Ruger Single Six .22lr

TJm15.38 · Mar 21, 2023

I'm guessing there aren't too many of these around. It's a three screw Ruger Single Six .22 from about 1966. This one is in pretty good condition and is unmodified. It still has the three notches on cocking like an old Colt single action. As such, it would be unsafe to carry fully loaded. I load with five rounds and keep the hammer down on an empty chamber.

swagmeister · Mar 21, 2023

An old classic that looks to be in pretty good shape for that old. I like it. Thanks for showing.

Bullet Bob · Mar 21, 2023

"I'm guessing there aren't too many of these around."

Yeah, they only made about 700,000 of the "old model".

Rubone · Mar 21, 2023

My "unconverted" 3 screw Super Single Six Convertible is from 1967.

Goony · Mar 21, 2023

Yeah, they only made about 700,000 of the "old model".

Yes, certainly not uncommon, but nevertheless desirable if the action's not been updated to incorporate a transfer bar.

Here're two harder ones to find.

The first represents the earliest production with the flat loading gate (Ruger made about 62,000 of these). My example dates to early 1955.

The second is the lightweight model, of which there are three variations. This is the third type, circa 1957. All the lightweights combined probably totaled about 12,000 in number.

PALADIN85020 · Mar 21, 2023

I love the old model Single Sixes, and have two that I treasure. The first is an early "flat gate" from 1957, and the second is a convertible Super Single Six from 1969. Slick shootin' little guns!

John

Drm50 · Mar 21, 2023

Ruger Single-6 was not only my first new , it was 1st quality 22 I owned when I was a kid. Match quality when pitted against the H&R, IJ and imports back then.
I will testify to only 6 in the wheel. I fell out of a tree many years ago with 6 and shot through my leg. That was before Ruger got sued. I scratched it of to my own fault and stayed poor.
I still have that old Single-6 and another old Flatgate that got sentimental value.

bigmtnman · Mar 21, 2023

Here are mine -

A 1957 mfg. with some aftermarket elk antler grips I liked

A 1968 mfg. bought NEW by me that year. Now with some "buffalo" grips. It's a convertible cylinder model. It has certainly shared some interesting adventures with me over the last 55 years. It "saved my bacon" TWICE back in the day

Goony · Mar 21, 2023

I still have that old Single-6 and another old Flatgate that got sentimental value.

Your flatgate should also be a lightweight.

Drm50 · Mar 21, 2023

Goony said:
Your flatgate should also be a lightweight.

Naw, it’s standard steel gun.

gmiller0737 · Mar 21, 2023

PALADIN85020 said:
I love the old model Single Sixes, and have two that I treasure. The first is an early "flat gate" from 1957, and the second is a convertible Super Single Six from 1969. Slick shootin' little guns!

John

I also have a Flat Gate from around 1955 plus a New Model Single Six from the late 70's Nice shooters

Goony · Mar 21, 2023

Naw, it’s standard steel gun.

Allow me to reproduce here a passage from J.C. Munnell's book Ruger Rimfire Handguns:

Finally, the unpopular flat loading gate was eliminated. This was replaced with the contoured-type gate in March of 1957, at about serial No. 62000. Until this point, all revolvers had been made with a 5 1/2" barrel, therefore, do not accept a flat gate with a different barrel length. (I should point out, however, that there is good authority for the thought that even in 1956, Sturm, Ruger, and Co. did offer "factory customizing" on an unpublicized basis, and certainly a flat gate with a different barrel length is a possibility solely as a custom proposition - just don't expect to ever have it verified by the factory; such records most likely do not exist.)

The exception to this would be the first type lightweights which had the shorter barrel and flat loading gates. So an all steel Single-Six with that shorter barrel and a flat loading gate, if not made up as such after it left the factory. would be an extraordinarily rare bird. I'd emphasize that such a gun, if genuine, should still have a serial number under 62000.

A10 · Mar 21, 2023

My first gun was a Single Six. Sadly, it was stolen 40 years ago. By my wife! She still won't give it back.......

Drm50 · Mar 21, 2023

My Flatgate was involved in lawn tractor incident back in 1960s. This particular S6 was traded back and forth between me and a buddy for years. It was argument over who was at fault. He croaked and I ended up with it. He did it on purpose leaving me to pay the bill. I got it pruned a few years ago to 45/8”. Smith cut barrel, reset sight and matched old style crown. Looks factory.

SweetMK · Mar 21, 2023

You could always weld up the cylinder, plug the barrel,,
get a 0.17" drill bit, drill the barrel, and cylinder(s),,

Then you would have one of these "Singles",,

outta_ammo · Mar 21, 2023

Here's my unmolested 1962 RSS Convertible. It's been known to hang out with my 1950 Type II Red Eagle (450 made).

Goony · Mar 22, 2023

My Flatgate was involved in lawn tractor incident back in 1960s....I got it pruned a few years ago to 45/8”. Smith cut barrel, reset sight and matched old style crown. Looks factory

Thanks, that explains it.

Birdhunter6 · Mar 22, 2023

Mine is also a 3 screw, 3 click & empty chamber under the hammer model just like the OP's. My Explorer Scout advisor let us shoot it back in the late 70s. It was the first handgun I ever shot and I was hooked.

Decades later we were shooting on a trap league together. He said "I'm going to sell every gun I own and buy a better trap gun." I responded immediately with a cash offer for the Ruger .22.

It's the only single action revolver I own. This spring it will be the first handgun my granddaughter shoots. I hope it lights the fire for her that it did for me.

Golddollar · Mar 22, 2023

My very first handgun I ever acquired was a Ruger Super Single-Six .22 in stainless steel around 1978. I still have it.

alwslate · Mar 22, 2023

Got four of them, from 1958 to 1972, all unconverted. Love them, you probably could never wear one out. Mine will never be converted as long as I own them. Never send one to Ruger for repair. They will convert it and now no longer return the original parts as I understand it.

Ruger Single Six .22lr

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