Thoughts (perhaps value) on Unfired Ruger Security Six?

B

Brian Pfleuger

Moderator Emeritus
My uncle has inherited a "NIB" Ruger Security Six, blued, 4" model, circa 1982. His FiL bought it in Texas, put a trigger lock on it and put it in his dresser. He even has the original, obviously complete, box of ammo the FiL bought at the same time.

Sorry, no pictures, as this gun that was locked in a safe in my uncle's house the whole time the FiL lived there is now by law at an FFL until the county gets around to adding it to his permit.:rolleyes:

I know enough about it to know that it is a rugged, reliable, respected but common and essentially very ordinary firearm.

Any thoughts?
 
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I know enough about it to know that it is a rugged, reliable, respected but common and essentially very ordinary firearm.

Any thoughts?
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Condition, condition, condition - it nearly always trumps "common" if there's any possibility of it being sold at any point.

However "inherited" trumps everything.
You can't put a dollar figure on a family or personal heirloom.

1982 is a long time for a gun to go unfired.
If it were mine, I'd tie the hammer back and let it stay unfired.
Only because that's the way it came to me.

Matter of fact. My late father in law's High Standard Sport King is sitting in my safe, unfired from nearly the same time period.
IIRC, he bought that in 1980.

If I went out and bought one just like it unfired since 1982 - I couldn't get it to the range fast enough to pop it's cherry.
 
Condition, in my rather uninformed opinion and possibly faulty memory, is nearly perfect. I'd be surprised if the cylinder has made a complete rotation since he owned it. I'll get some good pictures when it comes back from purgatory.

I honestly can't imagine why he even bought it. He was not a gun guy, nor was anyone else in the family. He never touched it, talked about it, obviously never shot it. He literally bought it and a box of ammo, put a trigger lock on it and put it away, only to touch it when he moved again.

"Heirloom", well, it's an heirloom only in the sense that my aunt is somewhat attached to it just because it belonged to her father but they're selling his cars and various what-nots, so I don't know why the gun would be any different. No one except my uncle has the slightest interest in ANY gun, say nothing of this one. My uncle doesn't have any interest in revolvers, though he is a gun guy. He has several rifles and a couple of handguns and shoots fairly often.
 
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Were it me, I would keep that gun in its current condition. The Security Six is a great weapon, but to have one in such pristene condition (if it is truly unfired and 98-100% finish) would be a fine addition to any collection. While the Six series revolvers are by no means rare, attrition is happening, albeit slowly. I would definitely consider it a budding collector's item, and would not be surprised if prices began rising within the next decade or two.
 
Jimmy is saying what I tried to sputter out...

A Ruger Six, while uncommon, isn't rare at all.

One in pristine condition probably is though.
Those things were like pickup trucks back in the 60's and 70's used to be like.
They were built for work & that's what they did.

In another 50 year or so the thing might be like gold.

In the meantime, prices on "normal ones" are fairly low compared to S&W and the Ruger GP.
IMHO - the "Six" series is poised to be "discovered" - just like Dan Wesson was "discovered" a few years back.
 
Have to agree that if it truly is dead mint, it's a good idea to keep it as such. The only red flag I see thus far is a "trigger lock." Obviously, there are many ways these devices can mar a fine metal finish. It's no stretch to say that when we are talking about a utilitarian working gun, it "can" be collectible but only if it's in absolutely pristine shape.

I understand the 'emotion' comments with regards to family ties, history, etc etc, but that doesn't necessarily make it so. If the deceased owner was not a gun person (and all evidence appears to show that he was not, at all) than this revolver only has as much "emotion" attached to it as the new/current/next owner will throw upon it. The recently deceased probably hand a number of decent neck ties, perhaps some he NEVER once wore, and I doubt there's any emotional attachments to those, either.

If it turns out that the revolver is in really nice shape but showing some handling marks, I'd make a fine shooter of it. I do love a solid .357 Magnum, and a Security Six is exactly that. If it turns out to be completely -MINT- then it's either one to put away because of that condition, or to be offered at a collector's price. (as eluded to with the Gunbroker price comparison... not a realistic price for a Security Six.
If it were mine, I'd tie the hammer back and let it stay unfired.
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Having trouble understanding this -- do you mean, "tie the hammer forward" as in, you'd affix something so that nobody else is tempted to work the action? I don't understand?
 
do you mean, "tie the hammer forward" as in, you'd affix something so that nobody else is tempted to work the action?
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Yep.
Usually a zip tie goes over the hammer.

I've always heard it referred to as tieing the hammer back.

Come to think of it though, that doesn't make sense.
Oh well.
 
If anyone thinks that Ruger will become "collectable" anytime soon you're kidding yourselves.
Use it, save it or sell it as you see fit without fear of ruining any collector value.
 
Thanks for the discussion guys. Hopefully the county pistol clerk will soon get over her hoplophobia long enough to type the serial number on the permit and my uncle can get it back so I can get some pictures.

Even if it's just a plain ol' unused Security Six, we all love pictures, right!

I'll be sure to remember to use a shotgun shell in the trigger guard.:D
 
Brian Pfleuger said:
I'll be sure to remember to use a shotgun shell in the trigger guard.:D
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Congrats. My 6" has been fired a few hundred times and still looks new, so fire at will.
Make sure its 12ga. That's the Only way to go.
 
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I'm curious about the circa-1982 box of ammo? .38 or .357, what's the brand, what's the load? Not that it has a big chance of being "collectible", I just like older stuff in our little hobby. ;)
If anyone thinks that Ruger will become "collectable" anytime soon you're kidding yourselves.
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Nonsense. "Collectible" is what the buyer makes of it. If the revolver is -mint- then some will find it collectible. Obviously, many more folks would find it collectible than you might. The seller price mentioned above (over SIX HUNDRED) is already easily termed a "collectible" price where I live, as I see used and worn examples of these changing hands in the $400-$450 range.
 
Sevens said:
I'm curious about the circa-1982 box of ammo? .38 or .357, what's the brand, what's the load? Not that it has a big chance of being "collectible", I just like older stuff in our little little hobby. ;)
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That occurred to me yesterday, and then I forgot to mention it again.

Here's a picture.

8yrutyza.jpg
 
Talked to my uncle, he's had the trigger lock off and is concerned about possible damage. It may just be dirt/dust/debris from having been on there so long. No way to know until it comes backs from the FFL and we get a chance to look it over and clean it up.
 
I can't be entirely sure, and perhaps someone else could put a better finger on it, but that ammo is likely to date no earlier than the very late 80s, but I would be even more comfortable saying early 1990s.

I would be just short of shocked if that box of ammo also came from 1982. :eek:
 
It's probably possible. He may not of actually bought the ammo at the same time as the gun. I don't know if that's an assumption or if he just always said he did and nobody knew ammo enough to question it.
 
Nonsense. "Collectible" is what the buyer makes of it. If the revolver is -mint- then some will find it collectible. Obviously, many more folks would find it collectible than you might. The seller price mentioned above (over SIX HUNDRED) is already easily termed a "collectible" price where I live, as I see used and worn examples of these changing hands in the $400-$450 range.
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Marlarkey, anyone can "ASK' for anything, doesn't mean it'll bring that price.
We regularly sell average examples for $300-$350.
$450 would be very minty and $600-$900 is down right laughable.
I've got a bridge I'm looking to sell, you interested?

Here's one for you.
 
If anyone thinks that Ruger will become "collectable" anytime soon you're kidding yourselves.
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Define - soon!

IMHO, that $350 Six you link to is going to go up in price over the next five years.

Only time will tell though so - I'll just bookmark this thread and come back to it if I'm still around and the forum is still around in another 5 years.

I picked 5 years because that some $350 stuck in the back would return about $16.50 or so in interest over 5 years.
IMHO - the "Six" series guns should go up by about 20 to 25 percent in 5 years.
 
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