Ruger MK 1 US Property .22 Pistol 5 1/4” barrel

[harold]

44864Here is a odd Ruger MK1 US . Could some one tell me what I have?
I have never seen one with a 5 1/4” barrel.4486244863

[Kragrifle]

I have two US marked Ruger pistols. There is a book written about these. Will try to fine mine to let you know the title/author.

[Art]

No I haven't seen one of those, but:

When I was part of the Cadre at Redstone Arsenal in 1967 I joined the pistol team. The armory issued me one of those Rugers (long, skinny barrel) and M1911 National Match pistol. I only shot (badly) in one intra squad match; not surprising because I wasn't a great pistol shot on my good days, but checked out the pistols and 50 rounds of .45 ball and 100 rounds of .22 pistol match, trucked over to the range and blasted away at those bullseyes at least a couple of times a week. Working nights made this easy. The real match team guys all shot High Standards, every one of them.

Several years ago I saw one of those .45 Match M1911 pistols in a gun store for sale for, as I recall, a bit over a thousand dollars. The old boy had no idea what he had and thought it had been "bubba-ed" The back sights of those pistols were Bomar but the front sights were made by the Marksmanship Unit out of bar stock and really looked like they'd been made by a blacksmith under an oak tree so I understand why he thought that way. I wonder if any of the CMP pistols will be those old match guns. I'm sure they'll be an auction item if they're available at all.