3-screw single six help/info

[GCE61]

Hi all,
New guy to the Forum!

A friend emailed me that his buddy has a 3 screw Single Six he was going to sell, was I interested? Hell yeah.
I asked to get some details, but the owner is away until Saturday. I'm hoping that it's in original condition and also in good shape... we'll see.

My question is, where can I find general info or timeline on the Single Six line? I did some searches here but came up empty.

I'm curious what years the gun was made in the 3 screw version, and when the gun was offered with the fixed sights or the more modern adjustable sights.

From looking at online pricing, I would assume that for a gun in very nice condition $350 is would be the norm??

thanks in advance for any help,
Greg

 

[wwb]

3-screw revolvers were built through 1972, I think.... seems to me that 1973 on was the new models.

Single-Sixes were offered originally as a fixed-sight version, and later added the "Super Single Six" which had adjustable sights. Both styles were produced concurrently. Not sure, but I think all the Supers were convertibles. There was also a short period of time when a "22 Magnum" was produced... it was so stamped, and was magnum only, with no LR cylinder.

The RENE is really the place to get all the versions, dates, production numbers, etc.

 

[GCE61]

Thanks WWB,

I should have mentioned that he indicated that the gun was a .22lr/.22mag combo package.

 

[flatgate]

Here's the "classic" Single-Six with it's "half round" front sight and the drift adjustable rear sight.....

The fully adjustable sight models, as stated in wwb's post, were labeled Super Single-Sixes. My easy to post image is of a Super Single-Six that was plated and sold that way by Ruger.

Here's a link to an article appearing in GunBlast.com GunBlast/Old Model Single-Sixes. It should help 'ya a bit.....

flatgate

 

[GCE61]

Thanks guys,

Informative article, I also went onto Ruger's website for the serial number ranges. I'll see what the gun looks like this weekend.

Greg

 

[GCE61]

Update- So I saw the gun today and it's in beautiful condition. It's a Super Single Six with adjustable sights. It is pretty dirty, but there are only 1 or 2 small places showing a small scuff in the blueing.

The grips seem good except for 1 very small dent. It has the original box, papers, and .22 mag cyl (fluted) in a red bag and in a cardboard box.

When thumbing back the hammer the action is very crisp. Real nice gun.
The SN# was in the 5..... range, I didn't write it down because the guy said he bought it new somewhere between 68 and 71.

I'm in NJ, so a pistol permit will take about a month, I'll post pics as soon as I get it.

 

[GCE61]

And then the next step will be.. Taking it completely apart and giving it a thorough cleaning.

Looking at the area under the cocked hammer shows quite a bit of dirty brown oil and gunk, so I'm sure the action should be full of crud.

Is there an exploded view, or even better a step by step tutorial of how to break down a Ruger 3-screw revolver?

thanks!

 

[street]

What is the barrel length? Ruger made about 200 in the 500,000 range with a 4 5/8 in barrel. If you have one of those :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Richbaker]

The manual has complete disassembly instructions and an exploded view.... Shouldn't be much problem for you.

 

[GCE61]

Barrel is the 5 1/2" model......

 

[bigjake]

Better check the barrel length with a tape measure. If it's 5 1/2, it would be rare. I've only seen Super Single Sixes with 4 5/8...6 1/2...7 1/2 inch length.
I have seen a friends Single Six in .22 WMR only with a 9 1/2 inch length, but you said it was a Super Single Six 3 screw model. Does it have a fluted mag cylinder or is it non-fluted?

 

[GCE61]

I'm pretty sure it's 5 1/2" bbl length, and the Mag cyl was fluted. He had the original box, paperwork, Mag cyl in a red bag and that was in a cardboard box.

 

[flatgate]

I have seen a friends Single Six in .22 WMR only with a 9 1/2 inch length

:shock: Really? That would be the only one ever made...... :roll:

The .22 WMR Only guns were made for a few years. They run in the 300000 to 323470 serial number range. There are a few with higher s/n's but, in general, the Mag Only version runs in these s/n ranges. All have 6-1/2" barrels.

John Dougan's Ruger Pistols and Revolvers contains the info quoted above.

flatgate

 

[rugerguy]

careful how you say that 'flatgate' I know of two other Magnum marked guns that have 9 1/2 inch barrels, and we did ONE of them in 1985 for our trash hauler at the shop....thats all he shoots is 'mags' and he wanted the LONG barrel. saw another at a gun show in Chagrin Falls ,Ohio some years back, another Ruger collector had gotten his done from Cleveland Custom Gun on Grovewood....so they are out there
Oh and there is a Magnum ONLY marked gun hanging on a wall in a barn down near Welshfield ,Ohio, has a 3 inch barrel, the guy used it to slaughter hogs.........NO sights, NO ejector on it ( no finish either, last we saw it....)
this gun was NOT "customized" he cut off the 6 1/2 innch barrel with a hacksaw, squared up the muzzle on a sanding belt and crowned it with machine tool counter bore!!! :shock: ( it works every time he joked...)
we saw that one in the mid 70;s hunting deer on the property and took and hung a deer up in the barn, and I spotted "a Ruger"..............I got to see his "beauty , eh" and he got a "free" doe (farm tag) :wink:

No kidding about the "beauty 'eh.." an Amish guy with a canadian accent 8)

 

[street]

Better check the barrel length with a tape measure. If it's 5 1/2, it would be rare. I've only seen Super Single Sixes with 4 5/8...6 1/2...7 1/2 inch length.
I have seen a friends Single Six in .22 WMR only with a 9 1/2 inch length, but you said it was a Super Single Six 3 screw model. Does it have a fluted mag cylinder or is it non-fluted?

Old model Super Single-Sixs only came from the factory with 5 1/2 in. bl. and 6 1/2 in. bl. They started with Serial number 500,000. When Ruger started the digit pre-fix serial numbers they were giving the prefix "60". Early in the production a worker that was drilling the hole for the front sight drill too deep and instead of scrapping the barrel. they cut them off and made the length 4 5/8 in. Only about 200 were made and most were carried and shot and it is very hard to find one in mint shape. The 5 1/2 in. and 6 1/2 in. bl. guns are not too rare.

 

[flatgate]

careful how you say that 'flatgate'

Now, Dan, you KNOW I'm talking about Factory Shipped versions and NOT Homeboy versions.

Isn't my 7-1/2" Flatgate Single-Six cute? Not many of those around, at least not that I've seen. Is it Factory? :roll: Nope, I found a RSS9 barrel and had it trimmed a couple of inches. The stags are just as Factory as the barrel length is......

flatgate

 

[rugerguy]

now THAT's a beauty 'eh, I recall that one, it's NICE and really "makes sense" when you think about it............and thats what keeps the custom guys in business............

 

[bigjake]

Well, If'in I recomember rite Winchester came out with the .22 WMR in 1959 even before they had a rifle to shoot it in. Ruger made some Single Sixes with 9 1/2 inch barrels in .22 WMR only. My friend has one of these guns and I held it in my hands. This was in 1981. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
If I have to call him and get pictures, who's eating CROW first?

The original “flat cartridge loading gate” was changed to a “contour or round” Colt-style gate in early 1957. These guns are known as “Roundgates”. The 4-5/8 inch and 9-1/2 inch barrel lengths were introduced around mid-1959. Both of these barrel lengths turned out to be fairly rare and scarce when mated with the early style XR3 grip frame.

 

[SATCOM]

Sure we would love to see some pics. Also get serial # so you can contact Ruger and get exact model/configuration. This kind of stuff is always interesting.

SATCOM

 

[street]

Well, If'in I recomember rite Winchester came out with the .22 WMR in 1959 even before they had a rifle to shoot it in. Ruger made some Single Sixes with 9 1/2 inch barrels in .22 WMR only. My friend has one of these guns and I held it in my hands. This was in 1981. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
If I have to call him and get pictures, who's eating CROW first?

The original “flat cartridge loading gate” was changed to a “contour or round” Colt-style gate in early 1957. These guns are known as “Roundgates”. The 4-5/8 inch and 9-1/2 inch barrel lengths were introduced around mid-1959. Both of these barrel lengths turned out to be fairly rare and scarce when mated with the early style XR3 grip frame.

Sorry but the Mag. Only Single-Sixes were 6 1/2 in bl. guns. Flatgate gave the correct information and he gave the reference book to look at. "John Dougan's Ruger Pistols and Revolvers". Here is another "Reference of Ruger Firearms, Volume One " Forth Revision, page 36. This wonderful information is by Chad Hiddleson, editor of the Red Eagle News Exchange. If you don't already subscribe to it it is money well spent.

 

[chet15]

When the .22 Mag. only Single-Six came out in 1959, Ruger did hint in at least one piece of their literature that a 9-1/2" version might be available at a later date....but no....they never did it, commercially anyway. I suppose Ruger probably experimented with it though to get all the FPS out of it they could.
Big Jake...I am assuming your friends 9-1/2" Single-Six is one that was shipped originally as a convertibles and has lost its .22 LR cylinder somewhere along the way. There are many others just like it out there.
But the best thing for you to do (so we can eat that delicious crow ) would be to retrieve the sn off your friends gun, call the factory to see what it originally shipped as, and then report back to us (its a free service from Ruger...call the Newport plant and ask for records). Believe me, Ruger has made lots of guns that us collectors cannot even imagine. But the factory will be the last say on that one. If it letters as RSS9X, then it left the factory with two cylinders.
Chet15

 

[mag318]

I just bought an OM Single Six and prefer the looks and feel of the action to the NM with the transfer bar. Another nice touch is that these older examples don't have that novel stamped into the barrel. I'll just load 5 like I do with my Colt Peacemaker Scout.

 

[GCE61]

Ok, finally picked up the Super Single Six yesterday and I couldn't be happier with it.
I took it completely apart this morning and detail cleaned everything. The inside of the frame and action was coated with old dirty grease, but otherwist the gun is pristine.
It came with the orig box, mag cylinder, red bag, cyl box, and instruction manual. The mag cyl has the "969" engraved in between the cyl holes.
The right side grip has a small dent on it but otherwise the grips are perfect.
The bores of both cylinders and the barrel are spotless and shiny. the action is very tight and crisp. All in all for $350 I think it's a home run!
Based on the SN# of 538969 it looks like it was a 1967/1968 mfg.

 

[SATCOM]

Nice complete packaged SC5! Good buy.

SATCOM

 

[americal]

NICE Great shooting guns had my first one in 1967 it was a 6.5 barrel--loved that gun---------- sold it wish I had it back--sold it in 1973 --know where it is at--but will not sell :twisted: :lol:

 

[americal]

I have a HOMEBOY model :lol: I'll bet 10,000 dollers its NOT factory ANY BET's :wink:

 

[GCE61]

now that's a "longgg distance .22" !

 

[chet15]

Based on the SN# of 538969 it looks like it was a 1967/1968 mfg.

538969 eh??? Sounds like its better than a good one. Bet it doesn't have the abbreviation "INC." after "Sturm, Ruger & Co." in the barrel address?
If so it is one of the more scarce variations of OM SC5.
Chet15

 

[GCE61]

Chet15,
Yes that's correct... no "inc."
What kind of history do you think this gun has?

 

[flatgate]

Chet15,
Yes that's correct... no "inc."
What kind of history do you think this gun has?

It's spent most of it's life in someone's sock drawer!

Nice!

flatgate