Condition is very probably 99%. Most certainly 98%. Ruger target grips. Doesn't look like anyone's used it. LGS wants $499/tax. Have no good idea what these revolvers are going for. Was really looking for a nice dime front sight snub nose S&W .38 Special. Found this Ruger. What do you all think? Sincerely. bruce.

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Stainless or Blue? Barrel length?

I really like them along with the speed six. Nice ones are hard to find.

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Still Running Against the Wind

Blue. Four inch barrel. Red insert front sight. White outline rear sight. As produced by Ruger. No modifications. No blue wear on the sharp corners.

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I picked up a very worn four-inch blue Security Six in a pawh shop years ago. Bluing was not over 70-80% but it shot just fine and the trigger was quite decent. I liked it, but traded it toward another gun. Shouldn't have.

They're fine, solid revolvers.

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Oh well, what the hell.

Good solid, handy guns. Not as elegant as a Model 19 but probably the most practical mid-size .357s ever made.

If it's at Cabela's it's naturally overpriced; but next year it'll be the going price. And you will have had a whole year to enjoy it.

I own a 6" stainless. Bought it new in the early 80's.

Except for my service issue .45, the BEST firearm I've owned.

Did I say haggle first, then buy it?

I have one, and have had others as well.
One of the strongest revolvers around with a stellar reputation for accuracy and dependability.
They are wanting top dollar for that one, I would say $400 or a bit more out the door would be a fair price right now, but that will soon change with time.

I agree,

$499 is on the high side of the spectrum. Maybe if it were darn near 100% with box.

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-Mike-

Well do not forget one of my favorite sayings "You never pay too much, you may buy too early. "

I'm guilty of this, but I'm happy.

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I am a sheep dog!
1601 (ret)

Well, while I think that the condition may warrant a higher price, $500 is up there. But, as member Bat Guano pointed out.....next year it may be the "going price." Never can tell anymore; with ANYTHING good quality gun-wise. A box and papers, etc. would be nice for that price, the condition could be enough to make me want to have it.... Ruger's older guns are keeping pace, somewhat, with other "old school" guns. And, again, like so many other models, it isn't manufactured any longer and it won't ever be again. So, 5 bills is high but next year...who knows. I would probably buy it myself and look for a box.

The Ruger Security Six is, in my opinion, the Rodney Dangerfield of the medium framed, .38 Special/.357 Magnum revolver world - it gets no respect, no respect at all. The 4.0 inch barreled Security Six epitomizes the best of breed in a no frills, practical, medium framed revolver that can be used for home defense, self defense, target/range, and hunting purposes. It's not a handsome piece, and it's made worse by having the owner's manual printed into the barrel. I own two of them - an older blued steel 150 series, and a stainless steel 151 series that was a Puerto Rico Police trade in. Both of mine have the 4.0 inch long barrel and adjustable sights, and were purchased without the box, tools, etc. I think I paid around $350.00 for the 150 series a few years ago, and I bought the 151 series for just under $330.00 last year.

My experience has been that good examples can be kind of hard to find on the used market. Around here, the going prices start at around $450.00 and go upwards from there. They will fit in the same holsters that will accommodate a 4.0 inch long barreled S&W K-frame revolver, and will also use the same speedloaders that will fit a S&W K-framed revolver.

I think you should probably be able to get the one you are looking at for around $450.00 depending on your negotiation skills, and how bad they want to divest themselves of it. It's very hard to go wrong with a Security Six revolver, in my opinion.

Best of luck,

Dave

When working at a LGS, a customer brought one in because he could not get the cylinder open. Upon inspection, the owner had locked the action because the barrel was full of bullets. Upon questioning, we think the first round was a squib but he didn't notice, except for the strange sound. He had decided before the first trigger pull to empty six rounds as fast as possible. The GREAT NEWS is the gunsmith cleared the barrel, cleaned the weapon and everything was still in spec. The revolver is tough and a joy to shoot; just listen for squibs.

I like the Ruger six series and I think this thread needs a picture. Here's my very first handgun, a 6 iinch Sec. Six that I bought new in 1977. I recently swapped out the OEM stocks for the Ruger targets that are on it now. And I wouldn't sell it for $500 even if it isn't worth that. I keep looking in my LGSs for a really nice Speed Six, but the ones that show up are usually beaters.

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I'm gonna grow fins.

$500 for a Security Six?

Man, it's a world gone mad. That's nuts.

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Now go make God proud...

These are great revolvers and they're getting hard to find. Especially ones in good condition. I agree that $500 is a bit high, but not outrageous. I'd haggle and probably buy it anyway.
I got this one a couple of years ago with a nice Bianchi holster for $425. Haven't regretted it one bit.



Still on the hunt for a nice 2 5/8" version.

I had a really rough one a few years ago. After I scrapped the rust off and cold blued, it didn't look too bad. I paid $125 for it at a pawn shop. I put some springs in it and polished the innards. While playing with it at the range one day, I managed to knock down five plates in 1.92 seconds. I have never been able to beat that time, even with a 9mm 1911. I sold the gun for double what I had in it, but if it hadn't been so ugly........��

I paid 450 for this, one year ago. It's 98% or so.

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Sure you did

Been out here in the valley 5.5 years now and have yet to see one of these mid-frame -Six revolvers: Security-, Speed- or
-Service. Not at a show, not at a LGS. Apparently, them as has 'em, keeps 'em.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

P.S. Nor have I ever seen a 681. Never.

I got mine a couple of years ago and plan on keeping it forever.

I haven't seen any in some time.

They're great guns. Here it is with some S&Ws. .44 HE on top and K-22 below.

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Dum vivo cano

The Security Six is a great revolver. I love mine. However, I think $499 is a bit steep, even for a new one. $399 would be more like it.

Visited church member at hospital. Then, went to the range. Shot one of the best scores I've ever fired... 248/250 w/ my little 18-2. Fired a 242/250 w/ 1911 .22 Conversion. Then... on to talk to the good folks behind the counter about the Ruger. Long story short... I offered $400 based on what had been suggested to me in this and another post. He said $450 OTD. I told him I'd think about it tonight. Got home... not good. My wife had gone to fix supper. Microwave is DRT. Replacement will be about $200 or so. Why does this stuff always happen at the end of the month? Oh Well. That's life! Sincerely. bruce.

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<><

Again these have become sought after. $500 is cheap. Seen one in stainless go for $750 within a day it sold. It was a 2 3/4" barreled security six late 70's.

Time to go retro. Fire up the kitchen range/oven and forget about the microwave for awhile and get the Ruger. Maybe you're not old enough to remember life without the 'wave, well I am, and I promise you life can go on without it.

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I'm gonna grow fins.

With the benefit of 35 years of gun buying experience, I can tell you with confidence that common but out of production desireable firearms like the Security Six (they made about 1.5 million of the Security/Speed/Service Six revolvers) are available in excellent condition at great prices - right up until they aren't.

Then you'll a) wonder where they went, b) why you didn't buy one when you had the chance, and c) wonder when they became so expensive.

The Ruger Single/Speed/Service Six series is at that point. Sure, there are some good values still out there.

I bought a nice 4" Police Service Six for $350 a couple years ago...



...and I bought a 6" Security Six about a year ago for $399...



...but those were the only very good to excellent condition examples I've seen lately, and when things stop showing up, they start rising in price.

So...would I pay $500 for a 98%-99% Security Six? Absolutely, if I wanted one.

As noted above, they are only going to rise in price as nice examples become less much common and stop changing hands. You might pay too much today....but it won't be too much a year or two down the road.

For example, I recall taking a great of criticism on a gun forum for paying $450 for an excellent condition 9422 just a few years ago as some of the folks who were stuck on past opinions of worth and/or who also hadn't been watching prices rise felt that was too much to pay. Now you'd be fortunate to get the same rifle for $700.

Similarly, I recall people questioning my paying $400 for a very nice example of a never arsenal rebuilt all matching parts Garand a gentlemen had gotten from DCM in 1989. The theory was that $400 was crazy as at the time nice Garands were everywhere and you could get a Garand from DCM for $125 plus some paperwork and a wait - but almost never in that condition. Now, that same Garand would bring upward of $2500, and my major regret is not paying too much for more exceptionally nice Garands at the time.

People also point to sales prices on Gun broker and claim the buyers paid too much and that the firearm wasn't worth it. They also point to over priced arms on GB that never sell. But they miss the point that a firearm that does sell was worth the sale price to the buyer and where a very specific firearm may sit on a dealer's shelf for years before it moves, with internet sales and auction sights the exposure for those niche firearms is much, much greater and it's much easier to connect a niche firearm to a buyer who's been looking for one. That elevates prices in a way that never occurred in the past, with the result that those exceptional gun shop bargains are becoming much less common.

So basically, if you want it, buy it now and perhaps pay a little too much as you may not find another one and if you do the odds are you'll be paying that much or more later. So buy now and enjoy it, or buy later and cry later.

You want it, go buy it.
You really couldn't expect him to come down much further than that for an otd deal.
Have you left yet?

They just keep going up . I have a mint 4 in stainless S/S 357 its been flawless. Also a new in box speed six govt issue with lanyard ring 38 you cant go wrong .

I bought my 4inch here on the forum in 98% condition. Zero blue wear. I paid 550 for it and don't regret it one bit. Always wanted one but all I ever found were beaters.

I used to own one, I wish I still did.

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LIVE FROM THE DAWGHOUSE

I own a 6" stainless. Bought it new in the early 80's. Love it, Still shoots great! 400$ to 500$ seems to be the going price on GB! But I would offer alittle less

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9mm Shield

I have a SS 6" I bought in the 80s and found a descent early 4" blued for a good price this year.

The 6" SS was/is my goto, SHTF revolver for over 30 years.

I like overbuilt !

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SWCA #2817

If the number available for sale is any indication of how many were built, then Ruger did not build very many.

Since we know that is not true, then it must be because this family of revolvers is a tough group of guns that are so beloved that their owners rarely get rid of them.

Even if it's 100$ high, in that condition he will get that for it, & he knows it. The sting won't hurt for long. The regret from not buying it will last much longer. Love my 2 5/8 speed six.

I bought my 4" blue Security Six for $85. It was NIB and was my second handgun. Oh wait, that was 1971...

In any event, I estimate that it has about 6,000 rounds thru it. It is still one of my most accurate revolvers and I wouldn't sell it for any amount of money.

At the time it was a tossup between that and a model 19. I bought a 19 some years later and I wouldn't sell that either.

They are a dime a dozen used on craigslist/e-bay etc, & ruin good food IMO. A security six you will use for decades & with reasonable care surely make a profit when it sells. You can get a micro anytime anywhere, finding another Ruger in that condition? Expect a long wait time if ever. Don't hurt your foot kicking yourself. I'm sure the little lady will understand completely.

I've shown this one before. I bought it new, so long ago the stainless one's weren't yet available. It's not new any more; fired over 1500 rounds of 357, and has been carried for over 200 miles out in the desert in that El Paso Saddlery Tom Threepersons holster. The old Hogue Monogrips make it feel better in my hand than any other grips I've tried on it. I sure like S&W K frames, but this one stays with me; one of the best revolvers I've ever fired.

Edit: Added better photos.

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Never see these older Colts, Rugers, s&w in 357 for four decades++ never a one used. Now the boomers are passing them on. Four decades will pass again before they get passed on. My point is when the rotation of all these older fine quality 357 revolvers finally stops the prices will soar.
The bi-centennial 1776 made in the 200th year of American liberty are worth more already. Catch up with the times guys. Seen this happen overnight with the surplus stuff.

To me the Colts, s&w, ruger revolvers are tops and the most sought after.

Here's a short-barreled one I found at a gun show a while back. I don't remember the exact price, but was over $400.

The target was shot at 100 yards, sitting with wrists on sandbags. I have no explanation for the two "flyers". I also have a 6" one that I bought in 1980 or so and used in IHMSA silhouette matches.

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Those Security-Sixes sure were great looking guns. I had many chances to buy one for a good price. I sure wish I did, or wish Ruger kept making them. They had sweet spot that the big GP100 and the little SP101 just cannot seem to replicate.

I bought a 99% first year production 1971 Ruger .357 Security Six 4" with original wood grips from a pawn shop about a year and half ago for $317 plus tax. I really liked it but holding it up next to my M66 I could see why S&W sold a whole lot more of them than the Ruger. I tried selling it for $500 for a long time and no one would buy it so I finally took $450 for it.

That's about what I'd expect one to sell for at my local dealer. I'd try to talk them down a bit, but if I wanted it, I wouldn't lose it over a few bucks.

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John 3:16 .

Sounds like you want it and for $425 OTD, I'd jump.
As for a new microwave, consider it a challenge to make it a month without one. Call it a prepping experiment to convince the wife how you would fair in the event of a long term power failure and had to rely on stove top and oven only (hope you cook with gas). You might even incorporate the purchase as a means for her to have a house gun. I know over the years that my wife (bless her heart, she's a goodun) has received some desirable guns as birthday, Christmas, anniversary gifts, etc.
ETA: Does the seller offer layaway? Too bad the LGS isn't a pawn shop or could maybe make a bundle offer on the ruger and MW oven.

I realize gun prices are influenced by a number of variables - locality being one of them. If it helps, I did a search locally of Ruger Security Sixes for the Central Texas area on a local gun board and found four examples for sale:

* a 2.75 inch barreled blued steel model (97%) + holster for $600.00
* a 6.0 inch barreled stainless steel model for $450.00
* a 6.0 inch barreled blued steel model for $400.00
* a 4.0 inch barreled blued steel model ("like new") for $425.00

The 2.75 inch barreled one shows the factory grips, the remainder show Pachmayr grips.

I hope this helps. Personally, at $450.00 OTD I'd have to buy it and put the microwave on the back burner (no pun intended).

Regards,

Dave

Made the hospital visits. Then met my wife for lunch. She gave me the stink eye over Whoppers and onion rings saying I needed to buy the revolver. So... well, you know what they say about never disappointing a lady!

The gun manager of the LGS was laying the Ruger on the counter as I walked in the door! Guess he saw me coming. We jaw jacked a bit about one thing and another. He wouldn't come down on price at all. I told him I'd been told yesterday that $450 was OTD not plus tax. So, he priced the revolver at $416 to result in a price of $449.20 OTD. Cool! He asked where I'd be shooting and I told him at their indoor range. He asked if I was a member and of course I said, "No." He gave me a six month membership... $160 cost. Given that a range session runs me anywhere from $12-20 plus targets, I figure that membership is worth real money to me. Just this week I've spent right at $30 for range time. It'll be nice not to have to rush when shooting. If things work out, I can go over on a Monday (off-day) and enjoy shooting several of my handguns, etc.

I got home a few minutes ago. I took the grips off and found everything dry and dusty. A bit of rubbing w/ a solvent soaked brush and everything was clean. I found a few tiny dots of orangish rust likely where someone's sweaty hand print had left a mark. A bit of rubbing w/ a oily cloth fixed that. I thought there was a very deep pit by the front of the frame near the Ruger eagle, but it was just a stamped letter R inside a circle. There was some trash in the barrel which wiped out w/ a patch. The cylinder shows no sign of having been shot. I don't think the revolver has had a round down the barrel. It looks great. The SA and DA trigger pulls were typical Ruger... heavy and gritty. I put a drop of CLP on the cocked hammer and cycled the action a bit. Now the SA is nice and crisp, not as good as a S&W K-frame, but very very good. The DA is smooth all the way through, stacking at the top and then with a little bit of pressure breaking cleanly.

I am thrilled to have this pistol! Years ago in college (1974-1979), I wanted a revolver in the worst way. But I could barely keep myself in school. And after paying for school, gas, girls... there just wasn't any money left for guns! Then I got married and headed for seminary! Now I've got that revolver. It only took me 40 years! I have a Iphone 6 that takes extremely good pictures. When my wife and I get home from church, I'll see if she can help me get some good pictures and put them up. Failing that, maybe I can send them to someone who can post them. Sincerely. bruce.

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<><

I have a snubbie like ladder13's above. Excellent self defense weapon. It's one of several that I keep loaded around the house. I put Hogue target grips on it (I guess they are target grips, anyway) - looks unusual (I think it's nice looking) but it's deadly accurate.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/album.p...ictureid=13654

You cannot go wrong and the price sounds typical in today's market.

Well, it should shoot great for you - enjoy it. I sure like my Speed Six . . .

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Now go make God proud...

Well boys and girls! Guess what! I am a certified idiot. I have yet to figure out how to get pictures up anywhere including the cloud. My wife is no esta aqui... she's up in the land of ooh's and ahh's... otherwise known as our daughter's house where our new grandson is currently holding all her attention.

Just got off the phone with Ruger Customer Service. Wonderful people. Simply wonderful! Spoke with a nice lady who told me this revolver was made about 1980-1981 which is the best they can do on the date. She's going to send me a Ruger SS owner's manual. She's going to send a box. And as I was about to say "Bye bye," she said, "By the way, I'll see if we can't put a few extras in the box when we send it to you!" How cool is that???!!!

A few questions. I've got the revolver all nice and clean. My wife even says it's beautiful. I of course agree with her. After all... the key to staying married is to not get unmarried. Agreeing with your wife is a good way to not get unmarried. And in this case, it's not hard to agree with her.

So... how do I wax this revolver? What wax do I use? There is no floor wax in the kitchen. I haven't got any car wax.

The DA and SA trigger pull is smooth but heavier than what I am accustomed to. I've been dry-firing the revolver a couple hundred times each evening. It appears that this has helped. The SA will be fine. Would like to lighten the DA pull. Will look at the Wolff kits. Anything I need to know about taking the revolver apart... reassembly? Never took a revolver apart. Don't want to bite off more than I can chew. Sincerely. bruce.

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<><

Disassembly instructions should be in the Ruger manual. I haven't had mine apart in years; I jsut shoot it. But I seem to remember that the trigger assembly comes out all in one piece, and replacing the trigger spring and hammer spring weren't too difficult. And I'm all thumbs anyway.

I bought this one today for $375.



Made in 1984. It came complete with the stock wood grips, but I really enjoy shooting Service and Speed sixes a lot more with full power .357 Magnum loads with a Pachmyer or Hogue grip. They keep your middle finger low enough that it doesn't get whacked by the trigger guard.

Ruger posts the serial numbers and manual information for their discontinued models here:

Ruger Instruction Manuals & Product History

And it will link you to this page for the Security/Service/Speed Sixes:

Ruger Security Six, Single Six, Service Six Serial Number History

They post the beginning serial number at the start of each year of production.

You'll find the on-line version of the manual here:

https://ruger-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/...ecuritySix.pdf

You'll find a schematic on page 3, and disassembly and re-assembly instructions starting on page 8.

The Ruger Single/Service/Speed Six design was very innovative as it eliminated the side plate traditionally found on DA revolvers, which made the Ruger's frame very strong for a K-frame sized revolver, and made them a much more attractive service pistol than a Model 19, once police departments started practicing with .357 Magnum loads, rather than just carrying them, and practicing with .38 Special. The Ruger revolver would handle a steady diet of .357 Magnum with out the cracking issues that were known to occur with the Model 19.

Ruger has maintained that frame design in it's GP100 and SP101 series revolvers, they just add an additional lock in the crane itself. The solid frame design actually makes disassembly comparatively easy as ell with no need to remove screws.

I've always used neutral shoe polish on my conceal carry firearms. It also makes a great release agent for bedding rifles - you can get a smooth coat, and it won't peel like some release agents, nor will it absorb moisture, so there's no need to remove it from the tiny crevices.

Ruger used the new frame design along with investment casting to cut costs, and that included casting the fire control parts. The good news is that those parts are very heavy duty and basically never break. The bad news is that they didn't get the same level of hand fitting as S&W used on their revolvers. Consequently, the Ruger series pistols were less consistent than their S&W counterparts when it came to trigger pull. Some of them were as good as a S&W and some of them were substantially heavier. But it's an easy fix.

Wolff sells trigger spring kits for the Ruger Security/Service/Speed series in both reduced power and extra power hammer spring versions. Both kits include a lighter trigger return spring. If the lighter hammer spring works that's fine, if you get light strikes you'll want a heavier hammer spring.

The main pit fall to watch for as you remove, and after you have removed the trigger assembly from the bottom of the frame is the pawl, which retains the pawl plunger and pawl spring. If the pin on the side of the pawl slides out of the hole and falls off the assembly, the pawl spring and plunger will launch across the room. They are small parts, very skilled at escape and evasion. Don't ask me know I know this. If that happens, once you find the parts, you'll need to hold the spring and plunger in place with a very thin blade, while you re-insert the pawl. Keep the pawl in place, or take care to capture plunger and spring with a thin blade if you remove it (or do it inside a pillow case with the rear of the trigger assembly facing the closed end of the pillow case to catch the parts), and you'll make the process a lot easier.

Otherwise the process of replacing the two springs in the kit is pretty straight forward.

The last 4 " blued security six I bought was 2 years ago, for $ 464 .
I also have 2 stainless 4 inchers as well .
The security six is one of those guns that has been increasing in value
over the last 3 or so years , and will continue. You just don't see them come up for sale all that often, and certainly not in 98% + condition .
They are excellent examples of a quality built firearm, from days gone by. Alot of collectors are buying them up. Honestly, If I were to see one tomorrow for $ 500, I don't know that I would be able to not buy it , even though I already have 3 . It's one of those guns that, if you see a nice one, you buy it, no question about it . It's like a Smith & Wesson 66 or a 19-2 , or a 39 ,639 , 60 , 27-2 ,those guns you don't just walk away from . You see em , you buy em . If you second guess yourself, or foot drag , you will look back with regret.

Lewis