Some weeks back, after reading a few threads here on the SWF/Enabler's Forum, I started reminiscing about my first centerfire handgun - a Ruger Security Six .357 4" SS.

I was a teen, ~1975, working in a LGS and had put it on layaway, periodically putting part of my ~$2.00/hr wages towards it, the Bianchi #5B and Herrett's grips. Once paid off, my Dad had to actually purchase it for me.

Some months later I started handloading and with a friend, we set about to become Elmer Keith disciples, and were gonna turn our .357's into .44 Magnums, no matter what. (friend had a .357 Blackhawk). We often went stupidly beyond the right-hand column in loading manuals. I'm sure we tortured those guns, but they did fine.

I started hankering for more barrel length and had an acquaintance trade me a M28 6", even for the Ruger.
I was thrilled, and being a M28, it handled those .357 +P+ rounds just fine also.
Eventually, a little maturity, common sense and a 'rifle stage' came along and the M28 got traded away.

So, as mentioned, some threads here got me wanting (no need, just 'want') a sort of replacement for the long-lost Ruger that got me started on the path of handguns and handloading.

Found this one on GB, and probably overpaid by about $30. S/N dates it to 1975. That date is just before the Ruger-marked 'Made in 200th Year of American Liberty' and the later 'novel on the barrel' referencing how to get an owner's manual.

Someone had polished it, and that is certainly not my thing - I'll probably ScotchBrite pad it back to some semblance of original.
Took awhile to find the smooth Target grips, but really like them. They even have the tiniest bit of palm-swell, ala 'Cokes'. Not a fan of the big rectangular 'hole' that Ruger wanted on the bottom of them for a S/N view.

So, an old guy reclaims a small icon of his youth. Not exactly a red convertible with accompanying blonde, but I'd never be able to afford either.

Attached Images

KIMG0462.jpg (144.9 KB, 232 views)

__________________
Ret'd LEO
SWCA #2275

My first handgun purchased in my youth was a SS New Model Blackhawk .357
Since I was under 21 at the time my dad had to sign for it.
Did a lot of target shooting with that handgun and it went on every yearly deer hunt as well. Never abused it and always kept it clean.
It still resides in my safe yet today!

What's $30 among friends? Looks like a nice gun.

It'd be hard to go wrong with a Security-Six. And a pre-warning gun is even better. I've mentioned this before, but the guns can be disassembled and reassembled without tools. I'm not sure, but I can't think of any other revolver that can make that claim.

I like those grips. Wonder who made them?

Watchdog -
my SS came with the standard service grips which were quite worn, very likely from being someone's working gun at some point.

Watched a few 'Bay auctions on the checkered targets like yours, but sellers seem awful proud of them.
I actually found the smooth targets at Numrich/gunparts.corp. They list them as Ruger brand, goncalo alves. The medallion/escutcheons look correct. They come with no grip screw, but the original screw from the service grips worked fine. I was a little surprised at how well they fit.

__________________
Ret'd LEO
SWCA #2275

One of the regrets in my gun collecting was not buying a Six series revolver back when they were readily available and reasonably cheap. I had shot them and knew they were great guns, but just never seemed to get around to buying one.
I ran across a guy trying to sell this one at a gun show a few years ago. Price was reasonable and I quickly corrected my mistake.
I had a set of Herrett's grips in the wood pile that I didn't know what they fit. Sho' nuff, they fit the Ruger!
One of these days, I'll find a 2 1/2 " version and grab it as well.

I carry a 2 5/8 barreled blued one almost daily.

My first handgun was a 6" Ruger 22 automatic and a Hunter holster. I finally got it paid off before my 15th birthday. Mom had to sign the papers about a week after I picked it up at the LGS. I carried it home on the school bus. While showing it around the driver asked me if it was unloaded and then asked to look at it. Ah the good old days. After a decade of abuse I gave it to a friend. About a year ago, 35 years later, he gave it back. After that handgun I bought a 200th anniversary Security Six with a 6" tube. Being a fan of Keith I as well put copious amounts of 2400 behind a 158 grain swc. I used that combo to sort out a wounded bear in his den. Never felt under gunned.

What a coincidence. My first centerfire was a Ruger Security Six, SS w/ 4" barrel and I put Herrett grips on it. That was about 1975! I also started my reloading life with it.
I just recently Karma'd the original grips here. I didn't figure to be buying another one.
I loved that gun and it was the most accurate handgun of any that I remember owning.
Unfortunately, it was stolen around 1981-82.

I have had my 6" stainless/pre-markings since 1976. Pachmayrs provide shooting comfort and a nice contrast to the finish, an aftermarket trigger spring provides a pleasant trigger pull and 100% reliability. And it is accurate.

Wow that is a beautiful revolver ,and I like the grips too.

__________________
Life is short,live it fully.

Didn't know there were a bunch of tight lipped Ruger nuts on here, but since the cat is out of the bag---My first purchased was also a SS Security Six in 6 inch. Sometime in the mid to late 70's. Same as lots of others I think I was 16 or 17 and had to have a friend/boss pick it up for me. Again like others---it started me on the road to reloading since I was busing tables and could barely afford to keep it fed properly. It was years later when I bought a matching 4 inch to hang out with it, and only about 2 years ago when I finally found another in 2 3/4" that I could not pass up. Besides the J-frames and Redhawks, these will be among the last to leave me.

__________________
"Tastes just like chicken"

Never picked up on the Security Six series back in the day either. A lot of friends were though,just for having one to shoot and some were joining police departments with them.
A couple of years ago I did finally pick up a real nice SS 4" Security Six and I'm sorry I didn't buy them back in the day!

30-30remchester - Pretty neat, as the Ruger .22 Auto (before they were 'Mark Anythings') and a Hunter holster was also my first handgun, and parents helped to buy it used it at a gun show at age 15. Very different times.
I ran truckloads of ammo through that gun before trading it about 2009.
In fact, it very well may have been a smoothbore before I got rid of it.

__________________
Ret'd LEO
SWCA #2275

I'm a huge fan of the Ruger Security Six line. They're pretty hard to find on the used market - I think it's because people buy them and hold on to them. The downside of the "pre-manual" Security Sixes (150 series) is that it's hard to find aftermarket grips for them. My stainless steel 151 series is a former Puerto Rican police revolver, and to me, it represents the best in a medium framed .357 Magnum revolver.

Regards,

Dave

Attached Images

	Ruger Security Six 150 #1.jpg (86.3 KB, 29 views)
	Ruger SS-151 #1.jpg (89.3 KB, 28 views)

Nice guns. I really like my 1975 6" SS (SN151XXX). I changed the stock grips out for these. Picked these grips up on eBay for $25.

I wouldn't hesitate to purchase another Security Six or Speed Six. I picked mine up for $300 a few months back.

20170905_184954.jpg

OP, that's a beauty! There's just something about the Security-Six. Here's one of mine, a 4 inch 150:

Attached Images

IMG_0393.jpg (151.9 KB, 25 views)

I bought this one, a six inch blued gun in the 1970s. It's been many miles on my side in that El Paso Saddelry Tom Threepersons crossdraw holster, and a lot of the blueing is gone from holster wear, and quick draw. Has had several thousand of 357 rounds trough it, very few of them have been factory. A wonderful revolver.

Attached Images

L1020369.JPG (120.4 KB, 24 views)

Here's some cool stuff on the Ruger Security Six from my old dealer catalog.

Enjoy!
Jim

Attached Images

image.jpg (92.8 KB, 34 views)

And, one more.
For some reason, I can only upload single images....

Attached Images

image.jpg (65.8 KB, 22 views)

OK, one more for fun!

Attached Images

image.jpg (68.4 KB, 26 views)

I was with the Ruger thing when they came out , I have a mint 4 inch Stainless and picked up the target grips from Ruger but years ago I found Ruger black rubber with the emblem and they been on it . The PA State Police had them for a few years they had a dull stainless finish more gray looking . I did find a new in the box 38 cal Speed Six Gov model with lanyard and all papers ,foil wrap never fired . I got it about 20 years ago at a small town gun shop . I love the old Rugers I left a mint 2/5 in speed six 357 for 325 go I kick myself now .

One of my very first handgun purchases was a 1979 SS Security Six with a 6" tube. Countless thousands of rounds down the pipe, as she's still tight. These things were just made right:

__________________
Bayou52
NRA Life Member

There ain't no going back, guns of my past stay in the past. Those I treasured I brought with me to the present.

FWIW my first handgun was a Blackhawk in .41 mag bought new in 1982 for $180. Its long gone and I like my .45 Blackhawk convertible more.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk