Putting round butt on Security Six Snub?

[moresnowdays]

I have a nice Ruger Security Six 2-3/4inch revolver that I like. Although I kinda wish it had the round butt like my Police Service Six 4inch (it's a miss-marked Speed Six). I'm considering using the round butt grips from the other to mark what to grind off the Security Six and file it to match. It's stainless, so should be a rather easy job.

I'm wondering what I'm doing to the resale if I went ahead with this. I'm guessing the value might go down, but would it really make much difference? After all there are plenty of Security Six guns out there, and maybe someone would prefer the round but as I do.

 

[WAYNO]

Not knowing your Security Six, and assuming it's a nice shooter-grade specimen, I don't believe rounding the butt will impact its shooter-grade value significantly.

I have a Security Six with a round grip frame, and it's my most carried, and most shot Security Six I've ever owned.



I will never know how, when, or why my Security Six was round-butted. Ruger did apply this treatment to a batch of Security Sixes, but records were not kept. There is a known s/n range of guns that these modified gripframes occurred, and mine is within the range, but there still is no proof of what guns were actually involved. Bottom line...I love it.

 

[moresnowdays]

That looks really nice. Yup mine is a nice and clean sample, but I don't have a box or anything. I would guess it would be referred to as shooter grade. Curious what the serial # range for round butt security sixes is?

 

[WAYNO]

That looks really nice. Yup mine is a nice and clean sample, but I don't have a box or anything. I would guess it would be referred to as shooter grade. Curious what the serial # range for round butt security sixes is?

http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=60741

 

[mohavesam]

Great. Now I have to start looking for a real revolversmith for that conversion - once again. I have no patience to look for such a rarity, but I have *a few* snubbie Security Six guns as candidates for the work.

 

[Terry T]

"Moresnowdays",
Is your mis marked Speed Six / Service Six listed with the others in this list?

http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=261938

We're trying to find and list all of these we can.

Thanks,
Terry T

 

[zoner]

I have a nice Ruger Security Six 2-3/4inch revolver that I like. Although I kinda wish it had the round butt like my Police Service Six 4inch (it's a miss-marked Speed Six). I'm considering using the round butt grips from the other to mark what to grind off the Security Six and file it to match. It's stainless, so should be a rather easy job.

I'm wondering what I'm doing to the resale if I went ahead with this. I'm guessing the value might go down, but would it really make much difference? After all there are plenty of Security Six guns out there, and maybe someone would prefer the round but as I do.

I round butted a 2 3/4" stainless Service Six revolver. Bought some used RB Speed Six grips to use for a pattern and basically made the gripframe fit the grips. I've been keeping my eye open for a Security Six stainless snub lately. At my age the way my eyesight goes the adjustable rear sight would be a good thing, and i would round butt it. I'll look and see if i can find a pic of my Service Six.

 

[moresnowdays]

"Moresnowdays",
Is your mis marked Speed Six / Service Six listed with the others in this list?

http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=261938

We're trying to find and list all of these we can.

Thanks,
Terry T

Mine is not on that list. I don't understand what the GS letters and numbers are from? My serial# is 155-88xxx

 

[moresnowdays]

I have a nice Ruger Security Six 2-3/4inch revolver that I like. Although I kinda wish it had the round butt like my Police Service Six 4inch (it's a miss-marked Speed Six). I'm considering using the round butt grips from the other to mark what to grind off the Security Six and file it to match. It's stainless, so should be a rather easy job.

I'm wondering what I'm doing to the resale if I went ahead with this. I'm guessing the value might go down, but would it really make much difference? After all there are plenty of Security Six guns out there, and maybe someone would prefer the round but as I do.

I round butted a 2 3/4" stainless Service Six revolver. Bought some used RB Speed Six grips to use for a pattern and basically made the gripframe fit the grips. I've been keeping my eye open for a Security Six stainless snub lately. At my age the way my eyesight goes the adjustable rear sight would be a good thing, and i would round butt it. I'll look and see if i can find a pic of my Service Six.

It would be neat to see a pic of yours if you find it. I'll keep you in mind if I decide to let mine go. I really like both of mine, but toyed with the idea of selling them both to get a 3" S&W 686. That's why I'm a bit concerned about resale value after modding this one. Finances currently will not all to keep them and get a 686, and I've always wanted one. Not sure I'll do it though.

 

[WAYNO]

Mine is not on that list. I don't understand what the GS letters and numbers are from? My serial# is 155-88xxx

Ruger identifies their products with a combination of letters and numbers. GS means it is a stainless Speed Six. 34 means it's a .357 with a 4" barrel.

 

[moresnowdays]

Mine is not on that list. I don't understand what the GS letters and numbers are from? My serial# is 155-88xxx

Ruger identifies their products with a combination of letters and numbers. GS means it is a stainless Speed Six. 34 means it's a .357 with a 4" barrel.

Thanks, guess mine is a GS-34 then.

 

[WAYNO]

Mine is not on that list. I don't understand what the GS letters and numbers are from? My serial# is 155-88xxx

Ruger identifies their products with a combination of letters and numbers. GS means it is a stainless Speed Six. 34 means it's a .357 with a 4" barrel.

Thanks, guess mine is a GS-34 then.

Maybe, maybe not. If you contact Ruger for a history letter on this gun, if they say it was shipped as a GS-34, then it is mis-marked and rare. If they say it shipped as a GF-34, then it received the rounding treatment at the factory, or it was rounded after it left the factory.

 

[Terry T]

On a scalloped framed gun, the thickness of the bottom of the grip frame, measured vertically, is 0.31" on a Speed Six and only 0.29" on a Service Six.
Therefore, a ground off Service Six will have the thinner bottom grip frame.

A mis stamped Speed Six frame will measure 0.31".

http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=215834&p=2157777&hilit=mis+marked#p2157777

Sorry about the photos - photobucket changed to a 'for profit' site and will no longer share my photos without me paying them an 'arm and a leg'. :twisted:
Terry T

 

[moresnowdays]

Interesting, so where do you measure? The thickness of the bottom thicker part, or from the hole in the frame to the bottom?

I sent the form requesting the letter from Ruger about a week ago, so can't wait to see what it says. Not sure how long they take to send the letter back.

 

[Terry T]

Moresnowdays,

From the bottom of the hole to the bottom of the frame.

I've not checked to see if it holds for the non scalloped frames but I suspect it does.

I've checked and found that on the scalloped frames, the material removed from the scallop is added to the top strap - making it thicker. The listed weight doesn't change!

I have a 'pile' of these Six Series double actions and when you lay them all out, you begin to notice subtle differences. :shock:
Terry T

 

[zoner]

I've got a pic on my hard drive but have no idea how to post it here

 

[moresnowdays]

On a scalloped framed gun, the thickness of the bottom of the grip frame, measured vertically, is 0.31" on a Speed Six and only 0.29" on a Service Six.
Therefore, a ground off Service Six will have the thinner bottom grip frame.

A mis stamped Speed Six frame will measure 0.31".

http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=215834&p=2157777&hilit=mis+marked#p2157777

Sorry about the photos - photobucket changed to a 'for profit' site and will no longer share my photos without me paying them an 'arm and a leg'. :twisted:
Terry T

Mine seems to measure .295". Looks like it's probably a Service Six that got round butted at some point. Darn, might be interesting to see what the letter comes back saying even though it doesn't measure up. It's sweet handling and shooting revolver regardless, and who ever round butted it did a nice job. Maybe this shouldn't be overly surprising, as the original owner was a NYS trooper out of Syracuse who was also a firearms instructor. This was his personal carry. He had a factory (I think) spur-less hammer in it, and it came with the original hammer as well. Probably round butted it himself I would guess. His wife sold it to my LGS after his passing.

Thought it would be good to note that mine is a non scalloped version for your records though. Your measurements would seem to hold up for both pre & post scalloped versions then. My snub Security Six measures .326" for what it's worth.

 

[Snake45]

Round-butt it and don't look back. A big square butt on a snot-nosed revolver never made any sense to me. I always thought the 2" M15 Combat Masterpiece was the stupidest revolver S&W EVER made.

 

[JStacy]

Sketer Skelton did an nice article about having two service sixes round butted . The article appeared in Shooting Times many years ago and might be a good read if you can find it?

 

[SteelBlue]

I’m gonna take a different view of this. If you try to round butt it, there is a high probability that something won’t go right and your gun will be ruined. If you want a round butt, maybe buy one made that way from the factory.

 

[WAYNO]

I’m gonna take a different view of this. If you try to round butt it, there is a high probability that something won’t go right and your gun will be ruined. If you want a round butt, maybe buy one made that way from the factory.

If you do not possess the skills or equipment to perform this modification, I agree with you. For others, it is a simple task.

 

[moresnowdays]

Well, I round butted it! It came out great, really happy I did it. It is really an easy job, only requires one hand file, sand paper of fine grit and plenty of time.

I also straightened out the bottom of the cylinder window frame. Wish I took a before picture. If you have a Ruger Six series gun you know they are rather crude in the shaping of this area. Mine was particularly bad. The back of the cylinder rubbed on the frame all the way around the bevel when it swung open before, and the bottom of the window was not close to flat at all. My Police Service Six was rough, but not as bad as this one. They're both good now.

 

[moresnowdays]

Next, I'm debating if I will round the front vertical edges of the sight ramp (not the sight itself). I might really round them but keep them straight up and down. Maybe then chamfer the top horizontal edges similar to the rest of the rib. I think taking off the sharp corners will give it a unique look that matches the rest of the frame better, and maybe removing those sharp front corners above the muzzle will prevent tearing into leather holsters.

 

[Snake45]

Nice work! You can be proud. You could have gone even a bit rounder IMHO. But it looks much better now.

Glad to see you didn't have any hassles with the SN. SN placement can keep this from being done on some Smiths. Some states will allow you (or a gunsmith) to re-stamp the SN, with full documentation; in other states that's a felonious no-no.

Not entirely sure what you have in mind vis a vis the front ramp, but it's YOUR custom now so you might as well make it exactly the way YOU want it. And you might have a good point about the sharp edge tearing up holsters.

Again, well done! :wink:

 

[eveled]

Good for you. It came out great, and now it's how you want it to be. I'd round out the corners of the sight base too. I'd try to match the radius of the end of the barrel. Leave the spot that is in contact with the front bottom edge of the sight. (I never noticed how square and sharp that area is).

I'd be bobbing the hammer too, making it a speed hammer, but thats just my preference for a carry revolver. Life is short, make it how you want it, you certainly started with a good gun.

 

[moresnowdays]

Here's what I did with the sight ramp. Not so square anymore!

 

[moresnowdays]

And yes, I have a bobbed double action only factor hammer for it as well.

Here's one next to my round butt Police Service Six

 

[Snake45]

Oh, that's not AT ALL what I thought you had in mind! :shock:

It's different and therefore interesting. Doesn't seem to affect functionality in any way, though. And it makes it just that much more YOUR custom.

Might take some getting used to, but it's kinda cool. :wink:

 

[moresnowdays]

I'm really liking it better now. Funny you say it will take getting used to. Being my first security six gun I couldn't get used to the way it was. Being the only square sharp edge and corner on the gun it had a very unfinished look to me. Other guns like my Smith and Wesson 19 have a flat front face to the sight ramp, but somehow it looks better to me on those guns. Their edges aren't so sharp and the beveled tops of the sight ramp on them take away from sharp corners so that the lines better fit the rest of the gun to me. All completely subjective and superficial.

 

[moresnowdays]

As I did this one had submarines on my mind. Might sound crazy, but I pictured the cylindrical shape of the barrel as the hull, rounding the sight ramp like the conning tower of an old sub. The sight is the Periscope to see the target with, and of course it launches torpedoes out the front.