RSSM WITH WALNUT GRIPS

[DEADLYNEDLY]

I'VE GOT A RUGER RSSM, SER. # 318567, XR3 FRAME, NO LOGO ON GUN, AND ORIGIONAL BOX. THE BOX SAYS "SIGLE SIX, .22 W.M.R. CALIBER REVOLVER CATALO No. RSSM. IT ALSO HAS A SMALL STICKER THAT SAYS "WITH WALNUT GRIPS". SO, IS THIS A EARLY RSSMW? IF SO, I'M WONDERING ABOUT THE RAIRITY OF IT; HOW MANY (RSSMW) WERE MADE AND ANY OTHER INFO. THAT MAY BE AVAILABLE, IS THERE A WAY TO CHECK WITH RUGER? AND, HOW DO I JOIN THE RCA? ANY AND ALL INFO IS APPRECIATED!

 

[DEADLYNEDLY]

AND OF COURSE, I FORGOT TO MENTION, IT HAS WALNUT GRIPS.

 

[tulsamal]

I try to give people the benefit of the doubt since maybe they are typing on an old AS/400 or something but really, how many people are accessing the web on anything other than a personal computer of one sort or another anymore?

I'm not an "origional sigle six" expert myself but somebody will be along to help you if you just stop yelling!

Gregg

 

[DEADLYNEDLY]

to all who were/are offended by my use of capital letters, I'm sorry. I wasn't intentionally "yelling", simply trying to make it easier to read.

 

[hittman]

http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=30544

Hello and welcome to the Forum.

This link will put you in touch with one of the best resources around for all things Ruger. I don't know the immediate answer to your questions. However, it seems to me that the guns marked 22 Mag are more rare than others.

 

[DanChamberlain]

I've never understood the issue of all caps being annoying. To my eye, they are no more difficult to read than lower case. What really annoys me is poor spelling and grammar. Type away, caps or not.

Dan

 

[Wyandot Jim]

The answer is about 21,500 made in 1960. I think at that time most had the Walnut grips. Now if it has the EXTRA 22 LR Cyl. about 5000 made.
The box with the sticker is a little scarce. The earliest known RSSMW is 311462
Jim

Oh yea,welcome to the Forum. Type any way ya want but do type :lol: I can read it.

Here are 4 types of RSSMs and RSSMXs. One is one of 700 made.

 

[contender]

Welcome to the Forum!
Don't worry about the cap typing.
Jim has given you good info. The box is what a lot of us covet,,,!

 

[DEADLYNEDLY]

Thanks for the info. and the welcomes! Appreciate both. I failed to mention that the frame legend is the .22 RF Mag. without the Ruger logo. (If this makes any difference). I knew that approx, 21,000 RSSM's were made in 1960. (According to "Know Your Ruger Single Actions Revolvers 1953-1963") My question deals more with the RSSMW's Any idea as to their production numbers? Regarding the question of join the RCA-my application is in the mail. Also sent an email to [email protected] regarding getting RENE. Any suggestions on GOOD (sorry) Ruger books? All I've got are the 2 "KnowYour Ruger SA's" by Dougan.

 

[hittman]

Ruger And His Guns by Wilson.

 

[Wyandot Jim]

Well do you mean a RSSMW as in Mag only or W as in walnut grips.
Probably most all RSSM were shipped with walnut after S/N311462. I think about all Rugers were shipped with Walnuts around 1960 and after
Don't know how many MAG only RSSMs were shipped.
As far as the logo/Eagle not as many RSSMs with it. Two in the picture has it. Two also have XR3-RED grip frames.
Jim

 

[DEADLYNEDLY]

I meant RSSMW to mean walnut. referencing Douglas's book-"Manufactured concurrently with the RSSM was another model, code RSSMW (Ruger Single-Six Magnum Walnut Grip Panels".

 

[Ale-8(1)]

"Ruger Pistols and Revolvers, the Vintage Years, 1949-1973" by John Dougan.

 

[street]

to all who were/are offended by my use of capital letters, I'm sorry. I wasn't intentionally "yelling", simply trying to make it easier to read.

Don't worry about offending people, because anything you say or do someone will find fault with it. They are more interested in finding fault then trying to help people. If you feel that you need to use capital letters then by all means do so. That being said lets get to your question.

Yes, your gun seems to be a RSSMW. A call to Ruger will prove this. Not too many of these gun boxes had this sticker, as they only used them for a yr. or two. I think sometime in 1961 or 1962 they started shipping the guns with Walnut grips and there was no need to put this sticker on the box. I'm not sure of the dates but I'm sure that Chad will tell us the right facts.

 

[flatgate]

Too late of a s/n for the "sticker" on the end of the box........

flatgate

 

[DEADLYNEDLY]

Appreciate all the great info! Bought "The Vintage Years" Regarding the call to Ruger-what's involved? And, to whom? Is this privy to RCA members only.

 

[contender]

You'll enjoy the book!
As far as a call to Ruger,, it's easy.
Just call Ruger,, ask for "Records" and they will transfer you to a nice lady there. Tell her you would like a factory letter on the correct model & date of shipment from them,, for that gun. Have the serial number handy,, as that's what she'll need. She'll look it up,, tell you over the phone,, and if you want it,, send you a letter with that info,, all for free. No membership in RCA required,, you are already a member of the "Ruger family!"

 

[DEADLYNEDLY]

gotta number?

 

[Wyandot Jim]

Here ya go 603-865-2424 I have only gotten a letter on my brass frame 357. All the rest are just for the date or to see how the gun was shipped, Convertible and such. Just don't want to ruin a good deal. I don't think letters are required for a run fof the mill gun. But that is just me
Jim

 

[Ale-8(1)]

And be patient. Sometimes the ladies are swamped. Free services tend to draw lots of activity. Sometimes they have to "get back to you".

 

[chet15]

Walnut grips were standardized by Ruger at the beginning of 1960. A dealer/distributor could still order rubber gripped Single-Sixes at $1 less, but few did so.
Walnut grips first started showing up on the mag. marked guns with frequency just before your gun was produced. I have earlier serial numbers noted as shipped as RSSMW, like 311462 mentioned, but this one was shipped later than it should have been.
I'm not able to give you a good estimate of how many RSSMW were made but the RSSMW is fairly scarce as there are probably at least 15,000 RSSM Mag. only Single-Sixes that were shipped with checkered hard rubber grips. By the time your gun was made, Ruger also started making larger percentages of RSSMX convertible Single-Sixes, making the Mag. only RSSMW obsolete by 1964. So...maybe only a few thousand RSSMW like yours at most??? They are many times more scarce than the rubber gripped version.
Chet15

 

[DEADLYNEDLY]

I checked with Ruger, spoke with a great lady named Wanda. She confirmed it's a Ruger RSSMW (W=Walnut). Shipped in September of 1960. Thanks to all who helped me with this! Ned

 

[americal]

MAN :!: :!: :!: you got a GOOD one 8)