Ruger Single Six ,early ?? rare SC6 .22 WMR super single six.

[richray]

I recently obtained a Ruger super Single Six .22 WMR caliber revolver No.SC6 6,1/2 barrel with the correct SN written in white grease pencil on the box. Did I read correctly that only 15 such guns were made . Any knowledge re this fact or rumor would be appreciated, Richray

 

[hittman]

What is the s/n?

Welcome to the forum.

The devil is in the details. We needs lots more information.
Super Single Six’s (SC6, 5, 4 and “M” for Magnum Only) were made from 1964 to 1972.

”Micro” on the site?
”INC” on the barrel?
Aluminum rear site?
”S” in the Serial Number?
”D” in the Serial Number?
etc.

 

[richray]

SN is 6 digits 562--1 6 1/2 inch barrel Sturm Ruger & CO.INC on the barrel, no marks on sight, adj horizontal and vert no letters in S.N , 3 screws in frame , no S/N on cyl , black red box .22 W.M.R.caliber revolver in white print , Guns S/N on side of box printed in free hand. I hope this lends some clarity to what I have Regards Richray

 

[rugerguy]

sounds like a standard SC-6 from 1968 and there were MORE than 12 made,in fact the shorter barreled SC-4 even had about just under 200 made per my wife ( she used to collect these) but cut back to pre 1960s .22s...Nice gun with the box, would be even better if it had the outside cardboard shipper ( wrap) that has all the data (info) marked on it.......again nice variation there were even some that the end of the box was marked Magnum, along with the SC-6, maybe Chad could jump in here...:cool::rolleyes:;)

 

[hittman]

If I am understanding RENE correctly, rugerguy is right about the 1968 production.
Further, SC4, 5 and 6 in s/n range 504997 to 571870 …. “Many thousands of the SC5 and SC6 produced.”

Nice gun for sure. Excellent shooters; or at least mine was.

 

[chet15]

richray,
Yes.... there were indeed at least 15 of the model SC6 Super Single-Six with 6-1/2" barrel shipped from the factory as .22 Mag. only... these were actually catalog number SC6M. The only one that had been known was 555430, however we have no idea of the whereabouts of that revolver today.
That being said, the maker of Ruger's two piece boxes also made a printing error, and it just happened to occur at about the same time the SC6M were produced. In the 560xxx to 566xxx range the SC6 box started appearing with ".22 W.M.R. CALIBER REVOLVER" on the end instead of ".22 CALIBER REVOLVER". A few earlier than that serial number range are also known to have been shipped in that box as are a very few with a 60- prefix.
At the very same time, Ruger's RSSM printed 2-piece box for the fixed sight model began appearing with ".22 CALIBER REVOLVER" printed on the end instead of ".22 W.M.R. CALIBER REVOLVER" which had been printed with that since the mag. only guns came out in 1959. There are also a very few of those known in the early 20- prefix.
So I really think Ruger's box printer got their line-o-type mixed up between box printings.

So next, does your gun have only a mag. cylinder with it or is it a convertible? If it was shipped as Mag. only, the last three digits of the serial number should not be scratched on the front face of your cylinder. If it was shipped as a convertible, then Ruger scratched the front of both cylinders with the last three digits.
But if it only has a Mag. with it, I would still contact the factory to see if it was shipped as SC6 or SC6M.
At least 15 SC6M were produced for a distributor. That invoice stated it was part of a larger order of say 30 or 35 guns (I don't remember now).
Let us know how it turns out!! If it comes back as SC6M you have a unicorn!!!
Chet15

 

[MarkB]

I have an early .22 Mag 6 1/2 inch barrel old model Single Six that I bought years ago, just because I never knew Ruger ever made them. Pawn shop buy, pretty clean. No box unfortunately. Serial number 307xxx, which according to Ruger makes it a 1960 gun. Any chance that could be a SC6M, or were those only later models?

Interesting story. I sent that gun to Ruger to have it fitted with a .22 LR cylinder. I did not want to have to shoot just more expensive 22 WMR ammo through it. When I got it back it never shot .22 LR well at all! It shot .22 Mags with the original cylinder very well. After reading this thread this morning I pulled it out to look at it, and discovered the second cylinder the factory sent me back was also a Mag one! Kind of explains why it shot .22 LR so poorly. Surprised it even reliably fired them. Guess I should have looked into it more back then. Just stuck it in the safe and kind of forgot about it. In the early models, of course, the 22 Mag cylinders looked exactly like the .22 LR ones, unlike later models where they were unfluted.

 

[rugerguy]

Mark your gun is actually a RSSM and look on the left side of the frame to see if it is marked "22 WRF Magnum"...they were made in the #300,xxx serial number range and your gun should have a drift adjustment rear sight, not an "adjustable" which is the SC series;...a different gun ,,,did you send the cylinder back to the factory with the gun when you had the work done???? they probably just put in another 22 mag cylinder which was what it shipped as /with....:cool::rolleyes:;)
also do you still have the original work order from when you sent it back?? if so , they just may be "responsible" for making it good, right, correct the order. surprised it was not "safety update also at the same time,,,they always did that to any old model before even working on the gun...if you still have the box, shipper from when they worked on the gun, the "safety update", the old parts may still be in the box under the flap...hard to know, see just what you actually have and are talking about.;)

 

[MarkB]

This was 20 years ago, and I think the upgrade was optional back then. I didn't request it and they didn't do it. Yes I sent the gun in with the Mag cylinder. My fault for not checking it closer when it got back. Never had to check up on them before. Should have realized it when the accuracy was degraded I guess. Stupid me. Thank you for the quick response.

 

[MarkB]

Actually the left side of the frame reads "Win. .22 RF Mag. Cal." Don't know if that helps clarify anything or has any significance as far as collectibility. Again, in the 307xxx serial number range. Guess I need to be looking for a .22 LR cylinder if I want to shoot it again, as .22 Mag in my area is almost as expensive as 9mm!