Custom Alan Harton RUGER New Bearcat .327 Federal Magnum Revolver MFD 2016

SOLD FOR: $3600

LSB#: 220324DC003

Make: Sturm, Ruger & Co., later customized by Alan Harton of Single Action Service in Houston, TX.

Model: New Bearcat (Model #00918, Catalog No. SBCBH-3). This New Bearcat has been heavily modified; see our assessment for more information.

Serial Number: 95-10533

Year of Manufacture: 2016 (RUGER Serial Number Lookup). Customization was done late October 2020.

Caliber: .327 Federal

Action Type: Single-Action Side-Gate Loaded Revolver

Markings: The top barrel flat is marked “SINGLE ACTION SERVICE”. The left side barrel flat is marked “.327 FEDERAL”. The left side of the frame under the cylinder is marked “RUGER NEW BEARCAT®”. The right side of the frame under the cylinder is marked with the serial number “95-10533”. Both grip panels feature the Ruger trademark logo at the top.

Barrel Length: 3” Tapered Octagonal

Sights/Optics: The front sight is a beaded blade dovetailed into the barrel.

Stock Configuration and Condition: The grips are two piece smooth wood panels set on a bird’s head grip frame. The grip panels are free of any notable wear or damage. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Excellent condition.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Original to the parts.

Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion.

Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 98% of its metal finish. The cylinder has a faint, intermittent turn line. There is otherwise just a bit of operational wear on the underside of the barrel. The screws are sharp with strong slots, and all markings are clear. Overall, this revolver is in Excellent condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The cylinder locks with only minor play at each stop. We did not fire this revolver. As with all used firearms, thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards. Please note, this revolver has been heavily modified; see our assessment section for more information.

Box, Paperwork, and Accessories: This revolver includes a serial-matching gray plastic snap-case, a secondary set of grips (please see photos), a security lock, and various factory paperwork including the manual. Additionally, an invoice detailing the customization of this revolver is included.

Our Assessment: The Bearcat is Ruger’s venerable kit gun. If a firearm could ever be considered a tool, the Bearcat could certainly qualify. Want a fun plinker? Get a Bearcat. Squirrels messing up your herb garden? Bearcat. It is based on the classic remington-style single-action revolver, but like most Ruger firearms, it’s as much a refinement of a pre-existing firearm as it is its own thing. This is even more true in the case of this example, which has been modified heavily to fire the powerhouse defensive .327 Federal Magnum cartridge. The customization was carried out by Alan Harton of Single Action Service, and the work is truly something to behold: the cylinder window has been elongated—without disrupting existing markings—to accommodate the new cartridge, the firing pin has been moved to a centerfire configuration, the ejector rod housing has been removed entirely, the 3” tapered octagonal barrel, featuring custom etched markings, was crafted just for this firearm, the hammer spur has been made into a teardrop shape, the loading gate has been opened up to accept the new cartridge, and it was re-blued and polished. This is less a gun than it is, if not a work of art, an absolute testament to the high level of craftsmanship attainable by some. An already wonderful gun, the Bearcat has been modified here to be a superlative defensive weapon and will surely find a place in any fine collection as the dark-horse favorite. Good luck and happy bidding!

Custom Alan Harton RUGER New Bearcat .327 Federal Magnum Revolver MFD 2016
Custom Alan Harton RUGER New Bearcat .327 Federal Magnum Revolver MFD 2016