiver tube and then the ejector port is cut with the barrel installed. The prudent thing to do was simply attach a new barreled receiver to the #0144 frame and return it to the owner. Or, pull a new boxed pistol of the shelf and send it. The barreled receiver route would have been the simplest and most cost effective for Ruger.
You have a really nice package there and I'm sure you are very proud of it. From a purely collectable perspective, the paperwork and service record separates this pistol from the herd and adds greatly to it's value in several respects. I have two Salt Cod pistols in my collection, they are among my favorites.
Thanks John, appreciate the input. So, do you believe, 2127 which is my gun pictured, is the replacement gun for 144 as you stated in your book? If that’s the case then my 2127 would have shipped in January…. correct? The original envelope has October and Nov. dates on it …… wondering if the envelope may have been in reference to the owner possibly have 144 and he returned it (broken) and Ruger then sent him 2127?
Thanks Kenny
The information I provided comes right out of the Ruger daybooks and handwritten service records. The paperwork goes with #0144 shipped in 1949. The paragraph in my book says #2127 was the replacement and was shipped Jan. 1950.
Thank you John!
…, So the original owner must have recieved serial number 144 in October of 49 (envelope most likely pertains to 144) it broke and he sent it back and it was replaced with number 2127 in January.
Interesting…… wonder what became of 0144??
