Ruger Old Model Single Six - The Firearms Forum

SGT Foster · 07-20-2010, 02:15 PM

I have a Ruger Three Screw, I contacted Ruger about the pistol to find out the age by serial number they said it was a 1967 model. Ruger also said that when it left NH in April 1967 it was blued, but the pistol I have has a nickel finish on it, with a gold cylinder and a gold barrel, and the numbers on the cylinder match the last three numbers of the serial number.

This is my question has anyone ever heard of this, and what is it worth. Ruger said they never made any such single six that was nickel plated with gold cylinder and barrel.

Thanks

Alpo · 07-20-2010, 03:16 PM

This is a hard one to answer, simply because the answer is so harsh.

OM Single Six, in average condition, runs between 3 and 4 hundred dollars. Normal reblued gun, maybe 150 to 200. Buggered up like you describe though, is hard to judge. If you were offering it to me, for example, I'd be thinking, "Gonna take about 250 to get that junk removed and it reblued, and then it still always be a 'reblue', so, maybe a hundred bucks." And that would be a generous offer, as I would now have 350 in it, which would be way more than it would be worth.

Sorry. I'm sure that's not what you wanted to hear.

johnlives4christ · 07-20-2010, 03:53 PM

sounds like someone tried to make some kind of presentation gun out of it. i agree with alpo on value, to me, not much. if you know a gunsmith that owes you a favor or two you might get it refinished cheap and have a good shooter.

i've seen all original old models sell for 250.

muddober · 07-20-2010, 05:26 PM

If the gun looks good to you, and it must or wouldn't have bought it, just enjoy it. Its collector value is long since gone but who cares, if you like it that is all that matters. Some of the most beautiful and ugliest guns I have seen were the brain child of some artistic person and art is in the eyes of the be-holder. Pictures would be nice.

Ron

Jim K · 07-20-2010, 07:17 PM

I agree with muddober. Like it? Live with it. Don't like it? Sell it or trade it for what you can get for it. But it is not some rare collectible, just someone's idea of what he wanted.

Jim

old semperfi · 07-20-2010, 09:56 PM

if its a good shooter then run what you brung,the value is what ever they will pay.remember beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.i would say 200.00-250.00 i have kept one in my truck for over thirty years and it will still will shoot with the new ones. old semperfi

SGT Foster · 07-21-2010, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SGT Foster

I have a Ruger Three Screw, I contacted Ruger about the pistol to find out the age by serial number they said it was a 1967 model. Ruger also said that when it left NH in April 1967 it was blued, but the pistol I have has a nickel finish on it, with a gold cylinder and a gold barrel, and the numbers on the cylinder match the last three numbers of the serial number.

This is my question has anyone ever heard of this, and what is it worth. Ruger said they never made any such single six that was nickel plated with gold cylinder and barrel.

Thanks

Here are some pics of the pistol, looking at it it does not appear to have ever been blued if it was they did a really good job getting all the blueing off of it.

RJay · 07-21-2010, 02:23 PM

Looks nice, especially the nice soft edges, corners and the bevels around the screws.

johnlives4christ · 07-21-2010, 05:13 PM

personally i'd shoot that rascal. i dont know about the gold finish. but i wonder if it is applied over the silver? if so i wonder if you could remove the gold and just have a silver gun.

Bindernut · 07-22-2010, 10:48 AM

If RJay's post was made with a sarcastic tinge, I agree with him...whoever did the polish and plate job on that SS sure did a good job of killing all of the nice sharp lines on the pistol. Nearly every edge and screw hole is rounded off from overzealous buffing wheel abuse.

Value...it's a shooter so value as others have posted above. If it's a good shooter and you don't mind the finish, keep it as-is. If it's a good shooter and you'd like to get it blued, then you might be able to crisp up those lines a bit with some carefult work before it gets a new blue job...I kinda doubt it though since those edges are rounded off big time.

For how nice and crisp an OM SingleSix should look, check out the hi-res picture of this 4-digit serial Single Six...
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...ckr_szuppo.jpg
Except for the early "flatgate" style loading gate, this is about what your gun would probably have looked coming from the factory.
The owner, szuppo, used to hang around on the RugerForum.com website a few years back. Don't know if he's still online or not.

07-20-2010, 02:15 PM	#1
SGT Foster Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 2	Ruger Old Model Single Six I have a Ruger Three Screw, I contacted Ruger about the pistol to find out the age by serial number they said it was a 1967 model. Ruger also said that when it left NH in April 1967 it was blued, but the pistol I have has a nickel finish on it, with a gold cylinder and a gold barrel, and the numbers on the cylinder match the last three numbers of the serial number. This is my question has anyone ever heard of this, and what is it worth. Ruger said they never made any such single six that was nickel plated with gold cylinder and barrel. Thanks -->

07-20-2010, 03:16 PM	#2
Alpo Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: NW Florida Posts: 8,772	Re: Ruger Old Model Single Six This is a hard one to answer, simply because the answer is so harsh. OM Single Six, in average condition, runs between 3 and 4 hundred dollars. Normal reblued gun, maybe 150 to 200. Buggered up like you describe though, is hard to judge. If you were offering it to me, for example, I'd be thinking, "Gonna take about 250 to get that junk removed and it reblued, and then it still always be a 'reblue', so, maybe a hundred bucks." And that would be a generous offer, as I would now have 350 in it, which would be way more than it would be worth. Sorry. I'm sure that's not what you wanted to hear. __________________ Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy, and taste good with catsup - George of Lod, Year of Our Lord 297 I always take precautions. Beware the Evil Bullet Fairies.

07-20-2010, 03:53 PM	#3
johnlives4christ Former Guest Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,828	Re: Ruger Old Model Single Six sounds like someone tried to make some kind of presentation gun out of it. i agree with alpo on value, to me, not much. if you know a gunsmith that owes you a favor or two you might get it refinished cheap and have a good shooter. i've seen all original old models sell for 250.

07-20-2010, 05:26 PM	#4
muddober Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 1,436	Re: Ruger Old Model Single Six If the gun looks good to you, and it must or wouldn't have bought it, just enjoy it. Its collector value is long since gone but who cares, if you like it that is all that matters. Some of the most beautiful and ugliest guns I have seen were the brain child of some artistic person and art is in the eyes of the be-holder. Pictures would be nice. Ron

07-20-2010, 07:17 PM	#5
Jim K Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 6,408	Re: Ruger Old Model Single Six I agree with muddober. Like it? Live with it. Don't like it? Sell it or trade it for what you can get for it. But it is not some rare collectible, just someone's idea of what he wanted. Jim

07-20-2010, 09:56 PM	#6
old semperfi Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: i live in southern indiana,old country boy at heart Posts: 1,506	Re: Ruger Old Model Single Six if its a good shooter then run what you brung,the value is what ever they will pay.remember beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.i would say 200.00-250.00 i have kept one in my truck for over thirty years and it will still will shoot with the new ones. old semperfi

07-21-2010, 02:23 PM	#8
RJay Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Arizona Posts: 3,504	Re: Ruger Old Model Single Six Looks nice, especially the nice soft edges, corners and the bevels around the screws. __________________ RonJames

07-21-2010, 05:13 PM	#9
johnlives4christ Former Guest Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,828	Re: Ruger Old Model Single Six personally i'd shoot that rascal. i dont know about the gold finish. but i wonder if it is applied over the silver? if so i wonder if you could remove the gold and just have a silver gun.

07-22-2010, 10:48 AM	#10
Bindernut Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: ND, USA Posts: 2,489	Re: Ruger Old Model Single Six If RJay's post was made with a sarcastic tinge, I agree with him...whoever did the polish and plate job on that SS sure did a good job of killing all of the nice sharp lines on the pistol. Nearly every edge and screw hole is rounded off from overzealous buffing wheel abuse. Value...it's a shooter so value as others have posted above. If it's a good shooter and you don't mind the finish, keep it as-is. If it's a good shooter and you'd like to get it blued, then you might be able to crisp up those lines a bit with some carefult work before it gets a new blue job...I kinda doubt it though since those edges are rounded off big time. For how nice and crisp an OM SingleSix should look, check out the hi-res picture of this 4-digit serial Single Six... http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...ckr_szuppo.jpg Except for the early "flatgate" style loading gate, this is about what your gun would probably have looked coming from the factory. The owner, szuppo, used to hang around on the RugerForum.com website a few years back. Don't know if he's still online or not. Last edited by Bindernut; 07-22-2010 at 10:56 AM..