Ruger Single Six

[tom slick]

I have a "three screw" Ruger Single Six convertable, aka "Super Single Six". I have had very little luck finding much about it on the internet. I'd at least like to look up the serial number to figure out when it was made.
anyone know of good ruger site?

 

[tom slick]

update:
ruger's site is online (it wasn't last week) and I found the serial number lookup. it was made about 1968.

 

[UncleS2]

Congrats! Lots of folks out there will pay a premium for the early 3-screw models in excellent condition.

Your early Ruger also has an early-type lockwork & is best carried as a 5-shooter, with an empty chamber under the hammer.(Load 1, skip 1. Load 4. Hammer back, hammer down.

)

Ruger has(or had) a lockwork upgrade for the early Single Sixes & Blackhawks, they used to actively promote it in the gun & outdoor magazines. Send it in, at no charge they would change the lockwork to a transfer-bar type system, then return the revolver to you, complete with the original parts in a plastic baggie so it could be returned to original condition for collectors.

If you're interested in that, you might email Ruger & see if they still offer that service- I'd guess they do.

If it was mine, I'd probably shoot 6 at the range, but just carry 5 in the woods like the old timers used to.

 

[oddball]

I may be wrong, but doesn't all "three screw" Super Single Sixes have the transfer bar setup from the factory factory?

 

[UncleS2]

Well, I thought the transfer bar system wasn't used until the early 1970's(~73-74), but I might be wrong. Hmm...gotta look that up later.

Edit: According to this, it seems the new models began in 1973:
http://www.gunblast.com/Hamm_Old_Model_Single-Six.htm

Tom- you can find good info sources & forum at rimfirecentraldotcom, they're all about .22's(and these days, .17's too!

)

 

[flatlandtacoma]

quote:

---

Originally posted by oddball:
I may be wrong, but doesn't all "three screw" Super Single Sixes have the transfer bar setup from the factory factory?

---

Ruger Single actions produced through 1972 ("three screw" models) did not originally have a transfer bar action from the factory.

For the past 30+ years Ruger has been offering free factory conversion of these models to a transfer bar action to anyone who asks for it. I'm sure some have been converted by the Ruger factory.

I have a 1966 production single six that has not been converted. The trigger pull is much nicer than the new models. But if carried in a holster it must be hammer down on an empty chamber.

 

[tom slick]

Thanks guys.

My grandfather bought (or traded) this gun when it was new, I've enjoyed it for about 15 years along with a few other guns he collected (like a .22-250 on a mauser 96 action). It doesn't have the transfer bar, I know about the conversion but I don't carry it loaded. Apparently it is difficult to find the super single six with both of it's cylinders. I have both cylinders and the gun is in about 90% condition, used but in excellent shape.
It is a fun gun to shoot, extremely loud when shooting mags though.

 

[12glocks]

I believe flatlandtacoma is correct.

From a collector standpoint the unmodified 3 screw guns will fetch a higher price.

That said if it were mine and it were highly worn and a "shooter," I may consider retrofitting it with the transfer bar safety. If it is mint I would keep it unmodified.

Check out something like Gunlist to see what were are talking about from the collector standpoint.

 

[TheTanSedan]

The revolver I learned to shoot with, in .22 Magnum! A blast to shoot, even for a kid. And the old man was glad of the collector value when he sold it. A sweetheart.