Ruger 10/22 Pre-Prefix Early Production .22 LR Carbine – 1968 Alloy Steel Barrel, Hardwood Stock
This pre-prefix Ruger 10/22 Carbine dates to around 1968, placing it among the earliest production examples of the iconic rimfire. It retains the original metal trigger housing, early paddle-style magazine release, and an 18.5-inch tapered alloy-steel barrel without the later “read instruction manual” warning text. Collectors will appreciate the clean blued finish, oil-finished hardwood stock, and receiver factory-drilled and tapped for optics—all hallmarks of first-decade 10/22s.
Condition
Overall Condition: Very good condition, showing only light, superficial signs of prior handling or use.
Bore Condition: Good - Clean, well-maintained, minor wear marks.
Bore Rifling: Good Rifling - Intact, well-defined lands and grooves.
Specific Condition Notes: The blued metal surfaces display a few mild scuffs near the barrel band, and the stock has light handling marks. All controls cycle smoothly and the action functions properly.
What’s Included
- Ruger 10/22 Pre-Prefix Carbine (.22 LR)
- 2× 10-round Ruger factory rotary magazines
Ruger’s earliest 10/22s feature a forged aluminum alloy receiver paired with a blued alloy-steel barrel and barrel band. This example maintains that period-correct configuration, giving it both collectibility and the familiar balance shooters expect from the model.
The receiver lacks the later roll-marked safety warning, a detail prized by collectors tracking first-decade production changes. Serial number 156xxx confirms its 1968 manufacture, falling well before Ruger introduced serial number prefixes in 1969.
The metal trigger housing and original magazine release lever represent design elements Ruger later replaced with polymer parts and a push-button release, respectively. Their presence underscores the rifle’s early-production authenticity.
Factory iron sights include a ramped gold-bead front blade and folding leaf rear sight for quick alignment. The receiver comes drilled and tapped, allowing easy optic installation without gunsmithing.
With its 18.5-inch tapered barrel, 13.5-inch length of pull, and 10-round rotary magazine system, this carbine delivers the quick handling and reliable feeding that defined the 10/22 platform from the start.