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new to this forum and jumping in with a ruger single six question. I recently acquired a 22LR only single six that with box and was wondering what the collectibility or desirability is on it. I picked it up because I know it came from an estate trade-in where the previous owner had passed and he did have some very nice Colts, so this Ruger was kept in good condition also. serial # shows it is from 2001. 22LR only in the original gray plastic case. It is the Vaquero fixed sight style, blued with case hardened with the short barrel. has the genuine imitation ivory grips with the black ruger logo embossed around the palm area on the grips. cylinder appears to be unfired but has a few slight marks between some chambers from cocking. bluing on the backstrap is very evenly plum colored. I don't know if its turned that way or came that way, but the gun has no handling marks save the very small cylinder marks. barrel bluing is 100% and dark with no marks so makes me wonder how the backstrap turned that way, since the gun has been well maintained. anyone know the rarity and anything else about this revolver?

If it's from 2001, it's a "New Model Single Six", and it's anything but rare. If maintained in its pristine state, it MAY achieve some collectibility in another 20 or 30 years, but even that is a slim chance.

As New Model Single Sixes go, the condition would put it at the top of the price range, but that's about it. I also wonder if it should have had a .22 Mag cylinder as well..... you may want to check with Ruger.

thanks for reply. i'm sure the mag cylinder is not missing. it does say 22LR only on the label. I called the ruger archives while I was browsing the gun store.. left a message with the serial number, and they called back within about 15 minutes. said it was a 2001 and they don't make it anymore. Of course I know I'm not sitting on the highly sought after most collectible .22's. I think Ruger makes limited runs and limited editions of about every type of gun they carry. I just haven't seen too many of the 22 vaquero style with those grips. It's bound to be at least 5 dollars more than the standard model in 2001

If you can give us the model/cat & serial number we can tell you what you have with some certainty.

However, with the information you've provided, it sounds like you've got either a BNV-224SI (4 5/8" Bbl) or BNV-225SI (5.5" bbl) which were produced around the 2001-2003 time frame. There were roughly 1200 guns total, with a few more of the 225s than the 224's made. The majority of the guns went to AcuSport, but Williams Shooter Supply also received some as well.

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Best regards, Pete

"When we, the people ordained and established the Constitution, we created the Federal Government. It is our creature. We are the creator. It is the creature. It is not our master." Publius-Huldah

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will get that cat no. sometime tomorrow. too much chance of waking up the kid sleeping in the room with the safe tonight. maybe get some photos posted tomorrow also. The gun shop had put an inventory sticker over the ruger label so its lifted off some of the cat label print.. may have to call Ruger to get that also. The serial # on the label is good and matches the gun. I did some reading up on the cause of the plum color of the backstrap. It's very nice color actually. seems the overall concensus is that too much silicon in the steel alloy can cause the plum color over time. Also was a few comments on wrong temperature and/or bluing mixture causing plum color.
This one is a 4 5/8" . barrel just slightly longer than the ejection rod housing. Us Colt collectors learn that one quick while on the hunt for the ever so rare 4 3/4" .. usually ends up being the 4.4" instead.

If it is like the pictures below then there were only about 626 made. They were a special distributor model for AcuSport and Williams Supply. They were .22 only. NO MAG. CYLINDERS were supplied with this model. As for it being collectible, well it a Vaquero style with Case Colors and special grips, in .22 LR only, and only a little over 600 made. You be the judge!!!

You didn't do badly at all! RENE lists the value on those at $515, so you're money ahead already.

Nice examples Street! Consecutives even!

_________________
Best regards, Pete

"When we, the people ordained and established the Constitution, we created the Federal Government. It is our creature. We are the creator. It is the creature. It is not our master." Publius-Huldah

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I'd suppose that white label is from the distributor. I'd leave the label alone if it were mine!

_________________
Best regards, Pete

"When we, the people ordained and established the Constitution, we created the Federal Government. It is our creature. We are the creator. It is the creature. It is not our master." Publius-Huldah

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Member RCA, RENE, NRA

I believe I have heard some sound advice and believe I will abide. I spoke with Ruger and have to buy a box to get a label.. not gonna do that.
She did some humming and hawwing over the correct manual. She believed the correct manual for the gun was one of the manuals that I had. They didn't have a manual for the caliber and just placed an insert. be interesting to see what Street has to say since he probably has the manuals with those two in the photos.

wwys: It doesn't surprise me that Ruger didn't have a manual for that piece. I agree, it'll be interesting to see what Street got with his!

_________________
Best regards, Pete

"When we, the people ordained and established the Constitution, we created the Federal Government. It is our creature. We are the creator. It is the creature. It is not our master." Publius-Huldah

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Member RCA, RENE, NRA