It's here! (single six) --- ruger expert wanted...

B

bailey bud

New member
My birthday present arrived!
(apologies for the cell phone images)

Anyone seen one like this? Doesn't quite match the images in the gun books - but I know it's never been altered. This pistol is over 50 years old!




 
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63,7xx

4 3/4" barrel.

Main frame is stainless.
Chamber on forward is blued.

Grips are black rubber (with red Ruger eagle logo).

My dad bought it, new before I was born --- and gave it to me.
 
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I just checked the serial number - and it places the manufacture date as 1957.

Sturm had been dead for 6 years when this gun was made.

Someone must have liked the old logo.......
 
It has absolutely been altered! The grip frame is aluminum that has been polished bright, the original XR3 was never made in stainless steel. The medallions have either been swapped for red ones from a Standard Auto or painted red, no revolver ever shipped from Ruger with red eagles. Barrel is 5½", not 4¾". Ruger never made a 4¾" barrel single action. The rear sight has also been polished.

It is not collectible at all and would be worth $300-$350 as a shooter.

The Single Six did not debut until 1953.
 
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Maybe an XR3-Red grip frame variation, according to Ruger and His Guns some of them came with the silver/gray anodized grip frame. Better pics would help quite a bit.

Stu
 
Definitely old. The plum frame is a definite sign it has not been refinished. Maybe the trigger guard and grip frame have been swapped, but it's pretty hard to duplicate a sweet shade of Ruger plum.

Nice weapon. Congratulations!
 
How well do I know the seller ------ he's my dad!

He bought it at a shop in 1958.

You'll see the same photos over at RCA - just in case someone over there knows what it is.

Shot it a few times the last time it was shot was in 1961 (mom didn't like guns, much). At that point - he stowed it away, until now - when he sent it to me as a birthday present.

I suppose it's possible the shop sold him a custom gun ---- but he's not the type to indulge in custom arms.

One note ----

Dad wasn't the custom type - but maybe the shop was.

In any event - it's quite an interesting mystery.
 
As posted before, no Ruger revolver made in the 50s came from the factory with red Eagle grips. No Ruger revolver made in the 50s came from the factory with a stainless or polished aluminum grip frame. The gun has definately been modified sometime in the past. Regardless, it belonged to your father, now it belongs to you. Shoot it and think of your Dad when doing so.
 
Since the grip frame and grips just fasten on with screws, and since those who know say it never left the factory that way, then its obvious someone changed them after it left the factory.

Since you dad wasn't into that kind of thing, then he bought it that way. Fine. IF your dad thought he was buying a factory original then he got taken. But if he just bought it because he liked the way it looked, then thats fine, too.

The only person it would matter to is a Ruger collector, or someone trying to get collector price for an "as issued" original, which apparently your gun is not.

Its a nice gun, its a Ruger, and its from your DAD. Enjoy it, and don't fret that IF sold, it would not be worth as much as a "collector piece". Just because it won't bring a collector's premium price is no reason to disparage the gun, or the OP for asking about it.

Its quite possible that the gun was bought "new", meaning unfired, not "new" meaning totally unaltered. Back in those earlier, more trusting days, any gun that had not been fired could be called "new", no matter how many owners it had been through. If one of them had changed the grips and grip frame, it still would be considered new, especially since it is still all Ruger parts. "Yep, new, never fired, its just purtied it up a bit..."

Quite possible, I think.
 
Baily bud, I agree with the advice given to just enjoy your dad's gift. It can give you years of enjoyment and can be passed down as well. If you're still curious, which is understandable, then try a Ruger forum for additional information and perhaps there you'll feel more comfortable with the info you get.
 
a) My dad bought it from a LGS - my guess is it was modified.
I'm not offended --- was simply wondering why it looks almost brand new, was bought by my dad about the same time it was made, yet it doesn't match anything I've seen in the books. Now I know.
- the grips are different
- the polished alumninum is different
- the barrel length is different

My wild guess ---- some smith customized a new single six for a customer - who didn't like the job (I would have) --- so he turned around and sold it to my dad.

b) I posted this information looking for information - not an appraisal
(it's not for sale) --- not a fight.
 
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Does Ruger have a historian like the guy at S&W?

Because a few clear pics and a serial number mailed in an envelope,,,
Could answer all of these questions if a historian exists.

Aarond

.
 
if a historian exists.
Click to expand...

You can call Ruger records at 603-865-2442, give them the serial number of the gun and they will tell you the month, year and configuration that the gun was shipped. Free.
 
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