I just bought a used GP100 in SS, 3" barrel with fixed sights.
Serial # 171-81*** On the left side, it has "C.A.I. Georgia VT"
It seems like I have seen that stamping on imports in the past. What the heck is it doing on a Ruger GP100???

So what do you have against Vermont anyway?

Thats the importer mark for Century Arms International out of Vermont. I have seen several imports out of France of GP100's. SARCO was selling quite a few of them a few years ago, could be this is another one of those imported by Century. Ryan

Saw an identical GP100 go through the shop about 6 months ago... Century Arms was right, and the one we had had alot of wear consistent with LE duty, plus was strictly a DAO. Our best guess was a run made for an overseas LE agency, used and eventually phased out and bought by C.A.I. Don't think that version was ever marketed in the states for civilian use...
Ingwe

Seems to me that I remember a big order of Ruger revolvers went to France some years back.

I was about to give some flippant answer like " Who would the French give them up to?" when I realized you may be right... for years their LE used their own brand of .357 revolver. Coulda been about that time....
Ingwe

I saw a S&W snub nose 38 a few years ago that had HONG KONG
stamped on the frame. I believe it was a Model 36.

I know Ruger did a number of Service Sixes for Great Britains law enforcement. Cabela's even has a couple listed in their fine gun library.
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/c...tory/lehi/handgun/774599_rssmm38_leh.jsp

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/c...lacey/sale_rack/774601_rugspeed6_lac.jsp

The French versions of the GP-100 are easily identified by the white flag adapter on the barrel shroud. These may be de-milled for safety on some guns.

A few years back there was also a Buttload of S&W m10s from the Hong Kong Police turning up all over...
Ingwe

From the markings found on some of these GPs, the guys on the Rugerforum concluded that they came out of Quebec, probably Montreal.

SOS

ingwe,
I believe your are correct, once I think about it, it was
a Model 10, not a Model 36.

Jericho thanks for that thought... now think about this one,what would LE in Quebec need those weird Ruger GPs for?
There is no crime there, is there?? They cured the crime problem with gun control, didn't they?
Ah, yes, thats why the GPs are showing up back in the states, their crime problem is solved....
Ingwe

Those are import marks back into the U.S. via Century Arms, b/c it it a "snub-nose" revolver (<=3" barrel). Ruger sold many of their SP101 and GP100s to European and Eastern European LE in the 90s and these came back after being phased out locally. You can check the mfg date via the serial number on the Ruger website. I could be wrong, but I thought those were to be resold to LE only here in the U.S. via Century (as already mentioned above), but obviously they have made their way to non-LE too. I have seen these in great shape if stainless, but others look like they drug them in the water on the boat back over here--hit or miss on condition.