A Holy Grail Ruger Single Six....

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gizamo

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Leastwise...it has been my Holy Grail Gun. Definitely the top dog in my collection.

Lightweight Single Six.... Experimented with in 1954 and 1955. And Production Shipments began in December of 1955. Catalog Code LWAC.
XR-3 Gripframe, Type Two offset ejector rod housing.
1st Variation, the "Tri-Color" Silver Grey Anodized Frame, Reddish Brown Cylinder, Flat Loading Gate, Small Type 1 ejector rod thumbpiece, Thin trigger with noticeable curve...


1956 Production
lightweight002.jpg
 
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Wow, that is nice. How many were made in that configuration? Can't be many.
 
Not many. This is the only one I've ever handled.

The 1st Variation only lasted one year in production. This variation has the original FlatGate configuration. All the subsequent variations have a semi-rounded or rounded loading gate.

From Bill Hamm....over on Gunblast.

In 1956 Ruger introduced a "Lightweight" version of its Single-Six revolver. The first Lightweights had an alloy cylinder frame, alloy cylinder, alloy grip frame, and steel barrel. All Lightweights had a standard 4-5/8 inch barrel. The first guns weighed 23 ounces versus the 35 ounce weight of the standard 5-1/2 inch barrel Single-Six. The guns are roll-marked on the cylinder frame just like the standard Single-Six model, the word Lightweight does not appear in the roll-mark. The first production guns had a silver/gray anodized cylinder frame, black anodized grip frame, flat cartridge loading gate, blued barrel, and Black checkered hard rubber grips. They also had a coating on the alloy cylinder, the coating was known as "Martin Hard Coat". It was a brown or dark golden color (sometimes appears greenish or another color). These first guns became known to collectors as the "Tri-color" Lightweight.


I'm going out on a limb here, but I would have to classify this first variation as a somewhat rare gun....Finding one of the experimentals or the 1954/55 guns would be in the class of very rare....​
 
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Giz,
Beautiful gun....

What is with you and guns being photographed on rough surfaces...??? You have a death wish for all these beauties???

Don't you know the hair on my neck sticks straight out every time I see one of these?

Oh, and BTW....remember you "convincing" me I needed to think "Rugers"?...well...it's a full blown illness. That stainless .32 H&R Mag./.32-20 Vaquero you like...it's been slicked up so nice you'd better hold on tight! It's heavy...but a wonderful shooter.

Bob
 
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Back in the day, I used to write for the Ruger Collectors Association. At the time, I was buying about one of those a month from Lynn Laudise out of Arizona as there are 2 main variations of the Ruger LW. LWAC (alum. cyl) and LWSC (steel cyl.). From there, there were the round gates, flat gates, tri-color... RIP Lynn:(
 
I never heard of such a thing... thank you for sharing... and congratulations!
 
Great picture, but now I will have a woman on my hands who wants another new gun if she sees it. too late she has already seen it on another forum. lol

I am just glad that the lady really is low maintenance.
 
kmyers,

Yep, I could see Wendy sporting one of those lightweights. Better start lookin' now. Gonna be a bit of a wait, before one pops up in a nearby gunshop...

I think your gonna be safe for awhile. ;)
 
Shoo,

Unfortunately no...Trust me I asked. Guess it was to much to hope to find the 53 year old box and shipper. Man, that would have been somthin'...
 
Nice one Giz,

actually there are 3 different variations. Tri Clor Like Yours, All blue Alumunium cylinder, and then the All Blue steel Cylinder. A few years back at a local show a guy walked in with a boxed tri-color for sale $200 :eek: and I didnt get it :mad:... one of the guys I had trained up on Rugers snagged it :rolleyes: oh well the next one I'll get it.... might be 20 years from now.


Dan
 
Shoo,
You know those silver and red LW boxes go for more than the guns themselves!
 
Lee,

It's fun to see into the works of a young company in it's infancy. Bill Ruger was experimenting with this alloy frame and cylinder in 1954. He was refining designs for his first single action handgun. Investment casting was involved and he was innovative in using the process.

Neat stuff that pops up from time to time to remind us of this gun companies beginnings...

So the frame will probably stay as is...:cool:
 
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