While it took some time, I finally located a 4" Ruger GP100 with fixed sights and half lug barrel. While not necessarily scarce, 4" fixed sight models remain somewhat elusive having been discontinued many years ago. When these work horses do surface, the condition is often well used. The 4" fixed sight models were offered in both blue and stainless with either a half lug or full lug barrel. Calibers included the more familiar .357 Magnum while some were produced in .38 Special only. Internet legend maintains the various 4" fixed sight models were PD contract overruns though I'm not 100% convinced. The pictured revolver is a 1990 Ruger model 01712 (Cat. GPF-340) in .357 Magnum. It remains in surprisingly clean condition for a ~35 year old revolver, though sadly the original box and papers have long been separated from the firearm.

Very nice! I have yet to get a DA Ruger revolver

That's a nice one & very hard to find. Like you said, in that condition.

Congratulations!

I like the look of that revolver.

I love Ruger revolvers. Easier to work on than Smiths, I think they are a more durable design, easy to disassemble. The half lugs are the best. Nice pickup.

LOVE IT. Weren’t the stainless ones for a Canadian contract of some kind IIRC?

That is a beauty! Ruger needs to do more of the half-lug guns. IMO they look great, balance better, and any shaved weight makes a gun nice to carry.

That's a beauty. I'm looking for a 3 sided coin to help me choose between a 2.5" GP100 and 2.75" Redhawk both in .357 and the SRH Alaskan .44 as next year's handgun purchase. It will join a 3" .327 Fed Mag SP101 as my EDC, or maybe take over. The SP101 has banished the other few already. I've never owned a .44 so it appeals from that angle. Having more than my current 6 rounds capacity appeals, giving 1 and 2 points extra to the .357s. Tough decisions.

I have a 35 year old 6” GP100 in SS that I used for many years as a hunting sidearm. It now lives in a closet in our upstairs game room where we watch TV at night. Really tough and solid design. You have to work hard to mess up a GP100. I paid $299 plus tax in 1990 for the GP. I can’t think of a single other thing we bought in 1990 that we still own other than that Ruger.

Somehow I ended up with a bunch of the Lipsey edition SP101’s. Blued and stainless, 327 and 357. Picking up the last one (stainless 327) this week.

Partly because of the size but mostly because they are 3” half lugs guns which seem to be the perfect aesthetic. It’s like having an old combat magnum but in J frame dimensions.

I hate the full lug Rugers compared to the half lugs. It’s not even close. I have a Wiley Clapp edition GP. It’s amazing. I worked on the trigger then shot it a bunch. Then after working on the SP’s I worked on the GP again, polishing the trigger return spring tunnel and adding hammer shims. I don’t want to brag but it is an outstanding trigger. All that to say I wish it had adjustable sights and I would kill for it to be a half lug. The visuals would be off the charts.

quote:

Originally posted by LDB:
That's a beauty. I'm looking for a 3 sided coin to help me choose between a 2.5" GP100 and 2.75" Redhawk both in .357 and the SRH Alaskan .44 as next year's handgun purchase. It will join a 3" .327 Fed Mag SP101 as my EDC, or maybe take over. The SP101 has banished the other few already. I've never owned a .44 so it appeals from that angle. Having more than my current 6 rounds capacity appeals, giving 1 and 2 points extra to the .357s. Tough decisions.

ALASKAN. No substitute!

I have two 44 magnum guns. One Ruger Redhawk 7.5 inch, one Smith 629 4 inch. .44 is absolutely my favorite handgun caliber to shoot.

Go with the SRH Alaskan. Then shoot it at night. If the bullet doesn't kill the target, the flames will.

Beautiful GP 100 OP. I'm jealous. I have the regular stainless version, but a blue revolver is just special. Somehow blue and revolver go really well together.

I keep saying, a 4” 357 revolver covers many bases.

While I'm a Smith and Wesson fanboy, I'd have bought that. A 4 inch fixed sight 357 rules. I have a S&W 13 and would like a 681, but that GP100 would do just fine.

Nice find. A few differences but very familiar to my 82 Police Service Six. Discontinued in 89 so appears early GP100s were similar but beefed up. Thank Canada for Ruger changing to 4.25 inches I guess. My 4" SS is from late 2001. Ruger revolvers check a lot of boxes. Enjoy.

As much as I love me a GP, I like the Security Six better. Never owned one, but I should have picked one up when they were more available at decent prices.

I have a few Ruger revolvers and they are all great. I have a .38 Security-Six and it is amazingly accurate and still just as tough/rugged as any gun from any manufacturer out there.

Interesting.

I now have a strange desire to convert my 4” GP100 to half lug.

It’s funny you say that. My 3” Wiley Clapp GP has a full lug, I have always wanted to find someone who could take 3/4 inch off the lug. It would be the best looking GP100 of all time.

Yeah, is that a thing? Because if it is I might be interested. Although my GP100 is my "heavy magnum" gun, so if it makes sense to have a full underlug anywhere, I guess that's the one.