Question about Single Six

[Rifleman Harris]

a few days ago a neighbor offered me some "old guns" among them was an Old Model SS which aside from a broken Walnut grip is in very good condition. It does not have the transfer bar, the ejector tube and cylinder pin are steel, it has a 61/2 bbl, and the ser. No. is 3904xx. It appears the DOM was 1956.

The puzzle is that it has an XR3RED frame. My friend says he bought it new and it has never been out of his possession. Does anyone have an idea what I have here?

 

[GRAMPS 51]

Hi I don't know where you got 1956 but most likely 1964 which would make the XR3 red frame correct hope this helps

Gramps

 

[Rifleman Harris]

I got it from the serial number list on the Ruger site. Maybe I misread.

 

[contender]

Welcome to the Forum!
Unfortunately, the serial number info on the Ruger site can be confusing AND wrong.
That gun was shipped in 1964. The serial numbers overlap with the Magnum only Single-Sixes too.

 

[Rifleman Harris]

Thanks, that's an odd one but it makes sense that you'd be right and from what the former owner said '64 sounds right.

I posted here some a good while back but I' ve been in lurk mode for a long time since I had nothing to contribute.

 

[street]

Does that Single-Six have both cylinders, .22LR and .22 Mag. or does it only have a Mag. cylinder. If it only has a Mag. cylinder then it is a very rare gun. As with that serial number the frame will be marked Ruger .22 Cal Single-Six and if it was shipped with a Mag. cylinder only that makes it a very rare gun as most 6 1/2 in bl. guns were shipped with both cylinders.

Please check the ejector rod housing as with that serial number it should have an Alum. ejector rod housing, not steel.

 

[Rifleman Harris]

Sorry, it only has the LR cylinder.

I checked the cylinder pin and ejector housing several times-steel.

Thank all of you for your replies.

 

[Rifleman Harris]

Hunter, after reading your post I asked myself how I knew it was LR only, and realized I didn't. There aren't any identifying marks on it other than the serial number, XR3RED, manufacturer, and the city. I' ve been busy cleaning a Marlin 336 made in 1948 and a Remington model 17 that were part of the deal. I'll examine it with more care tomorrow but that's all I've seen so far.

Oh yes-I dropped a .22 mag round in the cylinder and it fit. Interesting, I didn't pay much for it so if it's rare that means 2 of the 3 Ruger revolvers I have are. dumb luck, but I just want to shoot them.

 

[Rifleman Harris]

OK, I'm an idiot but a confused one.

Turns out the ejector housing is aluminum. The magnet was attracted to the spring guide.

There are also the usual markings on the lower left of the frame. Ruger Single Six on one line and .22 caliber on the other. No mention of it being a magnum but I double checked and it's a .22 Mag.

I'm really puzzled but for my purposes a LR might have been better.

 

[street]

Hunter, after reading your post I asked myself how I knew it was LR only, and realized I didn't. There aren't any identifying marks on it other than the serial number, XR3RED, manufacturer, and the city. I' ve been busy cleaning a Marlin 336 made in 1948 and a Remington model 17 that were part of the deal. I'll examine it with more care tomorrow but that's all I've seen so far.

Oh yes-I dropped a .22 mag round in the cylinder and it fit. Interesting, I didn't pay much for it so if it's rare that means 2 of the 3 Ruger revolvers I have are. dumb luck, but I just want to shoot them.

As it is possible that someone has lost the .22 LR cylinder, and only a letter from Ruger will let you know if it is a Mag. only, but if it is then it is "ONE RARE RUGER"

 

[Rifleman Harris]

Hunter,

Thank you for the help. I'm not a collector so whatever it is, I'm not going to worry about it, I'm going to shoot it just as I do with the 6 1/2 inch SBH I have.