1961 RSS4W

[Mikela]

HI I recently acquired an OM SS RSS4W serial # 173xxx. It appears t be all original has normal honest wear. It has not been converted and has the XR3 grip. Is there any thing special about this model that should keep me from shooting it or should I try to wear out the barrel. Over all I guess it would be rated at 80-85%. Was $200 a good price? Thanks, Mike

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Here it is with a set of extended grips.

 

[SteveRuger]

Heck yeah. parts are worth that.

 

[americal]

A great buy :!: I have RSS4X 173922 microed ,mind telling what the last 3 digets are :?: my gun is on the forum somewhere can tell you if you want to see it--I will have to find it--it won't be hard Ruger and other firearm collecting section -page 3--------their close but I can kinda see the last 3 digets are quite--far apart

 

[Mikela]

Serial # is 173628 This is a fairly common SS isn't it? I spoke to Ruger records today and was told it is a 22 lr only it was not shipped with the 22 mag cylinder. Thanks for the responces, Mike

 

[street]

Serial # is 173628 This is a fairly common SS isn't it? I spoke to Ruger records today and was told it is a 22 lr only it was not shipped with the 22 mag cylinder. Thanks for the responces, Mike

Single-Sixs are not common with that barrel length with the XR3 grip frame. Your gun is somewhat rare. As your gun has some finish problems there should be no reason not to shoot it. If it was mint in the box then that would be a different deal. Shoot it and have fun with it.

 

[americal]

The gun has neat honest wear --like on the grip frame you can see the fadeing of the black where the gun was held right handed --you can tell when a leftie has worn one to 8) shooter for sure hard to buy at your price for sure reguardless of condition

 

[Hondo44]

street is precisely right, a rather scarce model for this reason. IIRC the 4 5/8" wasn't introduced until c. 1961 and in c. 1962 the smaller XR3 grip that yours has was discontinued. Therefore there was a very short production period with the short barrel and XR3 grip. Due to the condition, definitely a shooter and not a safe queen.

But even in that condition they still bring a slight premium. Not only you didn't pay a premium but you got a great deal! I would buy as many as I could in that condition at $200. You paid little and you get to shoot and enjoy it a whole lot, what a deal!

Short barrels after 1962 with the XR3 RED grip size are more common than yours and easier to find.

Nice gun and nice score!

 

[Mikela]

Thanks for the replies. It shoots very well and I don't have any safe queens. It is definitly better than a new model SS I had.
Thanks again, Mike

 

[Hondo44]

Here's my herd. The upper two on right are like yours but I had to pay $300 and $400 for them and that was a couple of years ago.
Top two on left are 4th variation lightweight and 1st variation tri color lightweight.

This is the finished project gun from above that started life as a '68 vintage Single Six convertible with a 9 1/2" barrel that was badly pitted near the muzzle. (The barrel was salvaged to make a 7 1/2" Super SS 3 screw from a 6 1/2"; another completed project.)

The left over 6 1/2" Super barrel was cut to 3 1/2" to make this shorty. Turned an additional 90 degrees, the barrel rollmark is now on the left side so it wasn't covered by the front sight. A super ss NM sight has been modified by lowering it to shoot to point of aim after dialing it in at the range. It's no safe queen but rescued to be used and enjoyed and is one of my favorite shooter and carry guns. The wide SBH trigger fills the wide hole in the NM grip frame. The new grip medallions were exchanged for the Old Model blackhawk style. A flat loading gate was used because they are cool. The grip frame is a steel short one from the NM 32 Mag single six Baby Vaquero for proportion with the short barrel and easy packin'.

A USFA cammed slot ERH was fitted to allow for sufficient ejection rod travel to eject cases, especially 22 mags. It also allows removal of the cylinder pin for cylinder changes in the field w/o removal of the ERH. A dimpled ER was shortened and pointed (to more easily find those 22 chambers.)

 

[ar15ed]

now, THAT is a cool project gun! great job!

 

[deserttrans]

Nicely done indeed.

 

[Mikela]

All I can say is WOW!! You guys have some very nice pieces. Thanks for sharing them.

 

[chet15]

There were only around 5,000 of the 4-5/8" Single Six with XR3 grip frame produced, with somewhere less than 50% shipped as RSS4W with walnut grips like your gun.
Chet15

 

[Mikela]

Thanks for the info Chet. You do know your rugers!!!!What would you say the value of my gun is? On an other note, My P4, shipped Feb.1998, as per Ruger Records, is prefixed 218. On the web site they don't show 218 as a 22/45 prefix but as a Mkll prefix. Is this a normal procedure for them? Thanks again, Mike
P.S. I've just recently rekindled my love affair for Rugers and could use some insight as to where or what reading material I should look for.

 

[Hondo44]

ar15ed, deserttrans, thank you it was a fun project. It's a handy little trail gun and I shoot it mostly with 22 WRFs. I was surprised that it didn't seem to lose any accuracy with the short barrel.