RUGER SECURITY SIX

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Toyman

Toyman

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Henderson,Nevada
On March 15th as the virus stampede was ramping up I stopped in a shop in Las Vegas. I had not been in the shop for several years.
There were about 15 customers waiting for back ground checks to
be approved and the cupboard was literally bare except for 3 consignment guns one of which was a 6 inch blue Security Six.
I asked to see it ,asked the price and advised I would take it.
Shop owner asked it I had a Nevada CCW, which I do. He advised the background systems was backed up but I was go to go.
The gun shoots very nice, looks like a 1974 issue.
fPzoO6K.jpg
 
Great buy!!! That’s a terrific revolver and you have a made a good deal. Excellent. I would like to come across a similar deal!
 
You might already know this but you did not write it. Your Security Six has the early low back frame that collectors seek. If you did not notice how the top rear of its grip frame and grips do not turn up to near vertical like a S&W or like most Six series revolvers then you did better than you thought.

One draw back is that low back grips are not easy to find.

Was it reblued? The outside edges of the frame beside the hammer and the edges below look rounded and, over most of the revolver, for a Ruger, the polish looks bright. Both could be the lighting or photography.
 
Both of those guns' bluing looks a heck of a lot nicer than the (factory new) 5" GP100 I just bought last month. OP, I don't know what you paid, but I believe you hit a home run on that revolver. Love the white on the snub, also.
 
Haven't finished the inletting yet... dirty with wax etc.... another 460 got in the way.
At 135yds that snub was impressive.

The OPs is nice and hard to find.

White grips... PMI, poor man's ivory, no dead elephants. :rolleyes: :D
 
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Another of the many mistakes in my life. There used to be a small hole in the wall pawn shop in NW OKC. I found it on one of my pawn shop runs. It was junky looking to say the least, the only guns displayed were a few long guns including some rather old ones.
I asked him if he had any handguns and he went in the back and brought out two, a Model 10-6 HB and a stainless Ruger Security Six 4 inch( I think). Both were in excellent condition and the S&W was $250 and the Ruger was $300. He didn't take checks or credit cards and I didn't have that much cash.
I went home with the idea of going back that day but didn't make it until the next. You are right, both gone. This was probably about 12 years ago and it still smarts to think about it.
 
I bought a mint condition first year production Security Six 4" a few years ago at a pawn shop for a really low price. It was very nice but I held it next to my Smith M-19 and realized right away why Smith sold a whole lot more guns, it was just prettier and more refined. I sold that Ruger for a nice profit but later bought a 4" stainless Security Six and it has become my favorite woods gun.
 
Security 6 Life expectancy

I had about 12 K rounds through 1975 6" Security Six when I sold it to a friend. Most of the rounds I fired were double action. About 6 K rounds later a friend of his said, "What will it take for you to sell that gun?" The number was ridiculously high but it sold.

In 2010, I talked to my friend who sold it. He said the barrel was almost white and the grip frame was shiny from hand wear. All the high spots had bluing rubbed off, but the gun was still accurate.

And yes, if I saw one in that condition, I would buy it.
 
Back in the early 70s I finally got my permission paper work from NYS to buy/own/possess a pistol.

I looked all over to get a SW 19 4''. You could not find one new or used, they were a hot item as the choice for most cops then.

The dealer said well I have a brand new on the market Ruger security six .357 I will let you have at a good price. I told him no I do not want a single action.. He laughed and said no this is a double and only came out a couple weeks ago. I said lets see it

Make a long story short I bought it and I really like it. Still have it today. Put a set of nice wood grips on it and shot the heck out of it.

Well the grips are broke and I went back to the factory ones. Every gun show I go to I look for grips that will fit it but as you know with the frame change grips for the early guns are not a common item.

At least speed-loaders and holsters for a Smith K frame will work with the Ruger.:)
 
Toyman said:
...was a 6 inch blue Security Six.
Click to expand...

Congrats on your find. I had a 6" just like that and it was a great shooter. I traded it for another purchase but still have my 4" one. They are great shooters and solid. I much prefer the Security Six over the GPs. I think they have better triggers and just feel great. Shoulda kept the 6" I traded...
 
The low back stocks are tough to find, mine has a set of Herrit Shooting Star grips on it, and I keep a eye out for the series 180 factory grips but no luck yet. Mine shoots just as well as my M19-4.
 
bulletslap said:
The low back stocks are tough to find, mine has a set of Herrit Shooting Star grips on it, and I keep a eye out for the series 180 factory grips but no luck yet. Mine shoots just as well as my M19-4.
Click to expand...
I think I have a set. They're yours for postage of you want.

Bill
 
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I went through Ruger's armorers school at New Port NH. factory in 1980.
In the repair shop they had a 6 inch Security Six with the barrel sectioned in half from end to frame. The barrel was full of fired bullets.
The story was the gun belonged to a shooting range and was send back when the range could not open the cylinder. It appeared that a squib load was fired and shooter kept on shooting until out of ammo then could not open the cylinder.
The service tech advise before the barrel was cut the outside diameter was miked and was in factory specs. Ruger quality at its best.
 
I picked up a used cop Security Six back in the late '90's. It was very accurate, but I came across a good deal on a stainless model, so sold the blued one for a nice profit. Just last summer I shot a cougar with the stainless from out my back door, using .38 specials. Not the best choice, but had the gun in the kitchen drawer next to back door, and had to make a quick shot.
 
That 6" gun is REALLY nice looking. Well done.

I have a Service Six, 4" barrel, with grips sort of like that. Someday I'll go to Georgia and retrieve it from my friend there - long story why he has it but it doesn't need to be there anymore.

Here's a 2.5" that I get SO MUCH CRITICISM for because of the Hogue target stocks but it shoots like a dream and CAN be concealed - even with those stocks!

iscs-yoda-albums-other-brands-revolvers-picture13654-ruger-security-six-2-5-inch-hogue-target-stocks.jpg
 
k22fan said:
You might already know this but you did not write it. Your Security Six has the early low back frame that collectors seek. If you did not notice how the top rear of its grip frame and grips do not turn up to near vertical like a S&W or like most Six series revolvers then you did better than you thought.
Click to expand...

I was wondering why it looked sleeker than most Ruger Sixes I see. Lovely looking piece. Toyman scores again.
 
Bought a 4" in 1976, with the 200th year stamp, in Wooster, Ohio. Paid $137, if I remember correctly. Great gun.
 
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The Ruger S6 series hold a nice place in my memory.

In 1974 I was 16 y.o. and got hired onto my first 'real job' (ie, not farm work or cutting grass) at well-known large sporting goods/gun shop in our capital city, 20 miles from home.
This place was the 'go-to' shop for many counties around and also carried a large stock of reloading supplies.

Got to be friends with another slightly older guy there and he owned an early model Ruger S6 .357 4" blue and we went shooting a few times with it. Only handgun I owned then was a Ruger Standard .22 auto.

We could do layaway and I got my Dad to obtain a pistol permit from our sheriff's office. When a new Ruger S6 in SS 4" came in, it was put in layaway with a set of Herrett 'Shooting Star' walnut grips on it.
Took a little while to pay off, (pay was ~$2.10/hr.) but finally did.

So - my FIRST centerfire revolver and I loved it.
At the time, S&W M66's were highly sought, but nearly impossible to get as the LE market was getting most. I do recall selling A LOT of Ruger S6's in SS to customers who couldn't find a 66.

I soon started reloading and being young and dumb and a buddy to 'compete' with, we ventured into stupid-hot nuclear .357 loads, all being shot in those S6's. A blown primer here and there - but never hurt one and just the barest detectable end-shake evidenced.

About 3 years later I traded my S6 to a local PD Detective for a near-new S&W M28 6". Figured that would make a better platform for the sort of loads my buddy and I were using.

Maturing the tiniest bit, I figured other guns like the .44 SBH I bought could do the big bore chores I was foisting on those poor .357's and got off of that fling.

A few years back, found a Ruger S6 SS 4" and grabbed it. By S/N, it's the same year as my first, c.1975.

It gets regular use as a woods and scouting gun, and shoots as well as any of my 4" S&W's.
 

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I bought this 1979 vintage Security Six new. The replacement grips were purchased at the same time. Otherwise, she is unmodified in any way.

Tens of thousands of rounds down the tube and she looks and feels like new. 3.5 pound factory trigger break.

Pic:



Bayou52
 
OP - Very nice find. I owned one back in the day, (pictured with my no dash 586) and they are an under rated revolver. Traded mine off for what I don't even remember, but would buy another if I came across one. You don't seem to see to many on the used market, at least around here. Attached a couple scanned vintage pics. I had Eagle Rosewood grips on mine.

Larry
 

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