Authentic single six 17 hmr/mach 2?

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BisleyBuff

Bearcat
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Delaware County, NY
Hi, going out shopping..saw a single six, blue, with both cylinders.

How can I tell if the mach 2 cylinder was an original ruger convertible cylinder with the gun or an aftermarket mach 2 cylinder?
 
If there's no box or end label to show the model number, you can look up the serial number on Ruger's site and it will tell you which model it shipped as.
 
Looked s/n up on ruger site. Says discontinued model(correct specs) but doesn’t say convertible or not. I guess the one I saw was a 17hmr with aftermarket 17 mach2cylinder.

Probably not worth taking a chance on since it was the mach 2 I was really interested in a revolver. Taurus is too big with too short 2” barrel. Oh well, I’ll keep looking!
 
I’ve had several of the stainless convertibles and have installed some Borchardt cylinders in the ones that weren’t convertable. (Blue in a stainless gun) I still have a M-2 cylinder if you need a picture of the aftermarket one.

To my knowledge they never made a blued conversion model.
 
Doesn't Ruger still mark convertible cylinders with the last 3 of the serial #?
 
ibboatin28 said:
I've had several of the stainless convertibles and have installed some Borchardt cylinders in the ones that weren't convertable. (Blue in a stainless gun) I still have a M-2 cylinder if you need a picture of the aftermarket one.

To my knowledge they never made a blued conversion model.
Click to expand...
Yes, please if you message me a picture of the mach 2 conversion cylinder. The one I'm looking at looks unused, did it require gunsmith fitting?

Thanks much!
 
chet15 said:
Factory Ruger .17M2 cylinders will also have a caliber rollmark around the cylinder.
Chet15
Click to expand...
Thank you, that answers it. The cylinder just has "17-M 2" lengthways on it, no around the cylinder roll mark like typical Ruger cylinders. Must be an aftermarket. If I they let it go for a good price it might be worth it.

Thanks all, having forums like here lets us dip into a wealth of knowledge, something not available when I first started buying "unique" guns!
 
The blue is the Borchardt cylinder and the stainless Ruger cylinder. I've fitted several of the blued cylinders they just took a little stoning but nothing was required with the timing. Ruger never made a combo unit in blue to my knowledge.
 

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I briefly owned a stainless steel Single-six Hunter in .17HMR and .17M2, 7 1/2 inch bbl I think. I didn't own it long as it was quite heavy and I just wouldn't shoot it enough to warrant having it. It was used and I bought it on a whim, at the time I was really big on the .17M2 cartridge.
 
I am the silly person that bought the revolver sold at auction and described above.
Before bidding I contacted Atlas Collectable Firearms (the seller-Atlas) to inquire whether the 17 HM2 cylinder was factory supplied and Atlas assured me it was. The cylinder does not look like any Ruger covertible cylinder I have seen - and I have seen more than a few. Despite my skepticism, I placed a bid and now it is mine. I will follow up with Atlas and let them know my research results and the actual origin of the cylinder (until today I did not know there was such-a-thing as aftermarket cylinders for Ruger Cartridge Revolvers). I think the person I exchanged messages with believed what I was told. I have purchased several firearms (including two Korth rimfire revolvers made in Ratzeburg during the 60s and marked W. Korth) from Atlas and they have been top notch in every way.
The revolver is in jail until 6/8.
I examined it while we were doing the paperwork. I noted that the 17 HMR cylinder holds six rounds and the 17 HM2 cylinder holds eight rounds (I agree with those who identified the conversion cylinder as made by BRC http://rugercyl.com/ruger-cylinders/.)
The six-shot cylinder works normally and is in time. To my surprise the eight-shot cylinder is also in time and indexes all eight chambers properly. Those foks at BRC know a thing or six or eight. I did not realize an eight-shot cylinder and a six-shot cylinder on the same revolver was possible, but I suppose it comes down to the way the ratchet on the eight-shot cylinder is made.
I will get this revolver to the range after it comes home and report further. I think I will get a .17 bore-cylinder alignment rod to verify the chambers are lining up with the bore before I take it to the range.
 
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You might go back to Atlas,, and say you are going to get a letter of authenticy from Ruger on it. A $10 letter, that can prove it's correct model info. They may be unaware of such letters. It may get you a little refund,, and if they are smart,, it may get them to do better research before trying to sell a "rare" Ruger.
 
contender said:
You might go back to Atlas,, and say you are going to get a letter of authenticy from Ruger on it. A $10 letter, that can prove it's correct model info. They may be unaware of such letters. It may get you a little refund,, and if they are smart,, it may get them to do better research before trying to sell a "rare" Ruger.
Click to expand...
It won't. They got their money, they aren't giving it back. The only way these companies change their ways is if enough customers realize they are being shady and stop bidding.
 
I saw this one on GB, and the thread about the aftermarket cylinder so I decided not to bid. I DID follow the auction through to the end.
 
At present only a handfull of the pistols and revolvers in my collection (gun library) have an optical sight. That will likely go up by one when this revolver comes home.
I am thinking to use a Weigand Machine mount and a glossy Leupold 2X EER scope (I really like glossy Leupolds).
The proof of the pudding will be in the groups. All things considered I think I will be happy with this revolver. Especially given the rarity of authentic .17 convertibles.
 
There's another .17 "Convertible" on GunBroker, right now.
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1050983253
Pretty clearly NOT a factory Convertible. Label on box and Ruger’s “Serial Number History” tool would both suggest it’s not factory, even if the seller is not a knowledgeable Ruger fan.

I politely inquired about it, including a link to the BRC site, where the cylinders may be purchased.

The response I got included the following: “Good morning, it is a consignment gun. Atlas Collectible firearms just sold the same gun a week or 2 ago so possibly factory. Thanks for your interest..”

As Dan (rugerguy) might say, “Caveat Emptor, baby!” 🤠
 
I sent a message to Atlas last night explaining their error. It will be interesting to see if there is a response. They are on notice now that unless it is one of the 250 or so factory stainless steel Hunter models, it is not a factory convertible.
 
I used Gunbroker messaging to send the seller in the current auction explaining their offering has a Borschardt Rifle Company .17 HM2 cylinder, how few were sold by Ruger, and how to tell the difference.
I am putting together a tranche of 10 - 20 firearms to send to auction - making room for things I want more.
I noticed that this seller is soliciting consignments, but will not sell to anyone in California. So I asked, why would I consign with you when you are excluding more than 10% of the potential customer pool right out of the gate?
 
As many people as can should contact Atlas & let them know they are NOT selling a factory convertible.

However,, in their description it never CLAIMS to be a factory offering,, unless I missed it somewhere.

Still I'm going to send them a note to help "clarify" things as well. Maybe they will get the message & correct the listing. But,, they do offer a 3-day inspection period,, and could get around the return by saying they never claimed it to be a factory issued convertible.

I just sent them a message myself.
 
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Seller has updated their description with the following info:
“I have had people email me to note that the extra cylinder was an item that was purchased as an accessory and added to the gun after it left the factory. I wanted to clarify, thank you.”

Helps remove potential misunderstanding… works for me! 👍
 
I feel like I had a productive conversation with the folks at Vintage Iron about the conversion cylinder and their refusal to ship to CA. It seems that together we made a small difference.
No response from Atlas regarding the revolver with the aftermarket conersion cylinder that I purchased.
 
Bombing a seller with correct info,, AND mentioning the fact that it can affect their reputation & future sales is a good way to get their attention. IF,, IF,, it's done very politely,, and with the right wording.

Looks like that may have happened here.

Oh,, and I just sent the seller another message thanking them for correcting their ad.

Politeness AND following up after a person makes a correction goes a long way.
 
contender said:
Bombing a seller with correct info,, AND mentioning the fact that it can affect their reputation & future sales is a good way to get their attention. IF,, IF,, it's done very politely,, and with the right wording.

Looks like that may have happened here.

Oh,, and I just sent the seller another message thanking them for correcting their ad.

Politeness AND following up after a person makes a correction goes a long way.
Click to expand...

I sent a quick “thank you” message, as well. 👍
 
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