Hope this article will be of interest to Ruger fans!
John
In 1953, Bill Ruger, president of Sturm, Ruger & Company, was not content to rest on the laurels garnered from the huge success of the company’s standard .22 LR semiautomatic pistol introduced in 1949. He was contemplating the manufacture of other types of innovative firearms in order to propel the fledgling firm into the prestigious ranks of its larger U.S. competitors such as Colt, Winchester and Remington.
Ruger was seriously considering the development and production of a single-shot pistol that would utilize a plow-handle grip similar to that of the Colt Single Action Army revolver. Accordingly, he made sketches, blueprints and some prototypes of what he had in mind. The “XP Single Shot” action looked quite similar to that used on the old Stevens tip-up single shot pistols.
One of Ruger’s wholesalers had viewed a prototype of the XP and suggested that a single action revolver might be a better bet for the market. Colt had discontinued their Single Action Army revolver, but with the many western movies and TV shows of that era, a pent-up demand was being generated for those “cowboy guns.” It did not appear that much more effort would be required to have the single shot XP design morph into a revolver similar to the old Colts. Ruger’s lawyers affirmed that no existing Colt patents would be infringed with the planned approach.
Bill Ruger reasoned that the then-new technology of investment casting could be applied to making the revolver’s cylinder frame, rather than machining it totally from a solid block of steel. Some machining would still be required, but there would be a substantial cost savings that could be passed on to the customers. This would make such a gun a relative bargain. Similar economies could be realized by making the lower frame and trigger guard as one investment-cast aluminum piece. This one-piece design deviated from the Colt precedent of a segmented arrangement.
A number of prototypes were generated in the 1951-1953 period and a final configuration was finally settled on. The first production guns were put together in June, 1953, and a full-page advertisement for the new Single Six appeared in the NRA’s American Rifleman magazine that same month. In actuality, only about 100 guns were made in 1953 as production wrinkles were ironed out. Manufacturing really got underway in 1954 when roughly 10,000 were made, and production doubled in 1955. Demand for the Single Six was very high, with its introductory price being very attractive at just $57.50. Sales soared.
Early production guns are called “flat gates” by today’s collectors, as the loading gate behind the cylinder on the right side of the frame was flat, rather than rounded. A thumbnail groove was incorporated in it for opening convenience. These flat-gated guns have become very sought-after collector items in recent years. The top gun in the picture for this article is one of the last flat gate examples made, manufactured in early 1957.
The very first guns were roll-marked on the left of the cylinder frame “RUGER .22 CAL. SINGLE-SIX.” All had 5 ½” barrels, a steel cylinder frame, a drift-adjustable rear sight, a rounded front sight, three cylinder frame screws, a fluted steel cylinder, a relatively small serrated ejector rod button, and an “XR3”-designated black anodized grip frame. The ejector rod housing was steel. All were blued, with black anodized grip frames. The grips were made of black hard rubber, and had the same “black eagle” medallions as were then utilized on the grips of the Standard .22 semiautomatic pistol. It should be noted that these black grips often had a tendency to turn brown with age and exposure to sunlight. Finding them in this color is normal and not a reason for questioning their authenticity. The cylinders were chambered for .22 Long Rifle cartridges, and of course could also accommodate .22 Longs and .22 Shorts. Coil springs were used throughout.
As early production got underway, stag and ivory grips with the Ruger medallion became available from the factory - $8.50 for stag and $16.50 for ivory. Varnished walnut grips were also offered around 1955 for $5.00. These walnut grips later became standard equipment in 1960, with the older black rubber grips still being available for a $1.00 price reduction. The ivory grips ceased to be cataloged in 1958, and the stag grips phased out in 1962.
In late 1955, limited production began on lightweight Single Sixes. These all had 4 5/8” barrels, and were introduced with a retail cost of $63.25. Some had aluminum cylinders, and some had cylinders made of steel. Initially, these had flat loading gates. The cylinder frames were made of aluminum, and were anodized either grey or black. Cylinders were in various colors, usually straw, brown, blued or black. All were chambered for .22 LR. Production ceased on these models in 1958, with roughly 12,500 made. Existing guns were advertised and sold as late as 1961. Some guns with an “S” serial number suffix or “S” marked on the frame in front of the trigger guard were factory seconds and sold for less because of minor surface blemishes in the anodizing.
In March 1957, the flat loading gate was changed to a rounded Colt-type style. In 1959, two new optional barrel lengths were added for the standard guns. These measured 4 5/8” and 9 ½” inches. About that time, guns chambered, bored and rifled for the .22 Winchester Rimfire Magnum appeared. Another option that began in May 1960 was the provision for a second cylinder, making guns so equipped able to fire either .22 LR or .22 WMR. The extra cylinders usually had the last three digits of the gun’s serial number stamped on them to be sure they were properly fitted and matched to a particular gun. They came in a special protective red felt pouch and were packaged in a small box with the gun. In 1963 an electric pencil was used to mark the cylinders rather than stamping, and sometimes that engraving will be found on both cylinders. These dual-cylinder guns were called “convertibles” for their ability to fire all available .22 rimfire rounds with an easily-executed cylinder swap. This was made possible by having a “compromise” bore dimension in order to handle the two slightly different bullet diameters. This compromise .219” bore diameter was used (beginning in November 1959 after serial number 150,000) for the entire Single Six line in order to simplify manufacture. Guns made to handle only .22 WMR had .223” bores prior to this standardization, while .22 LR-only types used .216” bores. Introductory prices for the convertible models were $69.50 for a newly-introduced 6 ½” barrel, and $75.50 for a 9 ½” barrel.
Several notable changes came about in the 1962-63 time period. A newly-configured grip frame marked “XR3-RED” was introduced, the older steel ejector rod housing was changed to anodized aluminum, and the varnished walnut grips were simply oil-finished instead. The grip medallions changed from black to silver in early 1971. Production of the old model “3 screws – 4 hammer clicks” type ended in 1972 when the new models became standard with a transfer-bar hammer system permitting loading all six chambers safely. The old models should always be loaded with no more than 5 rounds and the hammer should be kept down over an empty chamber to prevent an inadvertent discharge. In all, approximately 539,225 old model Single Sixes were manufactured.
In 1964, the old model Super Single Six revolver was introduced. These revolvers could initially be purchased only as convertibles. The most notable identifying features were a fully-adjustable rear sight with protective ribs on the frame and a ramped Patridge front sight that was screwed to the barrel. Either 5 ½” or 6 ½” barrels were provided as options. In March 1965, about 200 guns were shipped with uncataloged 4 5/8” barrels. This happened because the original 5 ½” barrels had the screw holes for the front sight accidently drilled into the bore and had to be cut off to save them from the scrap heap. A few hundred Super Single Sixes were chrome plated; it’s speculated that this was done because the cylinder frames came out colored red from improper bluing and needed a change of finish. These were shipped in August 1965 and July 1968. In 1968, a lower-cost .22 WMR-only model became available, but most of these guns were shipped as two-cylinder convertibles. The lower gun in the picture is a Super convertible, manufactured in mid-1969.
The total number of old model Super Single Sixes produced was approximately 183,880 until they too were discontinued in 1972 with the introduction of the new models. All mirrored the same gradual changes that occurred in the standard Single Sixes.
The classic old model Ruger Single Sixes launched Sturm, Ruger & Co. into the powerhouse firearms manufacturing realm, with an incredible variety of guns now being made. Today, Ruger has become the largest manufacturer of single action revolvers in the world. These old model Single Six revolvers are classics that initiated the snowballing successes at Ruger.
(c) 2021 JLM
John
In 1953, Bill Ruger, president of Sturm, Ruger & Company, was not content to rest on the laurels garnered from the huge success of the company’s standard .22 LR semiautomatic pistol introduced in 1949. He was contemplating the manufacture of other types of innovative firearms in order to propel the fledgling firm into the prestigious ranks of its larger U.S. competitors such as Colt, Winchester and Remington.
Ruger was seriously considering the development and production of a single-shot pistol that would utilize a plow-handle grip similar to that of the Colt Single Action Army revolver. Accordingly, he made sketches, blueprints and some prototypes of what he had in mind. The “XP Single Shot” action looked quite similar to that used on the old Stevens tip-up single shot pistols.
One of Ruger’s wholesalers had viewed a prototype of the XP and suggested that a single action revolver might be a better bet for the market. Colt had discontinued their Single Action Army revolver, but with the many western movies and TV shows of that era, a pent-up demand was being generated for those “cowboy guns.” It did not appear that much more effort would be required to have the single shot XP design morph into a revolver similar to the old Colts. Ruger’s lawyers affirmed that no existing Colt patents would be infringed with the planned approach.
Bill Ruger reasoned that the then-new technology of investment casting could be applied to making the revolver’s cylinder frame, rather than machining it totally from a solid block of steel. Some machining would still be required, but there would be a substantial cost savings that could be passed on to the customers. This would make such a gun a relative bargain. Similar economies could be realized by making the lower frame and trigger guard as one investment-cast aluminum piece. This one-piece design deviated from the Colt precedent of a segmented arrangement.
A number of prototypes were generated in the 1951-1953 period and a final configuration was finally settled on. The first production guns were put together in June, 1953, and a full-page advertisement for the new Single Six appeared in the NRA’s American Rifleman magazine that same month. In actuality, only about 100 guns were made in 1953 as production wrinkles were ironed out. Manufacturing really got underway in 1954 when roughly 10,000 were made, and production doubled in 1955. Demand for the Single Six was very high, with its introductory price being very attractive at just $57.50. Sales soared.
Early production guns are called “flat gates” by today’s collectors, as the loading gate behind the cylinder on the right side of the frame was flat, rather than rounded. A thumbnail groove was incorporated in it for opening convenience. These flat-gated guns have become very sought-after collector items in recent years. The top gun in the picture for this article is one of the last flat gate examples made, manufactured in early 1957.
The very first guns were roll-marked on the left of the cylinder frame “RUGER .22 CAL. SINGLE-SIX.” All had 5 ½” barrels, a steel cylinder frame, a drift-adjustable rear sight, a rounded front sight, three cylinder frame screws, a fluted steel cylinder, a relatively small serrated ejector rod button, and an “XR3”-designated black anodized grip frame. The ejector rod housing was steel. All were blued, with black anodized grip frames. The grips were made of black hard rubber, and had the same “black eagle” medallions as were then utilized on the grips of the Standard .22 semiautomatic pistol. It should be noted that these black grips often had a tendency to turn brown with age and exposure to sunlight. Finding them in this color is normal and not a reason for questioning their authenticity. The cylinders were chambered for .22 Long Rifle cartridges, and of course could also accommodate .22 Longs and .22 Shorts. Coil springs were used throughout.
As early production got underway, stag and ivory grips with the Ruger medallion became available from the factory - $8.50 for stag and $16.50 for ivory. Varnished walnut grips were also offered around 1955 for $5.00. These walnut grips later became standard equipment in 1960, with the older black rubber grips still being available for a $1.00 price reduction. The ivory grips ceased to be cataloged in 1958, and the stag grips phased out in 1962.
In late 1955, limited production began on lightweight Single Sixes. These all had 4 5/8” barrels, and were introduced with a retail cost of $63.25. Some had aluminum cylinders, and some had cylinders made of steel. Initially, these had flat loading gates. The cylinder frames were made of aluminum, and were anodized either grey or black. Cylinders were in various colors, usually straw, brown, blued or black. All were chambered for .22 LR. Production ceased on these models in 1958, with roughly 12,500 made. Existing guns were advertised and sold as late as 1961. Some guns with an “S” serial number suffix or “S” marked on the frame in front of the trigger guard were factory seconds and sold for less because of minor surface blemishes in the anodizing.
In March 1957, the flat loading gate was changed to a rounded Colt-type style. In 1959, two new optional barrel lengths were added for the standard guns. These measured 4 5/8” and 9 ½” inches. About that time, guns chambered, bored and rifled for the .22 Winchester Rimfire Magnum appeared. Another option that began in May 1960 was the provision for a second cylinder, making guns so equipped able to fire either .22 LR or .22 WMR. The extra cylinders usually had the last three digits of the gun’s serial number stamped on them to be sure they were properly fitted and matched to a particular gun. They came in a special protective red felt pouch and were packaged in a small box with the gun. In 1963 an electric pencil was used to mark the cylinders rather than stamping, and sometimes that engraving will be found on both cylinders. These dual-cylinder guns were called “convertibles” for their ability to fire all available .22 rimfire rounds with an easily-executed cylinder swap. This was made possible by having a “compromise” bore dimension in order to handle the two slightly different bullet diameters. This compromise .219” bore diameter was used (beginning in November 1959 after serial number 150,000) for the entire Single Six line in order to simplify manufacture. Guns made to handle only .22 WMR had .223” bores prior to this standardization, while .22 LR-only types used .216” bores. Introductory prices for the convertible models were $69.50 for a newly-introduced 6 ½” barrel, and $75.50 for a 9 ½” barrel.
Several notable changes came about in the 1962-63 time period. A newly-configured grip frame marked “XR3-RED” was introduced, the older steel ejector rod housing was changed to anodized aluminum, and the varnished walnut grips were simply oil-finished instead. The grip medallions changed from black to silver in early 1971. Production of the old model “3 screws – 4 hammer clicks” type ended in 1972 when the new models became standard with a transfer-bar hammer system permitting loading all six chambers safely. The old models should always be loaded with no more than 5 rounds and the hammer should be kept down over an empty chamber to prevent an inadvertent discharge. In all, approximately 539,225 old model Single Sixes were manufactured.
In 1964, the old model Super Single Six revolver was introduced. These revolvers could initially be purchased only as convertibles. The most notable identifying features were a fully-adjustable rear sight with protective ribs on the frame and a ramped Patridge front sight that was screwed to the barrel. Either 5 ½” or 6 ½” barrels were provided as options. In March 1965, about 200 guns were shipped with uncataloged 4 5/8” barrels. This happened because the original 5 ½” barrels had the screw holes for the front sight accidently drilled into the bore and had to be cut off to save them from the scrap heap. A few hundred Super Single Sixes were chrome plated; it’s speculated that this was done because the cylinder frames came out colored red from improper bluing and needed a change of finish. These were shipped in August 1965 and July 1968. In 1968, a lower-cost .22 WMR-only model became available, but most of these guns were shipped as two-cylinder convertibles. The lower gun in the picture is a Super convertible, manufactured in mid-1969.
The total number of old model Super Single Sixes produced was approximately 183,880 until they too were discontinued in 1972 with the introduction of the new models. All mirrored the same gradual changes that occurred in the standard Single Sixes.
The classic old model Ruger Single Sixes launched Sturm, Ruger & Co. into the powerhouse firearms manufacturing realm, with an incredible variety of guns now being made. Today, Ruger has become the largest manufacturer of single action revolvers in the world. These old model Single Six revolvers are classics that initiated the snowballing successes at Ruger.
(c) 2021 JLM
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