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| Ruger Bearcat |
In 1959, in Anchorage, Alaska, (before digital anything, ballpoint pens, computers, seat belts, radial tires, color TV) my mom and dad entered a jitterbug contest (It's a dance.). First Place was this pistol. The next year, on my 10th birthday, my parents gave me the pistol, and the holster my dad hand-stitched for it. We used it to finish moose, goat, caribou, squirrels, rabbits, monsters, lions, tigers, and bears. A few years ago, I took it to the Georgia Region NSTRA Ironman Trial in Sparta, GA. It was the last I saw of it. As much as I loved that pistol, I had to remind myself, "It was only a tool. A tool attached to my past and my parents, but only a tool."
Yesterday, in a burst of energy, I was registering for the Veteran's Administration. They really didn't require any documentation (they said they'd verify everything), but I wanted to send along my DD-214 and whatever else I could find. That meant rooting through file drawers and closets. Lo and behold! In one of the file drawers, I found this little beauty! Cleaned, oiled and ready to go! I think it would be impossible to be more surprised! And delighted! My little Ruger Bearcat .22 was home! Of course, it was home all the time, and my "age-appropriate" memory degeneration meant I lost it, then found it again.
I looked up the Ruger website to try and ascertain the age of the pistol. The Serial Number is N033. I think this is the 33rd pistol manufactured from 1958-1976. I'm not positive about that, but it sure looks that way! I sent off for a verification from Ruger. That would be a nice way to remember my jitterbugging parents from "back in the day"
