A New Old Model?

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Randyzzz

Randyzzz

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Cruising GunBroker I always check for improperly described and items I ran across a strange one. There is a 2018 manufactured New Old Model Single Six. It has 3 screws, the transfer bar, and from a serial chart I’d guess it’s 1970. But if you enter the serial into Ruger’s website, it comes up as an Old Model shipped in 2018. What gives? I’m intrigued and considering buying this one just because of the confusion…

Here’s a screen shot of the Ruger info plus a couple pics from the auction. I thought the New Vaquero style grips looked interesting too.
IMG_7412.jpeg
IMG_7413.jpeg
IMG_7414.jpeg
 
Rugers web site is wrong. No surprise there.

Gun pictured is a Super Single Six shipped in 1970. Made from 1964 to 1972.

Buy it if you want one but the confusion adds zero value. Nobodys confused except Rugers web site.

Deduct $135.00 from value if it’s been converted with transfer bar.

And it has the wrong grips too …..
 
hittman said:
Rugers web site is wrong. No surprise there.

Gun pictured is a Super Single Six shipped in 1970. Made from 1964 to 1972.
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That’s what I was thinking. Looks to be in great shape.

I’m still thinking about those grips. It should be an XR3-RED grip frame on that year, yet the New Vaquero grips are the original XR3 profile. So it must have had the grip frame swapped at some time too. Definitely an Old Model grip frame.
 
Do you have a box for that gun?
Before anybody says Ruger's information is wrong, bear in mind that going through a few early #1 serial numbers I found a 130-000xx gun that was shipped in 2022.
NEVER SAY NEVER!!
On the other hand... did Ruger record the ship dates of when a gun got the transfer bar and was sent back to the owner???
Good info on the model number, 0213 !! That proves Ruger had model numbers at least back to 1969.
Chet15
 
No, no box included. I haven’t bought it yet, and I really shouldn’t seeing as I’ve bought 3 in the last 4 weeks. But on the off chance it’s legitimate it might be worth a shot. I’ll see if it works out. If I do get it I’ll be sure to get a letter…

So, just for grins and giggles, I tried a few numbers in the same sequence both up and down. This particular serial number is the only one that comes up in Ruger’s online database.
 
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My guess is owner sent in the revolver for repair and/or re-blue, The factory updated the action to the transfer bar system, reblued and added new grips, which they usually do when they do a re-blue. The gun is then recorded in their system for return to owner which shows the 2018 ship date for FFL purposes and to prove that they converted the gun. the grip frame may have been replaced at the same time. I had the same experience with an Old Army I dropped off for a re-blue, they replaced the grip frame (easier than re-anodizing) and put on new grip panels….
 
All interesting. I have to decide if it’s worth “more than” a similar “non-mysterious” model. If there was a box and paperwork I would probably bid aggressively. The bidding is already going up fairly quickly, so I’m afraid it will exceed my perceived worth before long. Who knows though, I’m not giving up yet.
 
hittman said:
It’d make a great shooter if the money is right!
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I’ll agree with that, however the price seems to be climbing because of the potential novelty. I’ve bought 3 Single Sixes in the last month- the allure of this one is the possibility that the ship date miraculously be correct. But again, without the box and paperwork it’s just a “cool story”. Not worth a whole lot of extra coin to me. I paid a bit extra for the one that’s coming tomorrow- it’s my birth year with a box and paperwork. And I definitely paid extra for a beautiful plum 1965 last week. But I can’t imagine one being smoother or more accurate than the 1955 I bought first, and it was the most attractively priced. All are 5.5” barrels. I’d like to eventually get a WMR marked one, and maybe one with a long barrel. Sorta trying to get a little Old Model collection.

I have a beautiful New Model Convertible that I did a custom grip frame on. But that’s the only New Model I need.
IMG_6337.jpeg
IMG_6336.jpeg
 
A new model grip frame could not be put on an old model w/o some minor modifications which the factory would not have done. I’ve adapted several and they’re easy to do but the factory does not modify parts. And Ruger having a new OM grip frame left in inventory, especially an OM XR3 frame from 1962, in 2018? Nope.

Also if an old enough gun to have an originally anodized alloy grip frame is sent to the factory to be refinished after they started powder coating alloy parts, the grip frame will be refinished with the powder coating.
 
Hondo44 said:
A new model grip frame could not be put on an old model w/o some minor modifications which the factory would not have done. I’ve adapted several and they’re easy to do but the factory does not modify parts. And Ruger having a new OM grip frame left in inventory, especially an OM XR3 frame from 1962, in 2018? Nope.

Also if an old enough gun to have an originally anodized alloy grip frame is sent to the factory to be refinished after they started powder coating alloy parts, the grip frame will be refinished with the powder coating.
Click to expand...
Depends on who you know at the factory, you’d be surprised what you can get done when you have the right connections…..never say never with Ruger. There are many more unicorns out and about than you would believe!
 
I have a older 44 mag blackhawk . The stud holding the ejector housing on the barrel came off. Found a gunsmith in Central MN. He said he could send it to Ruger an have it done. He went to school with someone who works at Ruger good friends. All he charged was shipping . Came back just as I gave it to him barrel cut back to 5 1/2 and all the old internals still in it . My favorite woods carry gun .
 
Do not forget that a truckload or maybe more of old inventory was sent to Davidson's when the bean counters told the Board that old inventory was not an asset but really ( to them) liabilities. Short runs, special order over runs, three and four digit guns( some consecutive!) were part of the clean up. This was not in 2018, but some years earlier!
 
NH Rugerman said:
Depends on who you know at the factory, you’d be surprised what you can get done when you have the right connections…..never say never with Ruger. There are many more unicorns out and about than you would believe!
Click to expand...
I don’t doubt that but it’s not something available to an ordinary customer. And even in the case of knowing someone at the factory that they would modify and install a NM grip frame on an old model. Not even aftermarket gunsmiths do that.
 
One last thought I have on this one. The auction ends in under 2 hours and there are some repeating bidders- indication someone wants it. I’m a bit less enamored when I consider it’s been converted and the old parts aren’t included ( unless it really was released in 2018). There’s no second cylinder, no box or paperwork, and the wrong grip panels (again, maybe). Either it’s super rare or a hack job. My last reservation- in one pic the right side seam looks like the cylinder frame has some dings on the seam with the grip frame.
IMG_7432.jpeg
 
To each their own but ….. the story means zero to me. It’s just not a big deal with Ruger that a gun got returned for some unknown reason and then sold again.

Seems to be a solid $250 shooter to me. Converted, possible re-blued, no 2nd cylinder, no box, no owners manual, wrong grips, possible wrong grip frame. (n)

Ask yourself, if it was sitting in your local gun store, what would you pay for an OM with those detractions?

Most recent Blue Book value on this gun in 100% condition with both cylinders is $625.
 
hittman said:
To each their own but ….. the story means zero to me. It’s just not a big deal with Ruger that a gun got returned for some unknown reason and then sold again.

Seems to be a solid $250 shooter to me. Converted, possible re-blued, no 2nd cylinder, no box, no owners manual, wrong grips, possible wrong grip frame. (n)

Ask yourself, if it was sitting in your local gun store, what would you pay for an OM with those detractions?

Most recent Blue Book value on this gun in 100% condition with both cylinders is $625.
Click to expand...
I put a $350 ceiling on this one. It just went over $355. So I’m out. I would really like to know the story…but not that bad.

I’ve got a 1960 with box and paperwork coming on Wednesday. Now that I’m excited about.
 
Odd stuff is fun to find. A year ago or so I came across the 4 5/8" OM Super Single Six for $400. A consignment gun. Most here know that a 4 5/8" is very rare as did I. Once pulled from the shelf of a collection of stainless Ruger's for sale it became apparent it was a rebarrel with a NM barrel. All work well done and it is a great shooter. I recently tweaked it with a front sight from Fermin, a rear from Hamilton, a base pin from Kelye and near 20 year old spalted maple grips from our very own caryc.

b7O5zge.jpg


uhhkRaQ.jpg


wKgmVi5.jpg
 
Boxhead said:
Odd stuff is fun to find. A year ago or so I came across the 4 5/8" OM Super Single Six for $400. A consignment gun. Most here know that a 4 5/8" is very rare as did I. Once pulled from the shelf of a collection of stainless Ruger's for sale it became apparent it was a rebarrel with a NM barrel. All work well done and it is a great shooter. I recently tweaked it with a front sight from Fermin, a rear from Hamilton, a base pin from Kelye and near 20 year old spalted maple grips from our very own caryc.

b7O5zge.jpg


uhhkRaQ.jpg


wKgmVi5.jpg
Click to expand...
Very nice. I have been considering doing some mods to my ‘55- like installing a Super grip frame in aluminum. Even though it has been modified already ( newer loading gate and ejection rod) I’m having a hard time committing to further change. It’s pretty perfect as-is.

So…while there is a place in my collection for a 1970, this one was not it.
 
Hondo44 said:
I don’t doubt that but it’s not something available to an ordinary customer. And even in the case of knowing someone at the factory that they would modify and install a NM grip frame on an old model. Not even aftermarket gunsmiths do that.
Click to expand...
Hondo
I never said NEW Model grip frame, I said NEW grip frame…Pine Tree still has the ability to cast NEW old model grip frames, or at least they used to back when WBR Sr & Jr were around, you would be surprised what the older employees could get done….same idea as “employee grade” wood, you think that was/is an AUTHORIZED program!!

Employees are still getting No.1 rifles for their 20 year guns, I just saw a new 30-30 rifle not that long ago…and up to about the mid to late 80’s there were still sufficient parts to assemble a complete Hawkeye pistol….look at the one that sold at Auction last November (Ser.#2994), manufactured and shipped in 1974 - Stan Terhune asked WBR Sr and he allowed it to be sold to Henry Rodeschin for $55.55 plus excise tax!!! Is that the last Hawkeye to leave the factory????
 
Old thread that I revisited while perusing the internet.
Lets test Ruger's serial number lookup system. If anybody has a prefixed old model SA of some model that has been factory converted sometime 1986 or later, plug that serial number in and see if it comes back with the date the gun was serviced for the NM transfer bar.
Chet15
 
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