New (to me) Mark I Target comes home!

Rogervzv · November 23, 2013, 12:59 PM

I picked this gun up at a consignment sale (estate sale) a month ago. After the interminable California wait, I finally got it home. The gun was absolutely filthy; I am not sure that the previous owner ever did more to it than clean out the bore. I thoroughly cleaned it and then went to the range. The gun shot great! I was happy to find that it handles Mark III magazines just fine, which is great because I have over a dozen of them. Out of 170 rounds (Remington Goldens) I had one ejection issue, which I attribute to a bad round. Otherwise the gun shot perfectly.

Here is how she looked when I picked her up:

Here she is with some new grip panels that I had laying around. I think I like this look better!

Pahoo · November 23, 2013, 03:22 PM

Quote:

I was happy to find that it handles Mark III magazines just fine, which is great because I have over a dozen of them.

That is interested and a question that comes up, often. I can understand the MK-III grip panels fitting the MK-I but have never heard of the MK-III fitting the Mk-I. Sadly, I no longer own an MK-I but, it's good to know. ....

Be Safe !!!

KMAX · November 23, 2013, 03:38 PM

It is beautiful! I had a standard back in the '70s, but sold it due to college life expenses. Have regretted it ever since. A few months ago I found a target model and picked it up. I haven't shot it much but feel that empty spot in my life has been filled once again. I think everyone should own a Mark I, II, or III at least for a little while.

Rogervzv · November 23, 2013, 04:54 PM

Turns out that the Standard and the earlier model Mark 1s had a certain grip arrangement that is incompatible with Mark II and Mark III grips and magazines. Later in the Mark 1 series Ruger updated the grip such that it is compatible with these. By luck my Mark 1 target has the later-version grip which is why it will accomodate these beautiful Mark 1 grip panels as well as the Mark II and Mark III magazines.

Quentin2 · November 24, 2013, 03:22 PM

Nice find, you're gonna love it!

I have a 1975 Mark I which also accepts newer grips like yours. I think the Mark I was changed to the new design somewhere around 1973. Magazines weren't so much of a factor since you could reverse the follower pin to the old style without much trouble.

November 23, 2013, 12:59 PM	#1
Rogervzv Senior Member Join Date: February 5, 2011 Location: Huntington Beach, CA Posts: 1,075	New (to me) Mark I Target comes home! I picked this gun up at a consignment sale (estate sale) a month ago. After the interminable California wait, I finally got it home. The gun was absolutely filthy; I am not sure that the previous owner ever did more to it than clean out the bore. I thoroughly cleaned it and then went to the range. The gun shot great! I was happy to find that it handles Mark III magazines just fine, which is great because I have over a dozen of them. Out of 170 rounds (Remington Goldens) I had one ejection issue, which I attribute to a bad round. Otherwise the gun shot perfectly. Here is how she looked when I picked her up: Here she is with some new grip panels that I had laying around. I think I like this look better! __________________ The difference between a citizen and a civilian is that the citizen makes the safety of the body politic his personal responsibility, protecting it with his life. The civilian does not.

November 23, 2013, 03:38 PM	#3
KMAX Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 2011 Location: Texas Posts: 1,185	It is beautiful! I had a standard back in the '70s, but sold it due to college life expenses. Have regretted it ever since. A few months ago I found a target model and picked it up. I haven't shot it much but feel that empty spot in my life has been filled once again. I think everyone should own a Mark I, II, or III at least for a little while. __________________ This is my gun. There are many like her, but this one is mine. I'm not old. I'm CLASSIC!

November 23, 2013, 04:54 PM	#4
Rogervzv Senior Member Join Date: February 5, 2011 Location: Huntington Beach, CA Posts: 1,075	Turns out that the Standard and the earlier model Mark 1s had a certain grip arrangement that is incompatible with Mark II and Mark III grips and magazines. Later in the Mark 1 series Ruger updated the grip such that it is compatible with these. By luck my Mark 1 target has the later-version grip which is why it will accomodate these beautiful Mark 1 grip panels as well as the Mark II and Mark III magazines. __________________ The difference between a citizen and a civilian is that the citizen makes the safety of the body politic his personal responsibility, protecting it with his life. The civilian does not.

November 24, 2013, 03:22 PM	#5
Quentin2 Senior Member Join Date: June 18, 2009 Location: NorthWest USA Posts: 1,996	Nice find, you're gonna love it! I have a 1975 Mark I which also accepts newer grips like yours. I think the Mark I was changed to the new design somewhere around 1973. Magazines weren't so much of a factor since you could reverse the follower pin to the old style without much trouble.