Ruger Old Model Single Six Serial Number History

Ruger Single Six Revolvers

The Ruger Single-Six is a single-action rimfire revolver produced by Sturm, Ruger & Co. The Single-Six was first released in June 1953. The Single-Six is currently produced as the New Model Single-Six. The term 'New Model' simply means that this model includes Ruger's transfer bar mechanism for increased safety, allowing one to carry the. 'Old Model' Single-Six - Aluminum Model (manufactured from 1956 to 1959) (Out of Production) 'Old Model' Single-Six - Magnum Model (manufactured from 1959 to 1969) (Out of Production) 'Old Model' Super Single-Six (manufactured from 1964 to 1972) (Out of Production) 'Old Model' Blackhawk - 30 Caliber (manufactured from 1968 to 1973) (Out of Production). The so-called Old Model or the three screw production ended in 1972 and the New Model Super Single-Six went into production in 1973 and is still in production today. RUGER OLD MODEL 'SINGLE-SIX' REVOLVER SOME OF THE MAJOR TYPES AND VARIATIONS.

By Chuck Hawks

2003 marked the 50-year anniversary of the introduction of the Ruger Single Six revolver, the most popular single action (SA) .22 ever made. The Single Six is a traditional looking Western style revolver, but with a modernized mechanism. Bill Ruger built his company on good design, modern manufacturing techniques and quality products at a fair price, and the Single Six epitomizes all of those virtues.

Starcraft 2 unit mods. Initially offered in .22 Long Rifle (which can also shoot .22 Short and .22 Long cartridges), the versatile Single Six has been adapted to fire the rimfire .22 Magnum (WMR) and centerfire .32 H&R Magnum cartridges as well. Later, cylinders were added to allow 'Convertible' Single Sixes that could shoot .22 Short/Long/Long Rifle in one cylinder and .22 WMR/.22 WRF in another.

The 3-screw (or 'Old Model,' as they later came to be called) Ruger Single Six revolvers are based on a very simple design. Raymond carver errand. They use music wire coil springs and their reliability has become legendary. This was, and still is, perhaps the best single action revolver ever designed. However, Old Model Rugers are traditional single action revolvers, as had been made and sold in the U.S. and the rest of the world for over 100 years. This means that they are loaded with the hammer in the half-cock notch and properly carried with the hammer down on an empty chamber. There is also a quarter-cock 'semi-safe' hammer position.

The typical 3-screw Single Six (so called because of the three screws in the side of the frame) was a blued steel .22 Magnum/.22 LR convertible revolver built on a flat top frame roughly 7/8 the size of a Ruger Blackhawk. The one piece Western-style grip frame was made of aluminum alloy, as was the ejector rod housing. It would have two piece walnut grips and a 6 1/2 inch barrel. The cylinder pin is retained by a simple, spring loaded cross pin. The hammer and trigger springs are coil springs, much easier to adjust and more durable than the flat springs used in earlier SA revolvers. The standard Single Six had a fixed rear sight dovetailed into the frame, and the Super Single Six model came with the same fully adjustable rear sight as a Blackhawk. The Super also came with a ramp front sight.

Over the years Ruger sold a great many Single Six, Bearcat, Blackhawk, and Super Blackhawk SA revolvers. Idiots who refused to read the owner's manual and also ignored over 100 years of established firearms protocol purchased a few of these guns. A small percentage of these fools managed to accidentally injure themselves by improper loading and handling of Ruger SA revolvers. Naturally, these clowns refused to accept responsibility for their actions. Rapacious tort lawyers sprang to the attack and by the beginning of the 1970's the successful Sturm, Ruger & Company suddenly found itself the target of unfair but expensive lawsuits. Remember that since 1953 Ruger had been building the strongest and safest single action revolvers ever made!

Never-the-less, Bill Ruger redesigned his single action revolvers in 1973 in an attempt to make them 'idiot proof.' The result was the 'New Model' Single Six, Blackhawk, and Super Blackhawk. These revolvers incorporated a new transfer bar ignition system. The old coiled hammer spring remains, but the new trigger spring is a music wire spring in a sort of 'U' shape. Opening the loading gate retracts the cylinder bolt, allowing the cylinder to turn for loading. The hammer is not involved. No more quarter-cock and half cock hammer positions, and no more necessity to leave the hammer down on an empty chamber.

The New Model Ruger SA revolvers are probably the safest revolvers ever made, and they can be carried fully loaded with six cartridges. New Model Ruger SA revolvers only have two screws in the side of their frames. Otherwise the Super Single Six is externally similar to the Old Model guns. The standard, fixed sight, Single Six no longer comes with a flat top frame with a dove-tailed rear sight. It is now based on a round top frame with the rear sight merely a groove machined into the top of the frame, similar to the Vaquero model.

Over the years there have been many models of Single Six revolvers. I counted 14 variations in the 2003 Ruger catalog. There are New Model Single Sixes with round top rather than flat top frames, fixed or adjustable sights, and 'Bisley,' 'bird's head,' and traditional Western grip shapes. The grip panels are usually rosewood, but some models feature black micarta or simulated ivory grips. Single Sixes are offered in blue, satin stainless steel, and gloss stainless steel finishes, and with barrels of 4 5/8, 5 1/2, 6 1/2, and 9 1/2 inches in length. New Model Single Six calibers are .17 HMR, .22 LR (also .22 Short and .22 Long), .22 WMR (also .22 WRF), and .32 H&R Magnum (also .32 Short and .32 Long). Convertible Models come with .22 LR and .22 Magnum cylinders.

The New Model that is probably the most common, and the most useful to the small game hunter and outdoorsman, is the Super Single Six Convertible model NR6. This blued steel .22 LR/.22 Magnum revolver comes with a fluted LR cylinder and a nonfluted .22 WMR cylinder. The barrel length is 6 1/2 inches. The two piece grips are smooth rosewood with sliver and black Ruger medallions. It comes with the same target style adjustable sights as the Blackhawk and Super Blackhawk. It is 11 13/16 inches in overall length, and weighs 35 ounces. The same basic gun is also available in satin stainless steel (KNR6). The MSRP in 2003 was $389 in blue finish and $469 in stainless steel.

There are plenty of good belts and holsters of various sorts for Single Six revolvers, from the very plain to the very fancy. Hunter (leather) and Uncle Mike's (nylon) are two brands that I have used for years. I prefer a cross draw carry in the field and, since I consider the Super Single Six a hunting pistol, that is how I have usually carried mine.

My all-time favorite .22 Single Six was a blued steel 3-screw Super Convertible with a 6 1/2 inch barrel, which is my favorite configuration. I did some work on the springs and engagement surfaces to smooth and lighten the action. And I polished the black anodizing off of the one-piece trigger guard/grip frame and buffed the bare aluminum to a soft silver glow. I put enough coats of Outers Stock Oil on the walnut grips to give them a rather glossy finish, which also brought out the grain of the wood. It was a very pretty gun, and probably the most accurate Single Six I have ever owned. The sights were the standard Ruger adjustable type and I had them zeroed to hit dead on at 25 yards. I have also owned and used a variety of Old Model standard Single Sixes with fixed sights, Supers with 5 1/2 inch barrels, and stainless steel New Models. All are good guns.

For those who want, and can safely control, a lighter than normal trigger it is a simple matter to slip one limb of the New Model trigger spring from its peg. This nearly cuts the pull weight in half. About 3 coils can be removed from the hammer spring of these guns to reduce the effort required to cock the hammer; this has no effect on reliability.

Ruger, of course, does not approve of modifying their revolvers, and liability wise you are on your own. Remember to always keep any revolver pointed in a safe direction and your finger off of the trigger until you are actually ready to shoot. Safety is the sole responsibility of the shooter! So don't blame me if you accidentally shoot yourself or someone else.

Ruger Super Single Six revolvers have earned a reputation for good accuracy, and mine have been typical of the breed. They have been used to shoot just about every kind of .22 LR and .22 Magnum ammunition available. My favorite 3-screw preferred CCI Mini-Mag Long Rifle hollow points, but shot pretty well with any copper-plated LR High Velocity ammunition. I used CCI Mini-Mag hollow points for small game hunting with that gun. A 6-1/2 inch Super Single Six makes a fine squirrel gun.

For tougher animals, such as ground hogs and jack rabbits, I used the .22 WMR cylinder. In .22 Magnum, that gun preferred Winchester Super-X 40 grain JHP's.

On the whole I cannot think of a better small game hunting revolver made today than a Ruger Single Six Convertible with a 6-1/2 inch barrel. Certainly my personal experience with the breed has been positive.

Note: A full length review of a New Model Ruger Single Six Convertible revolver can be found on the Product Reviews page.

The Ruger Security-Six and its variants, the Service-Six and Speed-Six are a product line of double-actionrevolvers introduced in 1972 and manufactured until 1988 by Sturm, Ruger & Company. These revolvers were marketed to law enforcement duty issue, military, and civilian self-defense markets.^[3]

Development and history[edit]

As far back as 1966, Ruger designers Harry Sefried and Henry Into began working on the company's first double-action revolver. Despite being popular with civilians, Bill Ruger wanted to get into law enforcement and security contracts. Smith & Wesson and Colt at the time dominated the medium frame law enforcement double action revolver contracts.^[4] The introduction of the Security-Six and its variants marked Sturm Ruger's first attempt to enter the double-action revolver market. The corporation's earlier designs had been Colt Peacemaker-style single-action revolvers. Ruger used investment casting for most parts in an effort to hold down production costs.^[5] As with all Ruger firearms, the Security-Six revolvers were robustly designed with large, heavy-duty parts for durability and to allow for investment casting.^[5][6]

Sefried had previously worked for High Standard Manufacturing Company, where he designed the High Standard Sentinel revolver. The grip profile of the Sentinel was used on the 'Six' line. Ruger's new double action revolvers were unlike other guns on the market in that they used a one-piece frame, rather than a removable sideplate, which lent them superior strength. The Ruger Redhawk, introduced in 1980 and also designed by Sefried, was a scaled-up and improved version of the Security-Six. The 'six series' line enjoyed sales success because of their basic features, solid construction, and competitive pricing.^[5]

Various models were issued by US government agencies as diverse as the former Immigration and Naturalization Service, the Postal Service, the Border Patrol, and numerous police agencies. The Security-Six and its derivatives also became the standard issue service weapons of a large number of police departments, in addition many were exported overseas.^[3] While Ruger's Security-Six line has been out of production since 1988, a total of over 1.5 million revolvers were produced and they remain well-liked and respected, as well as highly sought after in the second-hand market.^[3][6]

By the early 1980s, it was determined that the Ruger Six line guns were wearing out faster than expected from users that practiced frequently with .357 Magnum ammunition. Ruger commissioned a heavier duty upgrade of the Six line that could handle a 'lifetime diet' of full-powered magnum loads. Ruger's answer to this problem was the GP100, which featured a beefier frame and barrel, stronger steels, a redesigned grip frame and, most notably, a triple-locking cylinder to give extra strength to the action. The GP100 quickly replaced the Security-Six in the Ruger product line, but the Six line is still popular with shooters and collectors today.

Features[edit]

The Security-Six and its variants were more or less identical in basic design, with minor differences in sights (fixed or adjustable) and frame (round or square butt). Although medium-framed in size, the Security-Six was somewhat stronger than competing guns like the Smith & Wesson Model 19 as the Ruger featured a thicker frame without a sideplate cutout, a stronger barrel shank support that prevented catastrophic barrel failure in the six inch model revolvers, larger, stronger internal parts, and an increased diameter cylinder with offset bolt locking notches. The new revolvers were initially manufactured in a bluedcarbon steel finish; in 1975 stainless steel versions of all models were added to the lineup.^[3] Featuring six-roundcylinders, the Security-Six series represented one of the first modern revolver designs to feature a hammer powered by a coil spring utilizing a transfer-bar firing system, and was chambered for a variety of centerfire ammunition cartridges including .38 Special and .357 Magnum, as well as .38 S&W and 9×19mm Parabellum (9mm Luger).^[3][6] All Security-Six series revolvers came with original equipment manufacturer (OEM) supplied service-style woodengrips.^[3] The wood grips were all manufactured for Ruger by W.F. Lett Manufacturing in New Hampshire, a now-defunct contractor. Most of these wood grips featured a diamond-shaped panel of pressed checkering, though smooth walnut grips with uncheckered panels were shipped with some commemorative models. Oversized walnut target/combat grips were also available as a factory option. During the 1980s, some of the Speed- and Service-Six models were also shipped with rubber Pachmayr grips containing the silver Ruger emblem.

Another feature of the Security-Six was straightforward disassembly, which required no tools with the exception of a flathead screwdriver, coin, or cartridge case rim used to remove the grip screw.

Disassembly of the Security-Six is as follows:1: Make sure the firearm is unloaded.2: Turn out grip screw.3: Remove Grips.4: Compress main spring.5: Insert pin and decompress main spring.6: Remove main spring.7: Remove hammer pin.8: Remove hammer.9: Release and remove trigger assembly.10: Release and remove Cylinder.

Security-Six[edit]

Introduced in 1972, the Security-Six was the original model of the new series.^[7] The majority of these guns were manufactured with adjustable sights, though a few early models were sold with fixed sights. Security-Sixes could be ordered with either service or 'target' (combat) -style square butt grips. Nearly all Security-Sixes were chambered for the .357 Magnum cartridge, which also permitted the use of the shorter .38 Special cartridge. Ruger also chambered the Security-Six in .38 Special for some police orders by fitting different cylinders that could only accommodate the .38 Special cartridge. Barrel lengths available on the Security-Six included 2.75, 4, and 6 inches.^[3][6]

The .357 Magnum, four inch barreled model was standard issue to uniformed officers of the former U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service^[8] as well as Patrol Agents of the U.S. Border Patrol until both agencies adopted .40 caliber semi-automatic pistols.^[9]

Service-Six[edit]

After a few months of production, Ruger renamed the fixed-sight version of the Security-Six the Service-Six or alternatively, the 'Police Service-Six'. This was largely a marketing decision and an attempt to capitalize on the lucrative law enforcement service revolver market. The Service-Six was normally chambered in .357 Magnum, though Ruger also built versions in .38 Special and 9mm Luger (Parabellum) for some police orders.^[5] The U.S. Military contracted for the fixed-sight .38 Special variant adding a lanyard ring to the butt and designating it the M108. It was to replace aging Smith & Wesson Model 10 for issuing to air crews and military police.^{[citation needed]} The 9mm variant featured cylinder chambers bored to headspace the cartridge on the case mouth instead of the rim, using a patented spring moon clip to permit extraction of the fired case. These alterations allowed the rimless 9mm cartridge to be used in a revolver design. Barrel length options for the Service-Six included 2.75 and 4 inches.^[5] The 9mm was also marketed under the designation M109.

Speed-Six[edit]

Incorporating fixed sights and a round-butt frame, and available in .357 Magnum, .38 Special, .38 S&W (.38-200), and 9mm Luger, the Speed-Six was intended for use by plainclothes detectives and others desiring a more concealable handgun. The standard barrel lengths available for these models were the same as those for the Service-Six, but also included a 3-inch length in certain law-enforcement contract orders, such as for the U.S. Postal Service (Model GS33-PS). The .357 Magnum, three-inch barreled model was standard issue to Special Agents of the former U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service^[8] as well as Patrol Agents of the U.S. Border Patrol working plain clothes assignments until both agencies adopted .40 caliber semi-automatic pistols.^[9] The .38 S&W variant (in England known as the .380 British or .38-200) was equipped with a military-style lanyard ring, and was sold to law enforcement organizations in India.^[3][6] The .357 Magnum version was standard issue for the Royal Ulster Constabulary, who, unlike most police officers in the United Kingdom, were routinely armed.

Operators[edit]

See All Results For This Question

• United KingdomRoyal Ulster Constabulary Police Officers
• United StatesUnited States Postal Police, Immigration and Naturalization Service Special Agents, United States Border Patrol Patrol Agents

References[edit]

1. ^'Serial Number Data'.
2. ^'Modern Firearms - Ruger Security Six'.
3. ^ ^abcdefgh'Ruger Security Six, Police Service Six, Speed Six and GS32-N revolvers (USA)'. Modern Firearms & Ammunition. Archived from the original on 2010-07-01. Retrieved 2008-12-14.
4. ^https://www.shootingillustrated.com/articles/2017/8/3/classics-ruger-security-six-revolver/
5. ^ ^abcdeTong, David. 'Ruger Security-Six .357 Magnum Revolver' Chuck Hawks Web site. Accessed December 14, 2008.
6. ^ ^abcdeCrumpston, Mike. 'Revisiting Ruger's Revolvers' BNET Web site. Accessed December 14, 2008.
7. ^[1]
8. ^ ^abFormer I&NS Special Agent
9. ^ ^abFormer Border Patrol Agent

Ruger New Model Single Six Serial Number History