Ruger Model 44 RS .44 Rem Magnum Semi-Automatic Rifle | 1973 Pre-Warning, Early 100-Prefix
Produced in 1973, this Ruger Model 44 RS comes from the desirable pre-warning era and carries an early 100-prefix serial number. The rifle combines Ruger’s short-stroke gas-piston action with a handy 18.5-inch barrel and classic walnut furniture. Collectors value these first-block guns for their Southport, Conn. barrel address and investment-cast aluminum receiver—details that mark the Model 44’s formative years.
Condition
Overall Condition: Good condition, showing some signs of prior use and handling.
Bore Condition: Good – Clean, well-maintained, minor wear marks.
Rifling Condition: Good Rifling – Intact, well-defined lands and grooves.
Specific Condition Notes: There are scattered surface scratches and handling marks on the metal and walnut stock, but no deep gouges or cracks. The bore is bright and shiny throughout.
What’s Included
- Ruger Model 44 RS .44 Rem Magnum semi-automatic rifle
This RS-series rifle features Ruger’s integral scope bases machined into the receiver, giving shooters a solid platform for optics without additional hardware. The factory gold-bead ramp front sight is intact, while the rear sight base remains for those who prefer irons.
Its 18.5-inch blued steel barrel is paired with a 1:38 RH twist, optimized for the .44 Rem Magnum cartridge. A fixed 4-round tubular magazine keeps the profile slim and balances the rifle for quick handling in the field.
The satin oil-rubbed walnut stock sports a Monte Carlo comb, fluted cheekpiece, crisp checkering, pistol grip, and a Schnabel fore-end tip—hallmarks of Ruger’s early 1970s styling. Combined with the lightweight aluminum receiver, the package feels lively without sacrificing durability.
Early Model 44s like this one, stamped with the Southport address and lacking the later barrel warning, occupy a special place among Ruger collectors. The 100-prefix serial and 1973 production date confirm it as part of the first major production block before design changes appeared in 1975.