Ruger Bearcat
A compact .22 single-action revolver for hikers and campers.
The Ruger Bearcat is a single-action .22 caliber revolver made by Sturm, Ruger & Co., first released in 1958. Its design draws from mid-19th century Remington single-action revolvers. Marketed as a compact "kit gun," it is promoted as a good choice for hikers or campers needing a .22 LR revolver.
In 1974, Ruger patented a transfer bar safety system for its single-action revolvers. The Bearcat was discontinued because it could not easily accommodate this new design. It returned in 1993 as the New Bearcat, now equipped with the transfer bar system.
According to an interview Bill Ruger gave to a writer for the Ruger Collector's Association in the early 1980s, the Bearcat was actually the first revolver for which Ruger engineers developed the transfer bar, and it could have been made that way in 1974. The model was dropped because of a marketing mistake: the 1974 catalog and order forms sent to distributors omitted the Bearcat. When no orders came back for it, the company assumed there was no demand. Only long-time members of the Ruger Collector's Association know this story, as it was published in the Ruger Collectors Journal.
The original Bearcat (first issue) had a fixed Patridge front sight, music wire coil springs, a non-fluted engraved cylinder, a square notched rear sight, and an alloy solid frame with uncheckered plastic grips (later changed to walnut). The second issue, marketed in 1971 as the Super Bearcat, was an improved version with an all-steel frame instead of alloy. The third issue, the New Bearcat from 1993, has smooth rosewood grips with a Ruger medallion and the transfer bar safety system. It was also offered with an additional .22 WMR cylinder, which Ruger recalled in April 1994 due to concerns about improper timing. In 2002, a stainless steel version became available. A 50th Anniversary edition in 2008 featured gold-filled script and special engravings, with 2,539 units produced. In 2015, Ruger introduced a variant with adjustable sights, addressing a long-standing criticism of the fixed sights.
Quick Facts
- Origin
- United States
- Is Ranged
- yes
- Designer
- William B. Ruger
- Manufacturer
- Sturm, Ruger & Co.
- Production Date
- 1958 / 1958–1971 (1st issue) / 1971–1975 (2nd issue) / 1993–present (3rd issue)
- Variants
- see variants / Bearcat, 1st issue / Super Bearcat, 2nd issue / New Bearcat, 3rd issue
- Weight
- 17 oz (1st issue) / 22.5 oz (2nd issue) / 24 oz (3rd issue)
- Length
- 8.875 in (1st issue) / 8.875 in (2nd issue) / 9 in (3rd issue)
- Part Length
- 4 in (1st issue) / 4 in (2nd issue) / 4.2 in (3rd issue)
- Cartridge
- .22 LR, .22 Long, .22 Short, .22 WMR
- Barrels
- 1:16" RH
- Action
- Single-action
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The original Bearcat featured a fixed Patridge front sight, music wire coil springs, a non-fluted engraved cylinder, a square notched rear, and an alloy solid frame with uncheckered plastic grips; later grips were made from walnut. In 1971, the Super Bearcat was marketed as an improved version with an all-steel frame. In 1974, Ruger patented a transfer bar safety system for their single-action revolvers and discontinued the Bearcat, which was not readily adaptable to the new design. However, according to Bill Ruger in an interview with the Ruger Collector's Association, the Bearcat was the first revolver for which Ruger engineers developed the transfer bar, and they could easily have made it that way in 1974. The model was dropped because the marketing department forgot to include the Bearcat in the 1974 catalog and order forms sent to distributors; when orders came back without orders for the Bearcat, they assumed there was no demand. This story is known only to old members of the Ruger Collector's Association, having been published in the Ruger Collectors Journal.
Reader's Guide
The Ruger Bearcat holds a unique place in the history of Sturm, Ruger & Co. as the first revolver for which the transfer bar safety system was developed, though it was not implemented until the model's reintroduction. Its discontinuation in 1974 was not due to a design flaw but to a marketing error, a fact preserved in the records of the Ruger Collector's Association. The Bearcat's legacy includes three distinct issues: the original alloy-framed version, the steel-framed Super Bearcat of 1971, and the New Bearcat of 1993, which finally incorporated the transfer bar system. Later variants include a stainless steel option introduced in 2002, a 50th Anniversary edition in 2008 with gold-filled script and special engravings (2,539 units produced), and a 2015 variant with adjustable sights addressing a longstanding criticism of the fixed sights. The New Bearcat was also offered with an additional .22 WMR cylinder, which was recalled in April 1994 due to a concern the cylinders were improperly timed.
Did You Know?
- The original Bearcat had an alloy frame and uncheckered plastic grips, later changed to walnut.
- The Super Bearcat, introduced in 1971, featured an all-steel frame.
- The New Bearcat, reintroduced in 1993, incorporated Ruger's transfer bar safety system.
- A .22 WMR cylinder for the New Bearcat was recalled in April 1994 due to timing concerns.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Ruger Bearcat?
It is a compact single-action .22 LR revolver produced by Sturm, Ruger & Co., originally introduced in 1958. Its styling is clearly inspired by the classic mid-19th-century Remington single-action revolvers.
Why was the original Bearcat discontinued and later brought back?
Ruger patented a transfer bar safety system in 1974, and the Bearcat's existing design could not easily incorporate that mechanism, so production stopped. The model returned in 1993 as the New Bearcat, this time built around the transfer bar safety.
What was the Ruger Bearcat originally marketed as?
Ruger promoted it as a compact "kit gun" aimed at hikers and campers who wanted a small, reliable .22 LR revolver for outdoor carry.
What is the difference between the Bearcat and the Super Bearcat?
The standard Bearcat is built on an alloy frame, while the Super Bearcat uses a steel frame for added strength and durability.
What caliber and action type does the Ruger Bearcat use?
It fires .22 Long Rifle ammunition and operates on a single-action trigger mechanism, meaning the hammer must be cocked manually before each shot.
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