T.A. WORKMAN
Hunter
Gentlemen,
With the help of forum members I have finally completed my set of un-cataloged NR4-F New Model Single-Six revolvers, and I must say that this has to be one of the toughest sets of NM Single-Six's out there to put together
and probably would have not been made at all if not for a mistake in Ruger's 1994 catalog. In 1994 Ruger came out with the NR5-F & NR6-F NM Single-Six fix sight revolvers, but both pictures in the catalog were pictures of a 4 5/8" NR4-F not an NR5-F gun. This led to Ruger making a short run to appease public demand, other wise the only NR4-F we would have seen would have been the 50Th Anni. model in my opinion. Note} Serial # started at 268-00501, Ruger did not use the first 500 numbers in production.
For those not familiar with this model I highly recommend that you read RENE editor Chad Hiddleson's excellent article, "Vaquero Style Single-Six's, .22 Cal." Chad covers these in great detail!
There are 4 variations with 2 sub-variations, 1st variation made in 1995, 200 produced, Very Rare! - 2nd variation made in 2004, about 300 produced, Rare! - 3rd variation "transition pre-lock model" made 2007, 50 or less produced, Extremely Rare! - 4th variation, NR4-FL was Ruger's New Internal Lock model, made in 2007 also, 300 produced, Rare!
Note:- All 4 variations above had the "Southport WRM" on the barrel. There were 2 sub-variations of 100 or less each of the NR4-FL, produced in 2009 with "Newport WRM" replacing the "Southport WRM". The 1st sub-variation has the words "RUGER NEWPORT NH USA" in larger sized font than the rest of the roll mark. The 2nd sub-variation also made later in 2009 has "Ruger Newport NH USA" in the same size font as the rest of the WRM.
1000 to 1050 NR4-F & NR4-FL revolvers produced over about a 15 year span, with 4 different variations and 2 sub variations, made this a very interesting hunt! :wink:
The picture that started it all,
All Six getting a little sun, :wink:
Bottom Left - 1st variation Serial #268-03410, [1995], WRM on side of barrel, "RUGER SINGLE-SIX .22 Cal." roll mark on left side of cylinder frame, wood grips, Hi-Polish finish.
Bottom right 2nd variation Serial #268-47210, [2004], WRM on side of barrel, "RUGER .22Cal. NEW MODEL SINGLE-SIX" roll mark on left side of cylinder frame, blue NOT! Hi-Polish finish, wood grips.
Top pair are both "Transition" Type 3 variation, Serial #268-51219 & #268-51224, [2007], barrel WRM moved to the bottom, same cylinder roll mark as 2nd var. wood grips No Lock.
Bottom pair of consecutive NR4-FL 4th variation guns, Serial #268-51773 & #268-51774, [2007], barrel WRM on bottom, Ruger' new "Internal Lock" model, Black Plastic Checkered" grip panels. Top left is NR4-FL Sub-variation #1, Serial #268-54487 [2009] "RUGER NEWPORT NH USA" in large font. Top right, NR4-FL Sub-Variation #2, Serial #268-55055, [2009] "Ruger Newport NH USA in same size font as rest of WRM.
Variations 1,2 & 3, left side,
Var. 1 & 2,
Var. 3 & 4,
With the help of forum members I have finally completed my set of un-cataloged NR4-F New Model Single-Six revolvers, and I must say that this has to be one of the toughest sets of NM Single-Six's out there to put together
and probably would have not been made at all if not for a mistake in Ruger's 1994 catalog. In 1994 Ruger came out with the NR5-F & NR6-F NM Single-Six fix sight revolvers, but both pictures in the catalog were pictures of a 4 5/8" NR4-F not an NR5-F gun. This led to Ruger making a short run to appease public demand, other wise the only NR4-F we would have seen would have been the 50Th Anni. model in my opinion. Note} Serial # started at 268-00501, Ruger did not use the first 500 numbers in production.
For those not familiar with this model I highly recommend that you read RENE editor Chad Hiddleson's excellent article, "Vaquero Style Single-Six's, .22 Cal." Chad covers these in great detail!
There are 4 variations with 2 sub-variations, 1st variation made in 1995, 200 produced, Very Rare! - 2nd variation made in 2004, about 300 produced, Rare! - 3rd variation "transition pre-lock model" made 2007, 50 or less produced, Extremely Rare! - 4th variation, NR4-FL was Ruger's New Internal Lock model, made in 2007 also, 300 produced, Rare!
Note:- All 4 variations above had the "Southport WRM" on the barrel. There were 2 sub-variations of 100 or less each of the NR4-FL, produced in 2009 with "Newport WRM" replacing the "Southport WRM". The 1st sub-variation has the words "RUGER NEWPORT NH USA" in larger sized font than the rest of the roll mark. The 2nd sub-variation also made later in 2009 has "Ruger Newport NH USA" in the same size font as the rest of the WRM.
1000 to 1050 NR4-F & NR4-FL revolvers produced over about a 15 year span, with 4 different variations and 2 sub variations, made this a very interesting hunt! :wink:
The picture that started it all,
All Six getting a little sun, :wink:
Bottom Left - 1st variation Serial #268-03410, [1995], WRM on side of barrel, "RUGER SINGLE-SIX .22 Cal." roll mark on left side of cylinder frame, wood grips, Hi-Polish finish.
Bottom right 2nd variation Serial #268-47210, [2004], WRM on side of barrel, "RUGER .22Cal. NEW MODEL SINGLE-SIX" roll mark on left side of cylinder frame, blue NOT! Hi-Polish finish, wood grips.
Top pair are both "Transition" Type 3 variation, Serial #268-51219 & #268-51224, [2007], barrel WRM moved to the bottom, same cylinder roll mark as 2nd var. wood grips No Lock.
Bottom pair of consecutive NR4-FL 4th variation guns, Serial #268-51773 & #268-51774, [2007], barrel WRM on bottom, Ruger' new "Internal Lock" model, Black Plastic Checkered" grip panels. Top left is NR4-FL Sub-variation #1, Serial #268-54487 [2009] "RUGER NEWPORT NH USA" in large font. Top right, NR4-FL Sub-Variation #2, Serial #268-55055, [2009] "Ruger Newport NH USA in same size font as rest of WRM.
Variations 1,2 & 3, left side,
Var. 1 & 2,
Var. 3 & 4,
8)
