I ran across a Ruger Standard .22 handgun that is described as "pre Mk1".

Any guess as to what year that gun might be from?

I know very little about the Ruger .22 autos and I'd be interested in your thoughts as to its reputation for reliability or any things that might make it less desirable than later guns.

Intended use is just for casual plinking mostly.

Thanks!

Here ya go wasn’t hard to find.

https://ruger.com/service/productHistory/PI-MarkI.html

Thanks. I'll have to get a serial # from the seller.

1978 according to serial.
Something don't sound right

Would it be pre-Mk1 if that date is correct?.

Maybe they dont lock slide on last round?

No such thing as a pre mark 1, they made standards and mki at the same time, mki just have the adjustable target rear sites...thats the difference and a few different barrel options than the standards. Standards have fixed rear sites. I have two standards, both from the late 70s, I also have a mki from the same time period.

The MK1 target wasn’t introduced until 1950. Adjustable sights and 6.875” barrel. So if one wanted to call a 1949 model a pre MK1 it wouldn’t be out of line. But only that one year.

I know, i was trying not to be a stickler of one year difference in production, you'd think the seller who considered it a pre mki would have known to say 1949 if it really was.

The last standard I bought was actually labeled as a mki in the store. 199 and like new.