Nickel-Plated Ruger Single Six

Dan22 · 06-25-2009, 11:52 PM

A few years ago I sold a nickel-plated Single Six and probably should have kept it. I just found a couple of old black and white pictures I took of in back in the late '70's. Wish they were sharper but I may still have negatives that show more detail.

Many Ruger collectors told me it was a bogus gun and had to be nickled after it left the factory.

A couple of gunsmiths looked at it and both said the lettering, SN and ruger logo were far too crisp to have not been done in the factory.

I then called the Ruger factory and asked them if they had ever nickel plated any single sixes.

The gal said they did occasionally nickel plate special presentation guns and my serial number ended in 3300 so it might have been one of them. She said they didn't keep SN records so there was no way to tell for sure but the SN sounded like it might have been specially selected.

Here are the pictures and I hope to find a clearer one of the lettering.

blat · 06-26-2009, 02:15 PM

Ruger did a small factory run of nickle plated Single Sixes several years ago. If yours was one of them, it is indeed a collector's item.

Dan22 · 06-26-2009, 03:53 PM

The serial number started with 20- and I think the Ruger gal said it was made in 1962.

Sure was pretty. The backstrap and trigger guard were polished aluminum.

Archetype_wyo · 06-26-2009, 04:21 PM

Single Six being Single-Action Six Cylinder? im a noob lol

Dan22 · 06-26-2009, 05:35 PM

Yup, Ruger called it the Single Six.

Later on they added target sights and a transfer bar hammer for safety and they renamed it the Super Single Six.

I sent my SS in for the Ruger upgrade to transfar bar and they installed new parts without altering the original pistol.

The original single six had this crisp "Click-Click" that would give someone the shivers if they were breaking into your house. The transfer bar system was much more muffled and I didn't like the feel so I reinstalled the original parts which Ruger had also included when they returned it to me.

Ruger repair service was very fast and they are dedicated to making robust guns and backing them up.

My nickel plated SS had a 22 magnum cylinder and I never got the .22 cylinder when I bought it.

neophyte · 06-27-2009, 08:08 AM

Dan22: Sir; for others and perhaps yourself: Do not send your 'Old Model" Ruger 3screw back to Ruger for the ''update''

These are collector models

{I don't collect anything I don't shoot}

Ruger marks each with the up-dated #'s under the grip

'?What? does this obscure change mean???; To each his own

Ruger has in the past

Sent a Letter; The letter becomes part of the ''lore'' history to having a Ruger. ?Giving? it more value.

06-25-2009, 11:52 PM	#1
Dan22 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Central Florida Posts: 666	Nickel-Plated Ruger Single Six A few years ago I sold a nickel-plated Single Six and probably should have kept it. I just found a couple of old black and white pictures I took of in back in the late '70's. Wish they were sharper but I may still have negatives that show more detail. Many Ruger collectors told me it was a bogus gun and had to be nickled after it left the factory. A couple of gunsmiths looked at it and both said the lettering, SN and ruger logo were far too crisp to have not been done in the factory. I then called the Ruger factory and asked them if they had ever nickel plated any single sixes. The gal said they did occasionally nickel plate special presentation guns and my serial number ended in 3300 so it might have been one of them. She said they didn't keep SN records so there was no way to tell for sure but the SN sounded like it might have been specially selected. Here are the pictures and I hope to find a clearer one of the lettering. Attached Thumbnails __________________ USAF '58-'62

06-26-2009, 02:15 PM	#2
blat Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Western NC Posts: 383	Ruger did a small factory run of nickle plated Single Sixes several years ago. If yours was one of them, it is indeed a collector's item. __________________ I feel more like I do now than I did awhile ago.

06-26-2009, 03:53 PM	#3
Dan22 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Central Florida Posts: 666	The serial number started with 20- and I think the Ruger gal said it was made in 1962. Sure was pretty. The backstrap and trigger guard were polished aluminum. __________________ USAF '58-'62

06-26-2009, 04:21 PM	#4
Archetype_wyo Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Buffalo, Wyo Posts: 1,679	Single Six being Single-Action Six Cylinder? im a noob lol __________________ The great object is that every man be armed. Everyone who is able may have a gun. —Patrick Henry

06-26-2009, 05:35 PM	#5
Dan22 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Central Florida Posts: 666	Yup, Ruger called it the Single Six. Later on they added target sights and a transfer bar hammer for safety and they renamed it the Super Single Six. I sent my SS in for the Ruger upgrade to transfar bar and they installed new parts without altering the original pistol. The original single six had this crisp "Click-Click" that would give someone the shivers if they were breaking into your house. The transfer bar system was much more muffled and I didn't like the feel so I reinstalled the original parts which Ruger had also included when they returned it to me. Ruger repair service was very fast and they are dedicated to making robust guns and backing them up. My nickel plated SS had a 22 magnum cylinder and I never got the .22 cylinder when I bought it. __________________ USAF '58-'62 Last edited by Dan22; 06-26-2009 at 09:42 PM.

06-27-2009, 08:08 AM	#6
neophyte Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 8,699 Blog Entries: 2	Ruger Dan22: Sir; for others and perhaps yourself: Do not send your 'Old Model" Ruger 3screw back to Ruger for the ''update'' These are collector models {I don't collect anything I don't shoot} Ruger marks each with the up-dated #'s under the grip '?What? does this obscure change mean???; To each his own Ruger has in the past Sent a Letter; The letter becomes part of the ''lore'' history to having a Ruger. ?Giving? it more value. __________________ Craig May the Lord's face radiate with joy because of you. Numbers 6:24