Ruger Flatgate

[44mag]

I"m new.
Gun in question. Ruger Single Six blue five and a half in with a flat gate and extra .22 Mag. cylinder.
Serial number 152xxx. I requested a Letter of Authenticity from Ruger. All they could tell me was that the gun was shipped in January 1960 as a model RSS5W. They have no information regarding a .22 wmr cylinder or if it was in fact a flatgate. They suggested I contact The Ruger Forum. My Ruger book indicates that the Flatgates ended around serial 60000
and that the first .22mag cylinders began at 162160. It also says that the first guns with the expta cylinders had the last three digits stamped on the .22mag cylinder and the .22 cylinder was not stamped. On my gun both cylinders are stamped with the last three digits. I am trying to find out if my gun has been altered or if it is in fact correct. the gun appears to have not been fired. I purchased it about twenty years ago at a gun show. Any information would be great.

Curtis Haugan
[email protected]
336-454-5894

 

[Rumrunner]

Welcome to the forum. I am sure those that know will be chiming in soon. I was just interested in the fact that RUGER told you to contact this forum. Sounds like a nice revolver.

 

[rugerguy]

Welcome to the Forum, I'd go with what they told you, and it was NOT shipped as a convertible, by the catalog number ( letters) RSS5W, a 5 1/2 inch single cylinder gun, with walnut grips, and NO "X"..as for the "stamped numbers" could have been done ANYTIME "after the fact" and was quite common way of doing things back in that era, in our shop we stamped the numbers back then, later on we went to the electric pencil...second your gun is NOT a "flatgate" shipped model, does it have a "flatgate"?? cannot "see" it on the screen, and again, one can be installed at any given time, the "gates' sell for around $40.
Sounds like a nice gun, and if done "right" and the numbers "match" and the gun times 'correctly, and the bore measures .224inch and your number is RIGHT at the cut off numbering of the change in bore diameters, it would behove you to get the bore "slugged" ( measured) as the 22 magnum requires ( it should be....) a .224 inch diameter bore,not the older models and their .222 inch.......the Magnums were developed in the late 1958-59 era and the first guns for the "magnum" only were just that, magnum only, the advent of a "convertible came shortly thereafter, around 1961-62.....
good luck, just maybe the gun went back for the "spare cylinder, but they will NOT release ( let alone retain) any records of 'service work', just the info they already have given you. :wink:

 

[Ale-8(1)]

A 7/32" drill bit will JUST slip into the muzzle of a barrel bored for the .22 magnum, but not into the original .22LR barrel.

Use the "smooth" end of the bit, not the fluted end, and don't try to force it.

 

[dakota1911]

A little off thread, but thanks Hawkeye. Had to try the 7/32 drill bit in my 1977 SS Single Six convertible.

 

[Ale-8(1)]

My username is Ale-8(1) . . . my "rank" is Hawkeye . . . just as your username is dakota1911 and your "rank" is Single-Sixer (has to do with number of posts).

Big deal . . . not!



PS You're welcome, it's an old trick.

 

[44mag]

Thanks for the information. My gun does have a flat gate, has black rubber grips,extractor tip is round and a 7/32 drill will slip down the barrel. Looks like gun in question if correct except for the "flatgate and the fact that it does not match the model it was shipped as.
Curt

 

[Ale-8(1)]

So far, sounds like a Type 2 "Roundgate" with a retrofit Magnum cylinder as well as the retrofit flat gate. And if it shipped as an RSS5W, it should really have the walnut grip panels if that matters to you.

Nice find.

 

[flatgate]

Fluted or Non-Fluted cylinder?

flatgate

 

[rugerguy]

yeah, a 'flatgate' "wannabe", born a few years 'too late'.......... 8) :wink:

wish I had taken a picture of the 'flatgate' NEW model we saw at the gun show one time :shock:

speaking of pictures, it would be NICE to "see" this one :roll:

 

[44mag]

I have old model grips so making that correct is not a problem. The cylinders are fluted with the long flute not the round one.
Thanks for the info.

 

[HAWKEYE#28]

I HAVE ALWAYS UNDERSTOOD THAT THE BARREL BORE DIAMETER CHANGED AT SN 150,000, ALLOWING THE USE OF 22 MAG AMMO.............. 8)

 

[rugerguy]

Splitz, that is a subjective number ( and for the most part 'accepted') works for ME, but if they were putting barrels on the frames, I do NOT think the "old man" threw away or scrapped the 'older ones, they used them up........maybe set them aside for the Lightweights ???

 

[HAWKEYE#28]

I WOULD NOT ARGUE THE POINT. I THINK THAT THERE may HAVE BEEN A POINT WHEN/WHERE(WBR SEZ) ".....AT SN 150,000, THE RSS FRAMES WILL ONLY HAVE THE LARGER DIAMETER BORED BARRELS INSTALLED, BECAUSE WE WILL BE BUILDING CONVERTIBLES ON THE LINE............"' Do you recall, Dan, if one could send a single cylinder gun back for a 22 mag cylinder retrofit, if above the 150,000 SN?

 

[Armybrat]

Say, maybe I could get me one of those $40 gates and make my ol' Single Six (bought it new in 1959 - #136***) into a flatgate. Get rid of that ugly plum colored original one at the same time.... :wink: