Ruger's Bearcat Shopkeeper

The Ruger Bearcat has been around since 1958; the New Model Bearcat since 2002. Bearcats have been made in various combinations of aluminum and steel, sometimes a combination of both. A Super Bearcat version was produced as a stretched cylinder convertible, chambered for the 22 WMR and 22 Long Rifle. The standard Bearcat is currently produced in alloy and stainless steel versions, in both fixed and adjustable sight versions. In addition to factory configurations, there are always special production runs, like this Shopkeeper birdshead version sold through Ruger’s distributor, Lipsey’s.

So what does one do with a tiny 22 caliber pistol? Oh, you’re asking me.

As one of us must have said, the Ruger Bearcat Storekeeper, with its birdshead grip is tiny, as cleverly  illustrated by its presence below a full size Ruger Blackhawk Bisley. Not much larger than a derringer or mini-revolver, the Bearcat holds six shots, it is accurate and it stays out of the way when carried. In fact, the moniker “Shopkeeper” is derived from a type of small revolver that a shopkeeper would find easy to conceal.

While I do have a holster for the Bearcat, mine is generally carried in a sweatshirt pocket when I run between house and shop in our dense woodland settings at 1 AM to retrieve needed files from my office computer. The Bearcat is there to dispatch tree rats that are eating holes in the shop or when an animal caught in a trap needs to be finished off, or when gathering the main ingredients for rabbit stew, or to serve in recreational target shooting competition. In fact, it is there when I fish out of the way lakes, ponds and rivers. Holster, sweatshirt pocket or back pocket, the Bearcat’s diminutive size assures it is always tucked away.

Two fingers on the front strap makes for a good grip with the hammer in easy reach. Three fingers, for me, tend to place the trigger finger at an acute angle to the bore centerline and make for an awkward pull on the trigger. A two finger grip positions sights level with a natural point. A two finger grip might suggest surrender of some control, but the flat on the birdshead backstrap plants it solidly against the palm for a steady hold.

The 3″ barrel Bearcat’s ejector rod end in an open crescent to permit extraction of the base pin for cylinder removal. The solid round end, left, is on the Bisley Blackhawk 6″ barrel revolver. In many ways the Ruger Bearcat is essentially a reduced size Blackhawk.

A good use of ammo….

For single action firearm training, the Bearcat can fit small hands, its weight is not challenging  and it has sufficient accuracy to reward developing skills. In a number of ways, the Bearcat is a good step in a progression toward a full size single action revolver.

Ruger firearms are not cheap; in price or quality, but that is a good thing. I do not purchase a lot of firearms for my personal use these days as I am old, set in my ways and effective with those I already own. So when I do purchase a firearm it must be something special, or a legacy firearm for people who matter to me. This revolver fits well into any of those categories. The Ruger Bearcat Shopkeeper is available to FFL dealers through Ruger’s distributor, Lipsey’s.