Customize an Old Flatgate?

[WW]

I have a flatgate Single-Six (ser. no. 8xxx) that I bought at a reasonable price several years ago. It has the sort of wear you would expect of a gun that’s over 50 years old – worn finish, a few chips in the gripframe anodizing, etc. but overall is in good shape and shoots well. While I certainly like the gun and appreciate the historical significance of the old flatgates, I’ve seen a few examples of customized Single-Sixes by some of the well-known pistolsmiths and I’m intrigued enough to consider something similar for mine. Among the things I'm considering is leaving the caliber as is but shortening the barrel to 4 inches and installing a traditional dovetail-style front sight, a blackpowder cylinder chamfer, color case hardening and refinishing. I would  preserve the unique features of the gun like the flat loading gate and the serrated ejector rod button but before considering this much further I’d like to verify through the experts here that I’m not unknowingly committing an act of sacrilege by modifying this 4-digit gun. While it's a nice gun, I don't think it's what one would consider particularly collectible - it's a nice shooter. I simply think it would be fun to create something unique while preserving the heritage of the old flatgate. Your input would be appreciated - thanks.

 

[americal]

I see no problem in doing this--- if it was collector grade---NO :!: 4 digets is nice --leave that on the gun--and I would put adjustable sights front and back on it -that will cost more :!: but look neat JMHO A flatgate with micro adjustable sights installed in the late 1950's WELCOME TO R.F.

 

[Hondo44]

Welcome to the forum. In my opinion, you can do what you want with it and not have a guilty conscience. I have a similar gun and here's my results:
The 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. Overall it's only 8 1/2" long. It's no safe queen but rescued to be used and enjoyed.

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.)

The grip frame is a steel short one from the NM 32 Mag single six Vaquero for proportion with the barrel and easy packin'. 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.

 

[rugerguy]

yessir, its your gun and certainly a candidtae for a restoration /custom.....seen quite few of them old ones cut down, had a color case finish, ala Turnbull, it would look really "neat", do something with that grip frame and a neat pair of "old style" white grips, such as 'hollywood' looks like ivory and put some black eagle medallions in them, and it would still retain its "classic" looks...sounds like a "plan"
gotta SEE IT when she 's done remember.......

 

[Spencer]

WW....+1 to what was said, definitely need pics when done.

Americal...is that an octogan barrel???? I like the looks of it if it is....

Hondo, nice job on the 3.5" barrel, looks very packable

 

[Ale-8(1)]

Hondo, I like that little toy. Has great proportions with that "short" grip setup.

Might even look good with a bird's-head grip arrangement, which I think look kinda odd on longer-barrelled guns.

JMHO

 

[Hondo44]

Hondo, I like that little toy. Has great proportions with that "short" grip setup.

Might even look good with a bird's-head grip arrangement, which I think look kinda odd on longer-barrelled guns.

JMHO

Thanks Ale-8(1). It just might, they would add to the 'compact' factor. They just don't fit my hand however.

 

[SAJohn]

I would give thought to trading that 4 digit gun for a much later old model single six plus 'boot'. The 'boot' would probably pay for much of the custom work.

John

 

[JWFilips]

Hondo44 Man that is a really cool rebuild!
Sorry if I got off thread

 

[WW]

Project completed.

Sent the Flatgate to Hamilton Bowen and this is the result. He also fitted a .22 mag cylinder. Very accurate and a lot of fun. Great "woods bummer".

Thanks for the input and encouragement.

 

[Bob Wright]

With all due apologies to the dyed-in-the-wool collectors here, I find customized Single Actions to be as collectible as the "collector's items."

And ya'll have sure shown some beauties!

Bob Wright

 

[Ale-8(1)]

Some customs, such as those seen here are very nice.

Others are . . . well . . . nevermind.

All in the eye of the beholder and the guy who's doing the paying, I guess.

 

[gtxmonte]

Collecting single digit pistols and super rare stuff like SSREs and Hawkeyes is cool I suppose, but is definitely not what many Ruger fans like myself care to do. Me personally, if I can't shoot it, I don't want it. I mean in these days and times "displaying" your guns for others to see is asking for trouble, unless you have a security system along the lines of Fort Knox, plus you don't want to shoot "rare" guns, so most of the time they sit in the safe. What fun is that. Now I DO realize that some get WAY more enjoyment out of collecting guns than actually shooting them and that is just fine, similar to guys who collect knives, or anything else for that matter.......I guess my only "problem", if you want to call it that, with collectors, is that some of them think you should be drawn and quartered if you "change" anything on a gun. And some think this applies to more ordinary guns as well as rare models. They way I look at it......it's my gun, if I want to paint it pink, that's my peroggative.................Now, if I ran across a really nice "rare" gun, would I change it, no. I would pass it along and let somebody else make a safe queen out of it. But if I found a "rare" gun that had seen better days, I would modify that one to my liking in a heartbeat.

Some gun collectors are like some car collectors. They see your car and then want to berate you over the fact that you have changed the wheels or whatever and also like to point out stuff like "that is not the correct hose clamp on that water hose"........LOL!!!!

I have a few hard to find, or what are considered somewhat "valuable" guns. Some fairly rare Model 12 Winchesters, 63 Winchester .22, 61 Winchester .22, 9422 Winchester 22 mag just to name a few. Most all are mint condition. Do I shoot them, YOU BET, on a regular basis. They were fired when I got them, so why not continue to shoot them as long as you care for them well. I also like to make some guns "my own". Currently working on a 41 mag Blackhawk. It was well used when I got it. Going to blast the grip frame and ejector housing with a very fine medium, then put "satin clear" on it to protect it, some custom grips, change the hammer and possibly case harden the frame. Like the above poster, a "customized" revolver gets my attention more than a single digit original. May not be worth as much, but looks cool.

 

[CraigC]

Sweet little custom Single Six!

 

[rugerguy]

wow, now that came out awesome, we like it !!!

Enjoy it......................

 

[street]

Now that's the way Ruger should have made it to start out with!!! Nice looking gun!

 

[Hondo44]

Wow, what's not to like. Great choice on the grips. What are they? Did you stick with the alloy alum grip frame and ejector rod housing, and if so how were they refinished?

 

[SATCOM]

WW,

Very nice! Hondo had a couple of questions I would be interested in the answers also.

gtxmonte,

I shoot my Hawkeye and why wouldn't I? If I had a RSSE I would shoot it but not use it as my woods carry .22. I also would not put a longer barrel on my SC4. MOPAR guy?

SATCOM

 

[WW]

Thank you for your comments. The grips are American Holly and the ejector rod housing was replaced with a steel part for color uniformity when rebluing. The grip frame is the original part and was refinished with Cerakote, a ceramic coating that looks a lot like the original anodizing.

 

[Hondo44]

Every time I look, it's more gorgeous than before. Looks like you stuck with your plan for a 4" barrel. Or does it just look like that way because of the non-tapered barrel?

Looks like I need to move forward as planned with case coloring on this Super SS project: flattened the top, 4" barrel, Clements adapter Bisley trigger, and all steel including rear sight. Just hard to turn loose of it.

 

[WW]

The barrel is four inches - interestingly, in order to install the dovetail front sight and preserve the original barrel roll mark, machining was required on both ends of the barrel.

 

[Hondo44]

WW,

My barrel roll mark was originally on top. By cleaning up the machine marks on the front of the frame, I was able to turn the barrel 90 degrees so the roll mark was on the side to match the 357 flat top old model.

I thought your barrel was a heavier custom barrel with a new roll mark by Bowen.

 

[Joe in Fl]

Make it yours!
Joe