RCBS Rock Chucker 2 date?

[Jim_Ed]

I know that this topic has been beaten to death over the years. However, information about the RCBS RC2 is scarce, often wrong, and always incomplete. I have an RC2 with an "S" stamped under the die bushing. I have no idea what that means. Two messages and 1 phone call to RCBS yielded 3 entirely different, screwy answers. So, since the factory doesn't know, what say you? Tell me what you know about this marking. Please disregard the date stamps on dies in this discussion. They may not apply. Thanks.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Have you took the bushing out to see if it’s really a S or could it be a date?

 

[dhagerty40]

All I can tell you is that I bought my RC2 (brand new) in 1988. Mine has no numbers on anything...

 

[Jim_Ed]

Have you took the bushing out to see if it’s really a S or could it be a date?

S no doubt

 

[Kracken McGraw]

S no doubt

It will be interesting to find out then for sure. My three have dates, but as you say it does not matter in this case.

 

[AzMedic]

Same as Dhagerty40, bought mine new as well - 1989. No number or stamping on/near the bushing - couple pits (so to speak in the hammerite) from use.

Has RCBS ever sold anything as 'factory second'?

 

[dhagerty40]

I went and checked again and no markings on the bushing. But the body has AB1 stamped into it. (forgot about that).

 

[TTE]

It's yours ..... what difference does it make what it means. If something breaks, you can more than likely buy another used one for what the repair would cost.

And as I have said many times here .............. what do I know ? Nothing.

 

[Jim_Ed]

I went and checked again and no markings on the bushing. But the body has AB1 stamped into it. (forgot about that).

Mine has the AB1 marking cast into the body. I have no idea what that means, either.

 

[Jim_Ed]

It's yours ..... what difference does it make what it means. If something breaks, you can more than likely buy another used one for what the repair would cost.

And as I have said many times here .............. what do I know ? Nothing.

Like most, I imagine, curious to know when it was made.

 

[Jim_Ed]

It will be interesting to find out then for sure. My three have dates, but as you say it does not matter in this case.

You have 3 RC2 presses? What are those dates? I have heard of only a few, 82, R, and S. As I understand, the RC2 was made from 1982 to 2002, give or take a year or so. Even that is somewhat mysterious. Ask that question and get many, different answers. Truth is tough to come by.

 

[PhilC]

I have an RC2 purchased mid-80s. I'll have to look at mine later, but believe it also has AB1 on the body. What's the significance of any stamping under the bushing?

 

[Jim_Ed]

I have an RC2 purchased mid-80s. I'll have to look at mine later, but believe it also has AB1 on the body. What's the significance of any stamping under the bushing?

In the past, this was a date code to represent date of manufacturer on many models. Now, I have no idea.

 

[jcm800]

Stamped 86. OP Is the paint different on yours? If I had to guess yours is a latter model. Maybe they went to an alpha code instead of numerical.

I have an RC2 purchased mid-80s. I'll have to look at mine later, but believe it also has AB1 on the body. What's the significance of any stamping under the bushing?

Dates year it was made.

 

[jobhopper66]

Stamped 86. My Big Max / Green Machine are also from the mid 80's.
Excellent quality.
View attachment 1595934

Dates year it was made.

Mark is that the Rockchucker you got from me? If so 1986 would be spot on when I bought it.

 

[jcm800]

Mark is that the Rockchucker you got from me? If so 1986 would be spot on when I bought it.

Yes

 

[Kracken McGraw]

You have 3 RC2 presses? What are those dates? I have heard of only a few, 82, R, and S. As I understand, the RC2 was made from 1982 to 2002, give or take a year or so. Even that is somewhat mysterious. Ask that question and get many, different answers. Truth is tough to come by.

Two are 82’s and the 94 is on top also and stamped on the side of it too.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Stamped 86. OP Is the paint different on yours? If I had to guess yours is a latter model. Maybe they went to an alpha code instead of numerical.
View attachment 1595934

Dates year it was made.

I like the color of your primer catcher, mine is nearly a blue color. I tied a string around the back of my press to hold it on better.

 

[Area51]

Revelyst Announces Sale of RCBS​

May 2, 2024

The company has sold the longtime reloading brand to Hodgdon Powder.
ANOKA, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Revelyst, a collective of world-class maker brands that design and manufacture performance gear and precision technologies and a segment of Vista Outdoor Inc. (NYSE: VSTO), today announced the sale of RCBS, the company’s Oroville, California-based reloading brand, to Hodgdon Powder Co. Inc., a Shawnee, Kansas-based supplier of smokeless and black powder substitute propellants.

 

[Bill K]

My RCII was bought in the early to mid 80's. It has no other markings on it. No 82 or whatever on the bushing, as shown in the 2nd photo.
My primer catcher is the same color as yours. Sure works neat.