Let's See Your Early 60's XR3 .22 Magnum Single Sixes

[Wyatt Burp]

I was talking to a great guy yesterday who is a Ruger expert here and he mentioned a phenomenon where the early .22 Magnum marked Single sixes with 6 1/2" barrels and XR3 grip frames seemed to have nicer wood consistently. He brought this up when I mentioned my gun. My well used .22 Magnum has varnished grips with a really nice tone to them and are thinner than later three screw guns I've owned with plainer oiled walnut. Do any of you own one of these early magnums and if so, what are the grips like? My grips here aren't fancy grain, just interesting color and varnish treatment that I think is original. Or, by not being a Ruger collector, maybe my grips here are just typical of the period.

 

[flatgate]

Pretty plain ol' walnut, eh?

flatgate

 

[Wyandot Jim]

Mine are pretty typical. None are varnished interesting that yours are.

 

[street]

Mine are pretty typical. None are varnished interesting that yours are.

All of the Walnut grips for the XR3 grip frames came from the factory varnished. When they changed the grip frame to the XR3-RED then they quit varnishing the grips and started to give them an oil finish.

 

[d findley]

 

[bogus bill]

This one is from 1959.

 

[rugnelli]

I would say that the grips on the couple that I have are "cooler" than normal...