Confused About Inherited Single Six Issue (1955 3-Screw)

[MatthewG]

My dad just gave me an old single six that he got from my grandfather (his father in law). It's been sitting around for over a decade. The issue is that the hammer wont move past middle position (will not compress enough to actually fire anything). It can be cocked and once the trigger is pulled, the hammer moves forward about half and inch...that's all that can be done with it.

Anyways, long story short...I did my research and pulled the unit apart. Here is where I'm confused. According to the Ruger website it's a 1955 unit and when I look at the schematics over at Brownells (http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=0/sid=32/schematicsdetail/Old_Model_Single_Six) the hammer is completely different than the one shown. It has a hammer with a hammer plunger like the new single sixes (http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=0/sid=6/schematicsdetail/New_Model_Single_Six) part #28-30.

Could it be that someone tried to replace the hammer assembly at one time with the wrong part? The hammer plunger is completely mangled so that leans me in that direction...

Thanks in advance for any assistance you can give me!

Here are some pictures to possibly help:

 

[MatthewG]

Couple more images of the gun put together just in case it helps...

 

[flatgate]

The hammer plunger has been "modified". The hammer looks OK. It may be binding within the Hammer Well (the slot in the grip frame and cylinder frame where the hammer resides) but I doubt it. The hammer plunger should contact the cylinder latch and make it pivot down and away from the "lock cuts" in the cylinder BEFORE the pawl (hand in Colt nomenclature) begins rotating the cylinder.

This is a classic case of a unknowledgeable "gunsmith" messing up an otherwise perfectly good revolver. How do I know? Been there, done that!

Find a new hammer plunger. Of course a post '72 vintage part is useless to your neat old Flatgate Single-Six! Someone here at Ruger Forum probably has one. Some of the many gun parts sellers in the U.S.A. will have the plungers, as well.

Now, you've NOT shown us the sear area of the trigger. It may be damaged and that'll throw "off" the timing of the lockwork.

JMHO,

flatgate

 

[Tallbald]

Just a question. Could those be real factory stag grip panels?

 

[cellar701]

I don't have a spare hammer plunger for the OM or I'd send you one. I believe Numrich has them:

http://www.gunpartscorp.com/catalog/Detail.aspx?pid=290710&catid=8349

or, you can make one out of a 1/8" drill (bit) with a bit of basic file work. Best bet is to buy a new one, then you'll have a pattern to make one if you ever need another.

Please take a photo of your cylinder latch (one end contacts the hammer plunger and the other end is what pivots up through the revolver frame and contacts/engages the cylinder) and also the trigger, especially the sear area which engages the notches in the hammer. Just want to make sure they aren't damaged. A photo of the hammer plunger spring would help as well to make sure it hasn't been modified.

By the way, neat old revolver!

 

[MatthewG]

Thank you so much guys for all your help so far, I really want to rescue this gun and go out and have some fun with it.

Here are the images you guys are requesting...the more I look at the schematics listed above the more I realize that neither of them are correct for this gun (I dont think I have a transfer bar on this gun and the trigger itself looks different than the one shown in the OM schematic). Perhaps I'm going to need to purchase the Jerry Kuhnhausen book to help me out with servicing this gun going forward.

As a side note, I figured it was because of the hammer issues but I haven't been able to turn the cylinder on this unit at all. If feels stuck.

 

[tuskbuster]

is it my eyes or is the pawl plunger in backwatds?

 

[Ale-8(1)]

Looks like it.

We should be seeing the spring, not the end of the plunger which should be in contact with the pawl.

This is a common reassembly error brought about by one of the exploded parts diagrams that appears to show the spring end inserted into the frame instead of the plunger end.

Good catch.

 

[MatthewG]

is it my eyes or is the pawl plunger in backwatds?

Good eyes, it most certainly was...whomever worked on this unit sure was flying by the seat of their pants. lol

 

[cellar701]

I think Brownell's schematic just shows the safety conversion parts, so don't let that confuse you. Go to Numrich and look at the old model Blackhawk schematic (I don't think they show an OM single six schematic).

Hammer plunger appears to be the significant issue, but tell us more about the cylinder not moving???

 

[cellar701]

Aaarrgh!!! I see Numrich doesn't show the OM schematics either...

It's not an assembly schematic, but this shows the correct parts:

http://stevespages.com/pdf/ruger_singlesix_om.pdf

 

[Ale-8(1)]

While this is the manual for the New Model guns, at least the parts illustration shows the proper assembly of the pawl plunger and its spring. Scroll down to page 36.

https://ruger-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/_manuals/newModelSuperSingleSix.pdf

Flatgate may have a better illustration of the Old Model stuff.

 

[MatthewG]

Just a question. Could those be real factory stag grip panels?

I doubt it because they don't have the ruger medallion on them. I know that they are at least 20+ years old (length of time my dad has had this gun in his closet) and they do show some wear. I have no idea who the manufacture is of them, there isn't any markings that I can see. I like them though... lol

 

[MatthewG]

Hammer plunger appears to be the significant issue, but tell us more about the cylinder not moving???

I think the cylinder issue is just a case of everything not lining up properly because the plunger pin (and the pawl plunger in backwards). If I put the cylinder in place with the base pin it spins freely and smoothly. It's just when I put everything back together as is, it's locked into place.

 

[Ale-8(1)]

Is it locked when the pawl and its spring and plunger are NOT in place?

Just trying to eliminate potential hang-ups.

 

[MatthewG]

I ordered a couple hammer plungers and springs from Numrich (figure might as well have a backup). I'm going to call around a little bit today to the local gun shops to see if anyone has one laying around as well (gonna be a long week+ waiting for the parts from NY --> CA). lol

Thank you all again for all your assistance, I can't wait to get this reassembled and working properly. 8)

 

[cellar701]

Sounds like you're getting it figured out - good luck with it.

I know it can be a long wait for the mailman to show up with the parts, so thought I'd share a photo of what one looks like:

Not sure how that 1/8" drill bit got into the background there...

 

[MatthewG]

Yeah cellar, your plunger looks quite a bit cleaner than my mangled piece of crap. LOL

 

[MatthewG]

I went ahead and ordered The Ruger Single Action Revolvers: A Shop Manual Volumes 1 & 2 Book by Jerry Kuhnhausen. I should have it before the parts come in so I'm hoping that I'll have this gun at the range within the next couple weeks.

 

[MatthewG]

PS: Any input on where these grips are from?

 

[flatgate]

The grips could be from most anywhere.....there were lots of folks making grips for Colts, Rugers and Great Westerns back in 50's and 60's.

Copies of the Factory Offerings.

Nice stags on a New Model shooter I have.

Poor image of my Flatgate components display.....not much to it, either!



flatgate

 

[flatgate]

Image from "stevespages.com".

flatgate

 

[MatthewG]

Thank you so much flatgate...that is PERFECT!!!

Can't wait to get my new hammer plunger in the mail so I can put this thing back together.

 

[Ale-8(1)]

Yep, that's the one I had in mind.

We can always count on flatgate . . .

 

[MatthewG]

UPDATE: The hammer plunger finally arrived and I installed the new piece and tuned the gun to the best of my ability. It still had a little bit of a hitch in the hammer/trigger so I took it into the gunsmith. $30 and two days later and he handed it back to me in 100% perfect working condition.

A buddy of mine and I hit the range yesterday and I'm in love. I took all my new toys (Ruger LC9, Glock Gen4 19, Mossberg 590a1 shotgun) and I had the most fun shooting this revolver. I'm a very new gun owner (only 3rd time at the range) so I'm still learning a lot. By the end of our range session we started having contests with 6 shot groups. I won every round (1.5" @ 7yrds, 2.65" @ 15yrds & 4.7" at 25yrds...please don't laugh).

Thanks again to everyone for their guidance on bringing this gun back from the dead! :mrgreen:

 

[Kevin]

Good looking gun there. Its got some nice patina to it. Four times at the range and by your count, with the single six you have one gun per range trip keep up that statistic.

 

[MatthewG]

LOL, yeah three trips to the range and four guns in the safe. Guess I better go pick up that 3-screw .22 MAG (Only) Single Six I have my eye on to justify another trip to the range huh?

 

[HAWKEYE#28]

8) You are doing greaat! Welcome to the asylum.......... :wink: :lol: