Ruger P89 9mm question?

hillbillyme · January 31, 2013, 12:49 AM

when did they stop making or selling the p89? i was looking at one but the guy is telling me its only a year or so old... thanks

here is a picture of it

**JohnKSa** · January 31, 2013, 12:56 AM

The DAO models were manufactured through 2004, the safety and decocker models were manufactured through 2009.

The chart below is for the Decock only models--like the one in the picture.

Beginning Serial #--Year

304-88013 1993
307-58873 1994
309-89047 1995
310-53882 1996
310-79465 1997
312-13397 1998
312-71930 1999
313-62765 2000
314-26003 2001
314-85982 2002
315-12033 2003
315-29067 2004
315-53386 2005
315-78882 2006
315-91160 2007
316-50732 2008
316-78139 2009

HOWEVER, it's important to understand that the supply chain can be slow at times and it is certainly possible for a gun to be purchased new long after it has been discontinued. I've done it myself. I bought a brand-new Beretta 86 some years after Beretta stopped making them. I happened to run across one at a local shop.

So, if the gun was made near the end of production and sat on the shelf at a distributor for awhile, then on a local gun store shelf for awhile, it could have easily sold new in 2010 or 2011 or even later.

hillbillyme · January 31, 2013, 01:06 AM

ok thank you. il have to wait till i see it to get the serial number, the gun in the picture is the gun i might buy, thanks

carguychris · January 31, 2013, 09:30 AM

Quote:

So, if the gun was made near the end of production and sat on the shelf at a distributor for awhile, then on a local gun store shelf for awhile, it could have easily sold new in 2010 or 2011 or even later.

+1. FWIW there was a seller at a recent local gun show who had 4 pistols just like this, in the Ruger boxes, labeled "NEW UNFIRED".

I did not question the seller, but my suspicion is that a distributor probably had some of these pistols languishing in a warehouse since 2008-2009, and has dusted them off and sold them to take advantage of the current buying frenzy.

lee n. field · January 31, 2013, 08:29 PM

Quote:

I did not question the seller, but my suspicion is that a distributor probably had some of these pistols languishing in a warehouse since 2008-2009, and has dusted them off and sold them to take advantage of the current buying frenzy.

So? It's not like they got bad guns.

bigghoss · January 31, 2013, 10:51 PM

The ruger P-series guns were pretty good and very robust. The DC models are a little more sought after so that gun could be a real gem. Not particularly valuable but a good solid gun that most ruger fans would happily buy off you if you decided to sell it later on.

BlueOvalFitter · January 31, 2013, 11:22 PM

I went to a sheriffs auction back in 1996 and bought a P85, with box, papers, and 2 mags, for $225. It had "MKIIR" stamped on the safety. It was an 1988 original P85 from the factory that had been sent back to have the safety modification done to it. I wish I still had that gun.

**JohnKSa** · January 31, 2013, 11:24 PM

Quote:

The ruger P-series guns were pretty good and very robust. The DC models are a little more sought after so that gun could be a real gem.

I enjoy mine.

bigghoss · February 1, 2013, 04:23 AM

looks nice. I have a P95dc I bought new for my 21st birthday and I love it. I prefer my glock but I'd never sell the ruger. I'm on the hunt for a P97dc but it seems I'm not the only person fond of the P97.

10mm4ever · February 1, 2013, 08:43 AM

If memory serves, Ruger designed the P85 for the XM9 trials. What they lack in 'ergos' and refinement, is more than made up for in reliability and robustness! To my way of thinking, the original P series was "the AK of combat pistols" far more than the Glock. I'll never forget the torture test that 'shooting times' published way back, it was above anything I've ever seen.

Que · February 1, 2013, 09:28 AM

Yup, it was the XM9 trials. The P85 was pretty much the only entrant built from the ground up to trial specs. I had a very early P85 and like many from that period it had some serious accuracy issues. Today one of my favorite pistols is a very early P89. A tank indeed.

January 31, 2013, 12:49 AM	#1
hillbillyme Member Join Date: March 25, 2010 Posts: 22	Ruger P89 9mm question? when did they stop making or selling the p89? i was looking at one but the guy is telling me its only a year or so old... thanks here is a picture of it Last edited by hillbillyme; January 31, 2013 at 12:55 AM.

January 31, 2013, 12:56 AM	#2
JohnKSa Staff Join Date: February 12, 2001 Location: DFW Area Posts: 24,972	The DAO models were manufactured through 2004, the safety and decocker models were manufactured through 2009. The chart below is for the Decock only models--like the one in the picture. Beginning Serial #--Year 304-88013 1993 307-58873 1994 309-89047 1995 310-53882 1996 310-79465 1997 312-13397 1998 312-71930 1999 313-62765 2000 314-26003 2001 314-85982 2002 315-12033 2003 315-29067 2004 315-53386 2005 315-78882 2006 315-91160 2007 316-50732 2008 316-78139 2009 HOWEVER, it's important to understand that the supply chain can be slow at times and it is certainly possible for a gun to be purchased new long after it has been discontinued. I've done it myself. I bought a brand-new Beretta 86 some years after Beretta stopped making them. I happened to run across one at a local shop. So, if the gun was made near the end of production and sat on the shelf at a distributor for awhile, then on a local gun store shelf for awhile, it could have easily sold new in 2010 or 2011 or even later. __________________ Do you know about the TEXAS State Rifle Association?

January 31, 2013, 10:51 PM	#6
bigghoss Senior Member Join Date: September 15, 2006 Location: Pueblo, Colorado Posts: 2,664	The ruger P-series guns were pretty good and very robust. The DC models are a little more sought after so that gun could be a real gem. Not particularly valuable but a good solid gun that most ruger fans would happily buy off you if you decided to sell it later on. __________________ I don't collect guns, I accumulate them.

January 31, 2013, 11:22 PM	#7
BlueOvalFitter Member Join Date: July 8, 2006 Location: Louisiana Posts: 74	I went to a sheriffs auction back in 1996 and bought a P85, with box, papers, and 2 mags, for $225. It had "MKIIR" stamped on the safety. It was an 1988 original P85 from the factory that had been sent back to have the safety modification done to it. I wish I still had that gun. __________________ The anticipation of death is worse than death itself!

February 1, 2013, 04:23 AM	#9
bigghoss Senior Member Join Date: September 15, 2006 Location: Pueblo, Colorado Posts: 2,664	looks nice. I have a P95dc I bought new for my 21st birthday and I love it. I prefer my glock but I'd never sell the ruger. I'm on the hunt for a P97dc but it seems I'm not the only person fond of the P97. __________________ I don't collect guns, I accumulate them.

January 31, 2013, 01:06 AM	#3
hillbillyme Member Join Date: March 25, 2010 Posts: 22	ok thank you. il have to wait till i see it to get the serial number, the gun in the picture is the gun i might buy, thanks

February 1, 2013, 08:43 AM	#10
10mm4ever Senior Member Join Date: December 11, 2005 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 808	If memory serves, Ruger designed the P85 for the XM9 trials. What they lack in 'ergos' and refinement, is more than made up for in reliability and robustness! To my way of thinking, the original P series was "the AK of combat pistols" far more than the Glock. I'll never forget the torture test that 'shooting times' published way back, it was above anything I've ever seen. Last edited by 10mm4ever; February 1, 2013 at 08:50 AM.

February 1, 2013, 09:28 AM	#11
Que Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 912	Yup, it was the XM9 trials. The P85 was pretty much the only entrant built from the ground up to trial specs. I had a very early P85 and like many from that period it had some serious accuracy issues. Today one of my favorite pistols is a very early P89. A tank indeed.