Old model Single Six question

[mag318]

I just bought an old model Single Six with a 4 5/8" barrel. Most you see have 5 1/2" barrels so my question is how many of these shorter barreled SSs were produced?

 

[WIL TERRY]

THEY WERE 7% of total OM SS production.

 

[Hondo44]

mag318,

The lowest volume are the ones with XR3 grip frame and steel ejector rod housings and XR3 grip w/alloy ER housing, 1961 & 62. The vast majority have XR3 RED grip frames with alloy ER housing, made 1962 to 1972.
XR3 and XR3 RED are cast into the grip frame under the grips. Which does yours have?

If it has only 1 cyl (22 LR) with black hard rubber it's an RSS4R grips and with walnut an RSS4W. About 5000 total made.

It could be a convertible, RSS4X, with XR3 or XR3 RED grip frame, and even more scarce, only about 800 made. If yours only has 1 cyl, a letter to Ruger can tell you if it came with two cyls. With your serial # I can tell you if it's in the convertible # range.

 

[mag318]

Hondo, I just bought the revolver but haven't taken delivery yet, it's coming from Montana. The seller told me it was made in 1963. I should have it by the end of next week hopefully and will photograph it for the forum. I bought it mainly because of the 4 5/8" barrel, it is nearly mint condition and has both cylinders.

 

[chet15]

If made in 1963, you could have a very interesting gun there. I have not noted any between 188395 and 428628, which are 1962 and 1965 guns.
chet15

 

[mag318]

Finally got the SS in hand today and both cylinders are numbered to the frame. The grip frame is XR3 Red. There is a slight turn line on the 22 Magnum cylinder but the LR cylinder is pristine. The only downside that the seller wasn't aware of was that it has the transfer bar conversion. The seller bought it many years ago and it was a safe queen. He found what we hope are the original parts and he's sending them to me, I plan on restoring it to original. It's a beautiful Single Six I'd rate at a strong 98%, and I really like the shorter 4 5/8" barrel. The serial number is 4652XX which would make it a 1966 gun.

 

[mag318]

Out of curiosity I just sent Ruger a letter request to see how the gun left the factory.

 

[flatgate]

Good job! You just might have a real prize there............

flatgate

 

[chet15]

Finally got the SS in hand today and both cylinders are numbered to the frame. The grip frame is XR3 Red. There is a slight turn line on the 22 Magnum cylinder but the LR cylinder is pristine. The only downside that the seller wasn't aware of was that it has the transfer bar conversion. The seller bought it many years ago and it was a safe queen. He found what we hope are the original parts and he's sending them to me, I plan on restoring it to original. It's a beautiful Single Six I'd rate at a strong 98%, and I really like the shorter 4 5/8" barrel. The serial number is 4652XX which would make it a 1966 gun.

If you can, please post the full sn of that one here on RF. There are a few collectors that have interestingly boxed 9-1/2" Single-Sixes in that 4652xx range. You never know, there might be a consecutive lurking there. We already did that for one owner who now has a 4-5/8"/9-1/2" consecutive pair in the 464xxx range.
If you don't want to post the full sn, please send a PM and I can look in my notes.
Chet15

 

[mag318]

The full serial number is 465244. I'll post what the letter from Ruger says when I receive it also.

 

[chet15]

No consecutives to your gun in my notes. In fact, there's a fairly large block of 260 sn's there where no 9-1/2's have been reported, so there are good odds that there are either more 4-5/8" guns or even 5-1/2's in the 465080 to 465338 range.
Chet15

 

[mag318]

I had my gunsmith reinstall the original fire control parts and what a difference. The action with Rugers transfer bar conversion was gritty and stiff, none the less it still shot well. But now the action is silky smooth and the trigger pull weight was cut in half making a huge difference. I installed the LR cylinder which looked like it was never in the gun and I'm happy to report the revolver shoots to the POA with 40 grn ammunition. I can see why Ruger insists on instaliing the conversion after many novice shooters had NDs but for anyone seasoned on Colt SAAs the manual of arms presents no problems. The original hammer also looks much better that the conversion hammer. Here's a YouTube video I made with the new Old Model http://youtu.be/t1_EmeKkq3c
Forgive my brain freeze with the model number which is RSS4X

 

[Plain Old Dave]

Most have 5 1/2" barrels? Is a 6 1/2" unusual in any way?

 

[Hondo44]

Most have 5 1/2" barrels? Is a 6 1/2" unusual in any way?

Only in that around 1958 22 Mag only guns were produced and only offered with 6 1/2" barrels.

From 1953 to 1961, only 5 1/2" barreled .22 LRs were produced.
And the .22 lightweight models were only produced with 4 5/8" barrels.

In 1961, 4 5/8", 6 1/2" and 9 1/2" barreled .22s w/single cyl or convertibles became standard models like the 5 1/2", but the 5 1/2" guns were still a majority of the production and still are for 22s.

 

[street]

Most have 5 1/2" barrels? Is a 6 1/2" unusual in any way?

We would have to have the serial number to know?

 

[Plain Old Dave]

20-966xx

 

[street]

20-966xx

Not a special variation. Just a nice late issue Old Model Single-Six.

 

[Plain Old Dave]

Is there any way to get more info other than spending $10 with Ruger and waiting Lord only knows how long? I am a 1971 model, too, and would like to know if the six-gun is older or younger than me.

 

[Bkat]

You both have the same birth years, but only a Ruger letter can tell you what month it was shipped.

Bkat

 

[Plain Old Dave]

Will it definitely tell me that, and is there any chance I could find out where it was shipped to?

 

[Bkat]

Dave, the letters I've gotten have told me when it was shipped but not to whom.

Bkat

 

[Hondo44]

Takes 2 to 3 weeks.
It will list the Cat # from which the configuration (barrel length, grip material and whether or not it's a convertible) can be determined,
month and year shipped,
and if there are any unique features such as roll marked with the 200th year Liberty legend, etc.
That's it. No shipping info.

 

[Plain Old Dave]

So basically I am paying $10 for a month and year of shipping, not even a specific date?

 

[Hondo44]

So basically I am paying $10 for a month and year of shipping, not even a specific date?

Yes, and they might tell you that much over the phone if the right person answers and the computer records are accessible the day that you call.

 

[Plain Old Dave]

Never have had that happen. They always allow how they either can't get to the records, they don't release what I'm looking for or my gun's too old to be in the computer files. My experience with Ruger "customer service" has been that they are very good at finding ways to NOT help people.

 

[chet15]

and if there are any unique features such as roll marked with the 200th year Liberty legend, etc.
quote]

Nope...they won't even tell you that. Well, they might tell you that, but there isn't any way they're looking at that in the records because the records do not tell what rollmarks or parts are on a particular gun. There is no room in the records for that info....so what they see are mfg. date, ship date, model, serial number and who the gun was shipped to.
Of this, what you get from Ruger (usually...not always) are model and ship date.
Chet15

 

[Hondo44]

and if there are any unique features such as roll marked with the 200th year Liberty legend, etc.
quote]

Nope...they won't even tell you that. Well, they might tell you that, but there isn't any way they're looking at that in the records because the records do not tell what rollmarks or parts are on a particular gun. There is no room in the records for that info....so what they see are mfg. date, ship date, model, serial number and who the gun was shipped to.
Of this, what you get from Ruger (usually...not always) are model and ship date.
Chet15

Ruger did state in my 1976 shipped NM Single Six letter that it had the 200th year Liberty legend but I agree, they undoubtedly just presumed that from the shipping date.