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Rare Ruger semi-auto purchase
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DPNM1A
South of the Burgh, PGH
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March 1, 2015 - 10:06 am
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One of the most important reasons I like Dan Wesson revolvers is for the ability to change the gun into something different. You can have a carry piece and turn it into a target shooter in a few minutes. For this reason I tend to lean towards the odd or convertible type hand guns.

If you read my introduction   https://www.danwessonforum.com/forum/new-members-introduction/newer-member-from-pittsburgh/   you will see where I mention that I was going to purchase another non DW fire-arm from the gentleman that I bought the DW .22 from. ( "Newer member from Pittsburgh" on page 2 right now. For whatever reason my links are not working) 

What he had and what I purchased yesterday was a Ruger KP89X combination kit. This is a special edition kit that included a 9mm barrel/spring and a .30 Luger barrel/spring. From what I have found on Wikipedia and the Ruger forum there were only 5750 produced. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruger_P-Series 

There is very little info on the internet concerning this combo but I also found a listing that says that most of the kits produced were shipped to Europe. http://www.pmulcahy.com/pistols/us_pistols_r.htm )   If this is the case I figure that there may only be about 2500 in the US. When I learned the guy had it I knew I had to buy it. (I found this link will not work, it shows as a 404 error. You can find the site on your own if you wish but I have copied and I will paste the P89 segment underneath the pic I added.

The guy I got it from said he bought it used and he never fired it. It shows almost no sign of use so it must not have been fired much. Although this may ruffle the feathers of some members here I have no plans to fire it either. I bought it as an investment.  If I would be offered cash or a Dan Wesson revolver trade that I couldn't refuse, I'd part with it. 'Til then I'll keep it for it's uniqueness. I think it's awesome to have in my collection.

KP89X1.JPGImage Enlarger

Ruger P-85 Series

     Notes: The P-85 was Ruger’s first “large-caliber” pistol, and was designed specifically for the competition to replace the M-1911A1 as the US military’s primary sidearm. As such, it has a high magazine capacity, ambidextrous controls, a decocking lever, and a firing pin safety. The P-85 uses a light alloy frame, but almost all of the internal parts are made of stainless steel, and the slide is blued steel. The P-85 is capable of firing virtually any sort of 9mm Parabellum ammunition. (A rare variant, chambered for 9x21mm, was also produced in small numbers, and is similarly tolerant of ammunition.) The ejection port is large for more positive extraction. The hammer is the so-called Commander-type (a ring-shaped hammer). The sights are of the three-white dot type, and the front of the trigger guard is squared-off for the index finger of the nonfiring hand. The P-85 has been called ungraceful-looking, and even unattractive, but is what it is: a military pistol, and an excellent one at that.

     In 1990, a version with a stainless steel frame and slide was introduced: the KP-85. A version of the P-85 with only the decocking lever being ambidextrous was also introduced at this time, the P-85DC (KP-85DC in stainless steel). These two are identical to the P-85 and KP-85 for game purposes.

     The P-89 is a further development of the P-85. It is slightly longer and heavier than the P-85, but is otherwise identical to the P-85. Variants include the stainless steel KP-89, the P-89/KP-89DC with a decocker only, and the KP-89DAO in stainless steel and with a double-action-only operation. These are all identical to the P-89/KP-89 for game purposes.

     A rare variant of the KP-89, the KP-89X, was also built in limited quantities (some 6000 in all), most of which were sold in Europe. They are designed to fire 7.65mm and 9mm Parabellum, with the caliber changeable simply be changing the barrel and recoil spring. The safety catch could be moved from the left to the right side of the pistol by the user.         

     The P-90 and KP-90 are essentially variants of the P-89 and KP-89 chambered for .45 ACP. The P-90 and KP-90 do not have decockers, but do have conventional manual safeties. A later variant, the KP-90DC, does have a decocker. A limited-edition version, the P-90TH, has a two-tone finish (blued slide and a faux stainless steel frame), and is equipped with Hogue ergonomic black rubber grips. It is identical to the KP-90 for game purposes.

     Manufactured only from 1992-1995, the “P-91” was actually manufactured only in stainless steel and with only the decocker ambidextrous, and is therefore more properly known as the KP-91DC. A KP-91DAO version also exists. The KP-91 is otherwise the same as the P-85 and its related weapons, except for its caliber.

     1993 brought the P-93 and KP-93, which were compact versions of the P-89 and KP-89. Both are DAO weapons, allowing Ruger to not have to place any controls externally except for a magazine release, though there are a number of passive safeties. The hammer, when not cocked, fits flush into the slide and frame. P-93DC and KP-93DC variants also exist, with an ambidextrous decocker on the slide above the grip and an ambidextrous magazine release. The sights are three-dot high-visibility white types, and the front of the trigger guard is squared off to facilitate two-handed shooting.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: The P-85 and P-89 were selected by the US Marines and Coast Guard over the M-9 due to their excellent resistance to corrosion.

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Steve
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March 1, 2015 - 1:42 pm
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Very interesting, and buying NIB and keeping it that way to use as an investment or future Trade Bait is a good idea.

Note of correction on: Twilight 2000 Notes: The P-85 and P-89 were selected by the US Marines and Coast Guard over the M-9 due to their excellent resistance to corrosion.

USCG may have tested the Ruger, it was never adopted as a replacement for the M-9. I am told that the Civilian security personnel on some USCG bases were armed with Rugers.

The USCG "replacement" for the M-9 in many of the USCG LEO and Deployable units was the SIG 229 DAK in .40 S&W.

I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman "Were is the Self Help Section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.

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March 1, 2015 - 2:46 pm
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Very interesting gun, I'd not heard of it before this.  
I'm a lot like you DPNM1A, I like the convertibles too.  That's why I bought the Sig P250, can change frame size, caliber and grip type.  Not my favorite gun but I still like it and carry it often in the 40 Cal compact variant with pic rail.

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DPNM1A
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March 1, 2015 - 3:29 pm
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Steve CT, I just copied and pasted from the website so regarding the notes he mentions, I'm clueless (not the first time either). The gun I got is not NIB, it was used before the guy I got it from bought it.

Scorpio, You said you were unaware of the Ruger. We're even, I did not know about the Sig P250 til you mentioned it and I did a quick search. Hmmm, more to think about-thankslol2.

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Steve
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March 1, 2015 - 3:52 pm
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DPNM1A said
Steve CT, I just copied and pasted from the website so regarding the notes he mentions, I'm clueless (not the first time either). The gun I got is not NIB, it was used before the guy I got it from bought it.

Scoripo, You said you were unaware of the Ruger. We're even, I did not know about the Sig P250 til you mentioned it and I did a quick search. Hmmm, more to think about-thankslol2.

No problem, I just happen to know someone who knows A LOT on that subject.

I immediately though of the P250 as well, it's a Daniel B. Wesson kind of gun

I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman "Were is the Self Help Section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.

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Boss Dog
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March 2, 2015 - 9:43 am
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That's interesting.  I had a P90 & a P94 at one time.  Didn't want to let them go but I couldn't keep everything when the Sigs moved in.  You sure you ain't going to sneak it out once or twice?  range-time

…he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. Luke 22:36 Life in a Jar: The Irena Sendler Project  http://www.irenasendler.com/

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DPNM1A
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March 2, 2015 - 8:06 pm
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Boss Dog, To be as honest as I can, I don't intend to ever fire it. I am new to the hobby and I have enough on my "want list" that I don't think that I'll really need to try it out (plus what I've already accumulatedcool). Maybe after a couple years I will. I don't have any 9mm or .30 Luger ammo and don't expect to get some any time soon. The .30 Luger makes it a bit more unusual to me, so I think it's just cool. Then again, I'm an old guy, I prefer revolversbig-grin.

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