Found a 3 inch Service Six (GF-33)

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magnum0710

Single-Sixer
Joined
May 2, 2023
Messages
357
City & State/Province
NE Ohio
I got very lucky today, while doing my usual browsing I found a GF-33! Start bid was $450 but the buy it now was $500. I didn't want to take the chance and miss this one. I got the blessing from the Mrs and by this time next week I should have it! I killed 2 birds with one stone this time. Not only did I get my 3 inch but now I have an example of each of the Sixes. Cost me almost $600 with shipping and fees but it was 100% worth it. This is only the 4th 3 inch Service Six that I've seen. The seller has very good reviews and feedback so I wasn't too concerned on that note. He's going to send more pictures for me later today, I probably should have asked first but it's looks to be in very good condition and I really didn't want to take the chance and someone else get to it first. I got too excited and didn't want to waste no time. I can't wait to get it in hand!!!
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Now. Quickly sign up for Revolver-Fest ...there are only a very few slots still available...get that bad boy kitted out with holster, speed loaders etc and come join the fun!
 
wilburmay said:
I think that was a no brainer
Very nice deal. I remember when I used to pick up deals on GB with no sales tax or fees, just freight and FFL.
I hope every time you pick it up it puts a smile on your face .
Wilbur
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I've all but given up on GB. I've racked up right at 150 feedbacks with an A+ rating over the years, but the fees and BS have turned me off. For the last couple years I've only done a couple transactions and mainly use it to search completed transactions to help determine value. I've even backed off from that.

Great find for the OP though... I would have been tempted. AS a matter of fact, the last few GB purchases I've made have been for Six Series Rugers. They rarely come up locally.
 
Lt92 said:
Now. Quickly sign up for Revolver-Fest ...there are only a very few slots still available...get that bad boy kitted out with holster, speed loaders etc and come join the fun!
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I wish! I just don't think I can make a trip like that happen right now. Next year might be on the table.

I don't think I'll be carrying this one too much, I have a 2.75 Speed Six that I carry now.
 
Cofaler said:
I've all but given up on GB. I've racked up right at 150 feedbacks with an A+ rating over the years, but the fees and BS have turned me off. For the last couple years I've only done a couple transactions and mainly use it to search completed transactions to help determine value. I've even backed off from that.

Great find for the OP though... I would have been tempted. AS a matter of fact, the last few GB purchases I've made have been for Six Series Rugers. They rarely come up locally.
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They don't come up too often locally to me either, I've only seen 3 in the last few years. All Security Six's, 2 of them were 4 inch and one 6 inch. One was my 4 inch.

The fees and everything are ridiculous but it was worth it in this instance. This is actually the first gun I've bought on GB, I asked the seller what I'd be looking at with taxes and fees, it put me about $100 over asking price. Now I know I can add $100 give or take to what the bid or buy it now price is. Then again not all sellers have credit card fees so that's something to look for.
 
magnum0710 said:
I wish! I just don't think I can make a trip like that happen right now. Next year might be on the table.

I don't think I'll be carrying this one too much, I have a 2.75 Speed Six that I carry now.
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I carried a mag-na-port custom speed six when I was a detective back in the early 80's...my brother officers were jealous...wish I still had it
 
Lt92 said:
I carried a mag-na-port custom speed six when I was a detective back in the early 80's...my brother officers were jealous...wish I still had it
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The Speed Six is really the perfect carry magnum if you're going to run full power 357s. I just about got it right where I want it, figured out which grips conceal best and handle well for me, got a Millett front sight installed, now I just need to find a spurless hammer or get a spare and have it bobbed. The factory spurless hammers are expensive but I might go for one eventually. The spur isn't a huge issue and I've practiced my draw to where it doesn't snag but still want to go spurless at some point.

There's actually a couple really good deals on the 2.75s right now. I was real close to getting another 2.75 til I found this one. One is a blued Service Six that can be had for $430 shipped, the blue is worn but its fine mechanically. Then there's a Speed Six that someone high polished, $475 shipped. If you're interested I'll send you the links. I was going to try and strike a deal on the Service Six on Monday but then this one popped up. I'll probably still get another 2.75 down the road, but I wanted a nice 3 inch so I wouldn't feel bad about carrying my Speed Six.
 
The full 3" (not 2 3/4") Service sixs are uncommon if not outright "rare". They were a special order for some unknown LE agency. They never showed up in the paper catalogs. Once the full 3" barrels were in the "parts bin" for the Post Office guns, other agencies ordered their own versions such as these Service Sixs. I've also had a Speed Six with a full 3" barrel in .38 Spl. (not .357 mag.).
Good find at very reasonable price.
 
Terry T said:
The full 3" (not 2 3/4") Service sixs are uncommon if not outright "rare". They were a special order for some unknown LE agency. They never showed up in the paper catalogs. Once the full 3" barrels were in the "parts bin" for the Post Office guns, other agencies ordered their own versions such as these Service Sixs. I've also had a Speed Six with a full 3" barrel in .38 Spl. (not .357 mag.).
Good find at very reasonable price.
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I heard that they were LE contract, the other theory is Ruger had some extra Service frames and 3 inch barrels towards the end of production so rather than waste parts they were mated together. I'll have to ask Chad when I send my SN, someone posted the known SN range of GF-33s before but I couldn't find it again. I know there weren't very many, it was a double digit number if I remember correctly.

This is only the 4th or 5th example that I've seen (one was yours I'm pretty sure) and the first one I've ever seen for sale. I didn't even know they existed until a few months ago. I was researching the GS-33s and came across some older posts about it. Finding this one was almost pure luck, I was checking Gunbroker faithfully for the Speed Six but I would search for the Service too cause I was considering getting another 2.75 instead. I really didn't expect one of these to pop up. I'll probably still try to get a GS-33 or GS-83 eventually. But this will likely be my last gun for a while, I really need to focus on ammo and reloading supplies after this.
 
Always liked the "Sixes" better than the newer GP100 revolvers---that 3" stainless is really VERY nice! Enjoy!!
 
weaselmeatgravy said:
Almost $600 isn't too bad these days for an uncommon Six. I have a GF33 that cost me $461.11 but that was 14 years ago. It was from a shop in California, where they are not legally allowed to be sold locally, so they put it up on GB to move it out of state.
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The buy now was $500 but the start was $450, I didn't want to take the chance of going for the bid and someone else getting it so I just went for the buy now. I probably could have saved a little if I did a money order instead of a card but if it got lost or something went wrong it would've been a big headache over a few bucks. It was definitely worth it, lord knows when we'll see one of these for sale again. What's funny is I checked GB and Armslist yesterday just for the fun of it, there's a GS33-PS on Armslist for $650, at first I said man I should have waited! Then I saw no shipping so the seller just wants to do a local sale. Not local to me so it wouldn't have worked. I'm still very happy with this one, sure it's not a round butt but so what, it's much more rare than the 3 inch Speeds and I'm sure there's grips that'll conceal good. Not that I plan on carrying it but if I ever had I'm sure I could. I'm just happy I don't have to worry about carrying my Speed Six now. Although I could get some really nice grips, maybe some badger boot grips and make it my BBQ gun 😁
 
I've hit the 'Buy Now' button many times for the same reason. I figure if I really want it what's the point of potentially losing it over a few dollars? I do hate paying credit card fees and shipping, especially when it's double what I know actual shipping will be. Congrats on your find, I know you will enjoy and appreciate it. You've got me looking on GB for S series Rugers again...:rolleyes:
 
Cofaler said:
I've all but given up on GB. I've racked up right at 150 feedbacks with an A+ rating over the years, but the fees and BS have turned me off. For the last couple years I've only done a couple transactions and mainly use it to search completed transactions to help determine value. I've even backed off from that.

Great find for the OP though... I would have been tempted. AS a matter of fact, the last few GB purchases I've made have been for Six Series Rugers. They rarely come up locally.
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Yeah, the fees and tax have made gunbroker less attractive, but I still browse in case I find something special. Just recently I was going to sell something but when I went to list it, I got a message saying they now require a backup payment option, and that option must be your bank account number! They already have my credit card. I’m not going to put out my bank account number so I won’t be buying or selling anything else in gunbroker. I’ve been using that site for over 20 years and I have an A+ rating, but I guess all that is over. I can dispute a credit card charge but giving my bank account number is not something I’m going to do. I don’t use my debit card to buy anything online.
 
Cofaler said:
I've all but given up on GB. I've racked up right at 150 feedbacks with an A+ rating over the years, but the fees and BS have turned me off. For the last couple years I've only done a couple transactions and mainly use it to search completed transactions to help determine value. I've even backed off from that.

Great find for the OP though... I would have been tempted. AS a matter of fact, the last few GB purchases I've made have been for Six Series Rugers. They rarely come up locally.
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the GB fees are ALL the results of the Government forcing them to collect sales tax which you will pay locally . The only difference is the GB 1% which they add to administer the paying of the Government mandated sales tax
 
PRichardson87 said:
The bank account is only required if selling. That's how Gunbroker collects the taxes and fees from you. It's really a non issue. Buying is simple and does not require a bank account. It's been like this for years 🤷‍♂️
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Nope. I've been buying and selling for 20 years. I have always had a credit card on file for any fees. They have never required a bank account number. When I signed in and went to list and item, the message came up saying I needed to add a bank account number, in addition to my credit card on file.
 
I completely forgot, I was going to update this but never got around to it. I put a set of Sile combat grips on it, they're basically the square butt version of the factory Speed Six grips. I really wish I could use round butt grips on it, these ones are good but not the best. The Pachmayr Compacs and the factory Speed Six grips have more of a palm swell. Might have to go to Pachmayr Grippers on this one.
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