1959 RSS, & 1959 Colt Frontier Scout

[thedogdidit]

So a new little friend followed me home. It is a 1959 Colt Frontier. Same year as my RSS. I have read people discussing the similarities/differences between the 2 manufacturers. Many claim that the Colt is more refined. Now having the 2 in my hands to compare them myself, I feel that the wording that I would use is "dainty". Not saying that with any disdain at all. It is just significantly lighter in weight, and heft. I will put them both on a scale tonight. This being said, I am very happy with the purchase. Just prefer the RSS hands down.
On a side note....heck of a lot easier to remove the cylinder on the RSS. Just a quick removal of the base pin retaining bolt. (thanks for the reminding my senile brain Ale-8(1) lol)
The base pin on the Colt is held in with a slotted screw.

 

[Ale-8(1)]

Nice post, great comparison. I'd certainly take a Colt Frontier Scout. And yes, "dainty" is not a bad description, some might say "svelte".

The part you remove to remover the cylinder is actually referred to as the "base pin".

 

[thedogdidit]

Nice post, great comparison. I'd certainly take a Colt Frontier Scout. And yes, "dainty" is not a bad description, some might say "svelte".

The part you remove to remover the cylinder is actually referred to as the "base pin".

LOL.....yes I KNOW. haha.
I meant the bolt holding in the base pin....on the colt....you do believe me right???
Freakin Ale-8(1) callin me out on my brainfarts!!
Well standby amigo. These brain farts are FREQUENT
Post 1 corrected, and credit given.

 

[contender]

My brain farts would make a hog farm smell sweet!

 

[Stopsign32v]

I'm new to Rugers so please excuse the ignorance...What is that top revolver? I don't know what a RSS is.

 

[thedogdidit]

I'm new to Rugers so please excuse the ignorance...What is that top revolver? I don't know what a RSS is.

Ruger Single Six. Nothing to excuse my friend. We are ALL learning here. This forum is for sharing the love of this magnificent hobby, and any knowledge that we gather along the way. Keep asking questions. We'll get there together.

 

[Stopsign32v]

Ruger Single Six. Nothing to excuse my friend. We are ALL learning here. This forum is for sharing the love of this magnificent hobby, and any knowledge that we gather along the way. Keep asking questions. We'll get there together.

Thanks

So why does that rear sight look so different than the normal adjustable sight you see?

 

[Mobuck]

^^^Because the rear sight isn't 'fully' adjustable--only laterally.
I'm definitely NOT a single action 22 fan/owner. My Uncle (Dad's youngest Brother) was a Colt rimfire single action fan(atic). He'd buy/swap/trade for whatever the newest model was and then have to sell it for grocery money within a few months. At the time, I was just a kid and not the greatest handgun shooter but those Colts just never seemed to have the accuracy I expected. The only time I fired an RSS was when someone showed up at CCW range test with one but couldn't hit the 18x24 inch target and I was picked to determine the problem. FWIW, it wasn't the fault of the revolver.

 

[el caminero]

Now have early 3-screw rss, and a 1961 colt's, and svelte beats dainty. Have had 2 bearcats, thems is dainty. Started with a buffalo scout years ago, have never been without one of those types since, and the lil scout is definitely designed, if not built, by herbert schmidt out of germany.

 

[kentucky yeti]

My first single action was a H. Schmidt .22/.22 mag. I was 17. Over the next few years I literally wore it out. Three triggers and 2 hammers, and finally nearly- smooth bore. And I could still hit whatever I aimed at with it. Wish I’d kept it.

 

[Hondo44]

Thedogdidit,
Aren’t you comparing apples and oranges?

While both guns have aluminum alloy grip frames, doesn’t the Colt also have an alloy cylinder frame? If so, you need to compare it to a Ruger single six lightweight.

The Colt didn’t come out with a steel cylinder frame and push button cylinder pin release until the early 1970s.

 

[el caminero]

My 1961 has steel cylinder, barrel, and erh under the nickle plating, but the only zamak cylinders i have seen are fullsize, like hy hunter, with steel liners for each bore. The frame and grip on mine is zamak, they dident do steelframe until the newer model with colorcase and full adjustable sights. Zamak is an aluminium alloy like ruger lightweights, and high standard, among others.

 

[rugerguy]

both nice guns but I prefer of those two above the Ruger,,,when we had our first shop back in the mid 70s we worked a few Colts the aluminum grip frames cracked ( broke in some cases) due to the strain of the leaf spring I believe, plus some undue "
abuse" but they broke on top , rear adjacent to the raised portion for the top two grip frame screws,,,was told by one of the Colts guys at the factory back then they thought it was defects in the alloy casting of the frame also??? only saw a couple at gun shows ( OGCA) over the years ,later on, that were cracked, repaired, and not well done,,,years later our friend Dennis ran the welding school at Lincoln Electric and he showed us "How" to properly redo it but never again had the need too as we closed the shops back in the mid 80s....again, STILL NICE GUNS , and my favorite of the Colts SA .22's was the Peacemaker 22 nicer looking and more "proper",,, case colored and all with the steel cylinder frame............BUT still take the Ruger RSS........

 

[wproct]

I've owned a couple of RSS Rugers, old style 3 screw, and also a Colt Peacemaker with case hardened frame adjustable sights. The Colt was a sight to behold, well finished, a real beauty. However, if it was gonna be a shooter and see a lot of action, I'll take the Ruger every time.