I know for a fact that there are quite a number of Ruger fans here on this forum. I thought you might like to preview an article I've just written on the old model Single Six revolvers. Comments welcomed.

John



Back in the late 1940s the United States, freshly recovered from World War Two, had a renewed and apparently insatiable love affair with the “old West.” The movies featured “westerns” with John Wayne, Gary Cooper, Roy Rogers, William Boyd, Gene Autry and many others in roles that glorified the days of the western frontier. In nearly all of these movies, and in similar portrayals on TV, the heroes wielded Colt single action revolvers. The public loved those cowboy sagas, and they loved those old cowboy guns. But strangely, in 1947, Colt’s Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company announced that it would not be resuming manufacture of its classic Single Action Army revolver. The machinery to make it had been dismantled and scrapped as Colt’s attended to the manufacture of other guns during WWII. Bill Ruger, president and CEO of the fledgling Sturm, Ruger & Company, saw this as an opportunity to step in and provide folks with the ability to purchase a Single Action Army look-alike revolver at a great price, and it could be chambered for the economical .22 Long Rifle cartridge.

Ruger broached the subject of a Colt look-alike .22 revolver with his patent attorneys, and they agreed that Colt no longer had patent rights on their classic single action. Thus, Ruger had a green light to begin development of a similar revolver. The nickname of the SAA was the “Peacemaker,” and it was realized that name was pretty much off limits. The name “Single Six” was chosen, and the resulting new gun accelerated the expansion of the Ruger firm.

While working as an engineer earlier at the Auto Ordnance company, Bill Ruger was introduced to the concept of investment casting, essentially a modern application of the ancient “lost wax” process used in jewelry making and in dental work. He initially worked with a jewelry company called Arwood, located in Brooklyn NY, to adapt that process to making the trigger and the hammer of the Single Six. At first that company told Ruger that making an investment cast frame for the new gun would be too much of a gamble. Then they relented to Ruger’s demands and attempted it. The first results were awful, with much of the production having to be scrapped. Finally getting things straightened out, Arwood successfully began the casting of the Single Six frame in Groton CT under the leadership of a man named Stan Terhune, who was rapidly becoming an expert in the technique. Terhune eventually came to work directly for Ruger and set up a Ruger investment casting shop in Newport, New Hampshire, where operations continue today. Arwood management continued to work amicably with Ruger and provided personnel to act as consultants.

Bill Ruger began to hint to the press that a .22 single action revolver was under development, and he and his engineers worked overtime to bring it to fruition. They designed the revolver with unbreakable coil springs to power the action, dispensing with the Colt system which used more fragile leaf springs. It was slightly reduced in size from the Colt product, but it used very similar lockwork and an “XR3” grip frame that was identical in size and shape to the time-honored grip of the Single Action Army. This grip frame was black anodized aluminum, and topped with black checkered hard rubber grips. The similarity to the Colt product was reflected in the “three screw” configuration. The aluminum grip frame was economically cast in one piece, unlike the Colt frame which was in two forged steel pieces. The barrels on these first guns were all 5 ½ inches in length. Splitting with Colt tradition, the loading gate on the gun was flat rather than rounded, and had a thumbnail notch in it to initiate opening. Operating exactly as its Colt predecessor, the gun was carried safely with only five rounds in the cylinder, the hammer resting on an empty chamber to prevent a negligent discharge. The satisfying “four clicks” heard when cocking was identical to the sound made by the old Colt.

Gun writer Elmer Keith had provided valuable input to Bill Ruger on single action design, and Ruger sent a prototype to both him and Major General Julian Hatcher at the NRA’s American Rifleman magazine for evaluation in 1952. On February 1, 1954, the factory had completed an initial run of 100 guns out of about 175 started. There were early problems with bluing on the chrome-molybdenum frames, and a number of guns were retained for bluing experiments. Production of 1000 guns was then in progress. In spite of Federal income taxes eating up about two-thirds of Ruger’s 1953 profit, the company was planning a new plant to manufacture the Single Six.

Ruger had begun advertising the Single Six in June of 1953, building up demand for the new gun well in advance of its availability to the public. The first catalog featuring the Single Six was shipped in December, 1953, but the guns did not hit the shelves until early 1954. Ruger had issued an apologetic letter about the delay in November, 1953. Demand for the $57.50 gun immediately far exceeded supply, and the new revolvers became wildly popular when first available. The very first guns had a non-serrated front sight. At around serial number 2000, the rear of the front sight was serrated, and continued to be through 1973 when the “old model” was discontinued. Depending on the amount of silicon in the cylinder frame, early bluing was erratic, and sometimes turned a plum color. These miscolored frames are now valued by collectors. Even more modern blued Ruger firearms are sometimes produced with varying color.

In October of 1955 the slot in the ejector housing was lengthened, to allow for its concurrent use on the then-new .357 Blackhawk revolver. In October of 1956, the small button on the ejector rod was replaced with a larger non-serrated button. In 1956 and 1957, lightweight aluminum-frame Single Sixes were offered. These are somewhat rare to find now. The revolver pictured here was manufactured in January, 1957, just two months before the flat loading gate was replaced with a rounded style similar to the old Colts. This change gave instant collector status to the older “flat gate” guns that are now prized when found. Around September, 1958, the ejector rod housing was modified again to incorporate a straight slot. New barrel lengths were offered around May of 1959, giving options of 4 5/8”, 6 ½”, 9 ½”, or the original 5 ½”. Until 1963, optional grip panels of stag or ivory were offered. Varnished walnut grips became available in 1956. All had the Ruger medallion. In the 1960-61 time period, the walnut grips became standard. Rosewood grips are occasionally encountered. Factory-engraved models were offered from time to time. Ruger advertised presentation cases for either one or two revolvers even before the guns were available The stunning popularity of Ruger’s single actions was a large factor in Colt deciding to re-introduce the original Single Action Army revolver in 1956.

In the summer of 1959, Single Sixes could be purchased with the cylinders chambered for the .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire cartridge. Guns chambered for the .22 WMR were the first to get the 6 ½” barrel option. Older guns could also be converted to the more powerful cartridge. At no charge, upon return, the factory could replace the old flat loading gate with the newer rounded one, and could also replace the older-style ejector rod with the newer one.

1963 saw a number of changes. The old grip frame was changed gradually to the newer and slightly changed “XR3-RED” style. Varnished grips gave way to the oil-finished type. Optional grips were discontinued. The steel ejector rod housing was changed to an aluminum alloy. The height of the serial numbers was increased from 1/16” to 1/8”. The .22 Magnum model was discontinued, but a “convertible” model had become became available in 1961, boxed with both .22 LR and .22 Magnum cylinders. In late 1964, a “Super Single Six” was added to the line as a “convertible” featuring an adjustable rear sight and barrel lengths of either 5 ½” or 6 ½”.

In late 1971, the grip medallions were changed from a black eagle on a silver background to a silver eagle on a black background. The “old model” Single Sixes and Super Single Sixes were eventually discontinued in 1973, replaced by the “new models” that used a transfer bar action, allowing the safe carry of six rounds in the cylinder. Gone were the three screws, the “4 click” sound and the necessity to place the hammer at half-cock for loading. Purists, including myself, lament the smooth traditional older actions, but “progress” marches on. At no charge, Ruger will convert the old models to a transfer-bar system, and give you back the old parts for collector purposes.

Today, the old model Single Six revolvers are prime collectibles, with the “flat gate” guns demanding a premium. These were the first Ruger revolvers and marked the beginning of the investment casting process at Ruger. They are historic and classic guns reflective of an era of great expansion at Ruger from a small company to a firearms manufacturing powerhouse.

(c) 2014 JLM

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

Very informative, extremely well written. Thank you Paladin.

Well done in all regards! Thank You so much...My first handgun purchase was a Ruger Super Single Six with both cylinders, belt and holster in 1968....cost me $50.00!!! Do you know how much firewood I had to load, unload, and stack to save enough for that? Dad paid me $2.00 a truckload...he did all the cutting.

I still have it, still shoot it and never did sent it in for the conversion to New Model. Brings back MANY fond memories for me.

Randy

PS. .22 Magnum WILL kill white tail and fox/coyotes...

We'll done, John!
I have an "UN-fixed" RSSM. What fun it is.

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James L. "Jim" Rhiner

My first owned handgun as a teenager in the 1960s was a Ruger Super Blackhawk .44 magnum with the 10 1/2" barrel. Great guns.

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U.S. Navy - U.S. Army, ret

I enjoy my Rugers as well as my Smiths, very good article I enjoyed reading it.
Thanks for posting it.
LnL

I have an ugly, cracked wood grip 3-screw "unconverted" Single Six I picked up a few months back for $250 with 22lr, 22mag, and the holster. Hot damn is it fun. I owned a new single six and sold it a few weeks later for being insufferably boring, but that extra click makes all the difference. If you see one, don't hesitate at all to snag them.

Also, it's just really trippy seeing .22s with holster wear.



pew clickclickclick pew

Great write up.
I have an old model, not sure if it's a Super or just happenstance that I have the .22 mag cylinder, but a great shooter.

I did not read your article because I already know the gun is awesome and well made. I had one with a 9.5" barrel and it was a convertible. I sold it but want another one soon.

James

The article's worth reading anyway. Nice history of the Single Six.

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Oh well, what the hell.

Good information. Didn't know the gun was as old as I am.

I just bought a Single Six "New Model" to use teaching a neighbor and her son. Just isn't right to start with anything else.

Might be just my "inner editor", but this read, to me, like Colt discontinued the SAA, in 1947, to make guns for WW2.

>But strangely, in 1947, Colt’s Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company had announced that it would be discontinuing its classic Single Action Army revolver. The machinery to make it was largely dismantled and scrapped as Colt’s attended to the wartime manufacture of other guns.<

Maybe rephrase?

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I always take precautions

Also, how do you know that gun is from January 1957? The SN lookup on the Ruger site just says 1957.

I'm curious because my gun is about 400 earlier than that one.

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I always take precautions

Great informative article. I learned a whole bunch.

I bought one of those in 1961. Shooting Jack rabbits and selling them to a mink farmer kept me in gas and beer money through college.

I carried it for 40 years on horse back and motorcycle on the ranch with six rounds in it before I found out I was risking my life. I figgered after all that time the modification was kind of a moot point.

I've still got that old rascal. I hope my son and grandson enjoy it as much as I have.

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Eccentric old coot

Great article as usual. I have one of the old model .22 mag versions and didn't realize they made them so few years. I wonder if because of that it might have some collector status now. Great gun and have an old model Blackhawk in .41 mag as well. Seems to me these older guns have a better trigger than new models and never had a problem of leaving an empty chamber under the hammer either.

Very good information and thanks for sharing.

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James
On the Llano Estacado

Around serial #51,500, the small button on the ejector rod was changed to one with a larger, non-serrated button. This revolver has this later feature, which first appeared in October, 1956. So it was made well after that.

The rounded or contoured loading gates came on stream in March of 1957, around serial number 62000, so I knew it had to be before that, having a flat gate. It's one of the 1957 numbers according to my references. Pretty close to serial # 57,000. I monkeyed with the actual serial number in the photo to protect the innocent.

So around 10,500 Single Sixes were made between those two events, roughly 2,100 per month.

Through extrapolation of the production figures, that's my best estimate - probably early January. One can't be 100% sure, given that like S&W, serials were not always shipped in numerical order. Hope this helps.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

Good point. I rephrased that section to clarify. Thanks!

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

I'm lucky enough to have these two:



The longer one dates to 1970 its a convertible with only the magnum cylinder to be found.

The other is an earlier one, which according to the website is the Magnum model - serial number 472895. It has a long rifle cylinder in it, though.

I've tried switching the cylinders around so all would be right with the world, but of course they don't fit.

I like them the way they are anyway.

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“What you got, ain’t new.”

I very well written article indeed!

I have an unconverted preroll mark single six and I really enjoy the extra clicks when cocking the hammer.

It keeps me in practice with the load one skip one load four drill to set the hammer down on the empty chamber.

I'm waiting for the new Single Sevens in 327 Federal to arrive and have set in motion plans to acquire one.

I assume it will be all safe to use without the old worries.

Thank you for the writing and posting. I had forgotten about the jewelry company involvement with the casting process.

BLM

Good article. I have a 1963, 3 screw Single Six that I use to cowboy with. Still carry it in my hunting pack. Great all around gun!

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Riding, Shooting, and Truth