OM Single Six Query

[Boxhead]

Today I picked up a mint OMSS that I am trying to sort out. It has a 4 5/8' barrel, is marked RUGER .22 CAL over SINGLE-SIX on the left side of the frame, has adjustable sights, the safety warning on the left side of the barrel, XR3-RED grip frame, rosewood "silver eagle" grips and SN: 518XXX. Ruger's website does not recognize the SN. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[noahmercy]

If there is a "21" prefix ahead of the "518XXX", that would make it a 1973.

 

[Boxhead]

No prefix.

 

[WAYNO]

Should be a '66 vintage Super Single Six Convertible (SC4) But they did not have a warning billboard on the barrel. Nor did they have rosewood grips.

I also have a SC5 s/n 518xxx.












.

 

[contender]

And a 1966 vintage gun,, the grip medallions would have a black, recessed eagle.

Sounds like the possibility of a parts swapping may have happened. The warnings didn't appear until 1977 I believe,, and the silver, raised eagles in the early 70's. Plus,, if it was made after 1973,, it would say; "New Model" on the frame.
I'd say a barrel swap, & grip swap at least.

 

[Boxhead]

Interesting. I wonder why Ruger's site would not recognize the serial number?

 

[Ale-8(1)]

Interesting, indeed. Might be worth a $10 letter from Ruger.

 

[Boxhead]

Also, did Super Single Six's come with the frame stamped as such?

 

[Ale-8(1)]

Nope, just as you describe on yours. The "Super" appeared on the box label.

 

[hittman]

https://ruger.com/dataProcess/serialHistory/
This above from Ruger’s Serial Number Lookup section of their web site.

Enter your serial number and hit submit.
Then look at the bottom of the page for products made before 2000.
Enter Super Single Six and get your year made.

Or better yet, send $10 to them for the factory verified letter.

 

[WAYNO]

Interesting. I wonder why Ruger's site would not recognize the serial number?

Used to be, Ruger published their numbers via model numbers. Many folks were confused, as they often didn't know what model they actually had.

So to make things easier, their website now requires only the serial number, and their computer does the search. Since the SC models didn't necessarily follow in sequence to previous Single Sixes, I suspect even Ruger is now confused.

Fortunately for us we have the Reference of Ruger Firearms, by Chad Hiddleson. It is the first reference I open when trying to zero in on obscure information. And I'm so appreciative.

 

[Boxhead]

I

Interesting, indeed. Might be worth a $10 letter from Ruger.

I have looked on their website and cannot find how to go about getting a letter?

 

[Ale-8(1)]

Found this . . . hidden in the Customer Service data . . .

https://ruger.com/pdf/letterOfAuthenticity.pdf

 

[hittman]

Www.ruger.com
click on Customer Service
click on Serial Number Lookup
Link is in that paragraph.

 

[Boxhead]

Thanks. Another oddity perhaps is that it has not been converted so likely non-Ruger post original build work.

 

[Boxhead]

Thanks again all. I gave $400 for it and will now shoot the heck out of it.

 

[Snake Pleskin]

To many anomalies? It would appear to be a mix of parts(IMHO)

 

[contender]

As noted above,, the Ruger factory website to do a records search was & is confusing to many folks. Especially newer folks,, or those who aren't as computer savvy as others.
But,, as Wayno has mentioned,, the RENE Guide is THE best source of looking up correct information. Chad,, (and family) has spent YEARS compiling & recording data that is often easier, better, & more detailed than the factory website look-up. We collectors owe him a HUGE debt.
But the best way to get verifiable info,, is to send for the letter. And how to do that has also been shared above.

I recently got a letter back from Ruger with a few details on a model,, that was more detailed than what Chad had. I immediately sent him an email,, to allow him to update his information. The letters can often clear up mis-information or help prove facts about certain things.

But,, back to the OP,, as I mentioned,, most likely someone has modified this Single-Six,, and it's now just a great shooter.

 

[chet15]

Here is the link for looking up your serial number...
https://ruger.com/service/productHistory/RE-SSSix
Also, I'm betting your gun has a 5-1/2" barrel on it. Measure it from the front of the barrel to the front of the cylinder.
Chet15

 

[Ale-8(1)]

Even if it does have a 5-1/2" barrel, isn't the "safety warning" still incorrect for that serial number range?

 

[Snake Pleskin]

Even if it does have a 5-1/2" barrel, isn't the "safety warning" still incorrect for that serial number range?

I believe so. That came much later.

 

[weaselmeatgravy]

Ruger's serial number lookup is only as good as the database it uses, and Ruger didn't start computerizing records until the 1980s or possibly very late 1970s, which is why it is useless for old models. I'm not sure they have much motivation to spend time entering older data, but even if they did, I suspect they would only go back to the start of the prefixed models in 1969 because the same serial numbers will occur in multiple models with non-prefixed numbers, and that would make the searching more complicated.

The Warning started somewhere around 1977-78 as stated, and no way should an old model have a Warning unless it was rebarreled. Another clue may be the front sight which is a patridge style on the old model SC guns and would be a ramp on the New Models with Warnings.

Chet15 brings up a good point about making sure you are measuring the barrel from the muzzle all the way back to the front of the cylinder. A 5.5" barrel measures roughly 4-5/8" to the front of the frame. A true 4-5/8" barrel is only a touch longer than the ejector rod housing.

Here is a proper SC4:

 

[Snake Pleskin]

Mine looks the same,

 

[street]

Thanks again all. I gave $400 for it and will now shoot the heck out of it.

If your gun was shipped from the factory with a 4 5/8 in. bl. then it is 1 of only 200 made. It is a very rare gun as most collectors don't have one. I would get a letter from Ruger to be sure. Until I get that letter I would be careful about shooting the Heck out of it. If it is at least 98% then the value would be at least $2000.00 dollars. That would buy a bunch of shooter guns!!!!!!!!!

Ruger only made the Old Model Super Single-Six in 5 1/2 in bl. and 6 1/2 in. bl. guns. Some one at the factory drilled through the barrels for the hole for the front sight. Instead of scraping 200 guns they cut the barrels to 4 5/8 in. So only 200 of this model is out there for the collector to get. Good luck with your Ruger letter!

 

[Snake Pleskin]

If your gun was shipped from the factory with a 4 5/8 in. bl. then it is 1 of only 200 made. It is a very rare gun as most collectors don't have one. I would get a letter from Ruger to be sure. Until I get that letter I would be careful about shooting the Heck out of it. If it is at least 98% then the value would be at least $2000.00 dollars. That would buy a bunch of shooter guns!!!!!!!!!

Ruger only made the Old Model Super Single-Six in 5 1/2 in bl. and 6 1/2 in. bl. guns. Some one at the factory drilled through the barrels for the hole for the front sight. Instead of scraping 200 guns they cut the barrels to 4 5/8 in. So only 200 of this model is out there for the collector to get. Good luck with your Ruger letter!

I still say it is parts. "safety warning" on the barrel. No way a three screw has that.

 

[kean57]

Today I picked up a mint OMSS that I am trying to sort out. It has a 4 5/8' barrel, is marked RUGER .22 CAL over SINGLE-SIX on the left side of the frame, has adjustable sights, the safety warning on the left side of the barrel, XR3-RED grip frame, rosewood "silver eagle" grips and SN: 518XXX. Ruger's website does not recognize the SN. Any help would be appreciated.

Could you possibly post some photos? That could be very helpful.

 

[chet15]

Even if it does have a 5-1/2" barrel, isn't the "safety warning" still incorrect for that serial number range?

Oh yeah... I didn't catch that... definitely rebarreled.
Chet15

 

[Ale-8(1)]

Yep, there's the catch! I'd guess somebody decided to make up a very rare version and picked up a later-model barrel. Sounds like they did a good job.

 

[Boxhead]

Photos with the grips swapped with some older Lett's that I swapped the "emblem" to the OM style. Note that the GF has the plunger behind the trigger. Is this correct for an XR3-RED GF?

 

[Snake Pleskin]

The grip frame xr3-red was used until 72/73 when the New Model SIngle Six came out. The New Model changed the trigger plunger