Ruger frustration, Security six

[kBob]

I recently acquired a shoe box gun that was a Ruger Security Six. It is in very bad shape, partially because Bubba (in this case my Dad) tried to "make it better". Not sure it could be made better anyway as at least one dealer it was sent to sent it back with a note saying it was unrepairable.

External rust mostly from water damage. Need a few small parts which I suspect were damaged by said gunsmith or some other person in taking the gun apart.

Amazingly the grips are missing....though Dad picked up some after market grips that one of his buddies swore were for that revolver.....they weren't. Before this gun went to another family member to be stored under a leaky sink, it was a pristine, like new early production Security Six I helped Dad pick out back when they were new. Thus I don't really care about the fact it can never look like anything but a mangy mutt of a dog, I just want to be able to shoot it again.

Got to looking on line for grips and yea verily verily NO ONE mentions if their grips are for the early models with the angular grip frame or later models with rounded frame. Kind of hard to tell from photos which is which. Anyway I can tell which is which via the placement of say mounting holes in the back of the grips? Also no one seems to sell original grips with the take down pin in them like they had. I thought it was neat of Ruger to include those even if a paper clip or finishing nail will work.

Anyone have a pair of the early model grips laying about?

-kBob

 

[GBExpat]

What are the first 3 numbers of the SN?

 

[kBob]

150-

-kBob

 

[GBExpat]

RATS! I have a set off of my old 151- 2¾" SS Security Six ... it left my ownership in, like, 1979 wearing Pachmayrs.

I was hoping that you were referring to a 2nd frame-change that occurred later. Sorry.

 

[kBob]

This is what five months under a leaky sink can do to a fine revolver, that and a wire brush. I truly hate to give up on it, but am unsure I would want anyone else to ever fire it again even with target wadcutter .38 Special, let alone .357 magnum.

I have the trigger mech back together and about ready to snap in but need to get the cylinder retaining stuff ready first. Really interesting design. What is uber aggrivating to me is that some of the original finish is on the grip area and it just serves to make me even sadder when I compare the back end of the gun to the front. Darn these things WHERE pretty as far as finish went early on at least.

Truly no one like family is there?

-kBob

 

[GBExpat]

OH! Just looking at that pic hurts.

The first handgun I ever bought was a NIB 150- model 4" blue Security Six in 1973 so I have a soft spot for the type.

That is so sad.

 

[Wishoot]

Ouch.

Sad ending for a very fine revolver.

But if the metal's good and you can get it running again, maybe bead blast it?

 

[Walkalong]

it was sent to sent it back with a note saying it was unrepairable.

Smart fellow. Sorry for your loss.

 

[Robert101]

Wow. That hurts. My dad would have been very upset with me if any of my firearms were damaged in that fashion. Just not good. Even though it looks like a mess, the structural integrity might be ok. I hope the bore and cylinder chambers are good.

 

[Confederate]

Send it back to Ruger. They'll restamp the legal warning on it and send it right back!

 

[Armored farmer]

I Don't know guys.....i sent a Python back to colt that was worse than this ruger. It had been misplaced in a cardboard box on the floor of an unheated garage for years after my uncle died unexpectedly.

I would contact ruger about it before I gave up.

 

[greyling22]

View attachment 226635 I Don't know guys.....i sent a Python back to colt that was worse than this ruger. It had been misplaced in a cardboard box on the floor of an unheated garage for years after my uncle died unexpectedly.

I would contact ruger about it before I gave up.

Kbbailey, but when was that that colt fixed you up? I called about a colt agent revolver this year and they told me they don't work on revolvers any more. Customer service said nobody at the company knows how.

 

[bannockburn]

kBob

Another big fan of the old Security Six. Sorry to say that's really pretty nasty looking. Hope you can at least get it up and running again.

 

[hAkron]

eBay has your grips. A good gun refinisher such as Ford's could make that gun look pretty decent.

 

[Speedo66]

Oh, that's ugly, sad to see a nice gun in that condition. Although it does have a certain historical look about it. Can you say patina? lol

I guess if you can get it working again it'll be a gun you won't have to worry about getting wet. Good luck with it.

 

[Armored farmer]

Grayling 22

Time gets away from me.
I think it has been 20 years now.

 

[Taurus 617 CCW]

A decent outfit that does bluing will be able to make it look much better than the current condition. Depending on how deep the pitting goes they can polish out most of it before bluing. You may be surprised at how it could turn out. If you don't find your grips on ebay you may have to go the custom route.

 

[Coyote3855]

Dang, too bad about your Ruger. I suspect that the pits are too deep for a refinish to make the revolver look like new. I'd keep that sucker as a truck gun and shoot the heck out of it.

 

[Blacksmoke]

The photo does not look all that bad. You must have worked hard to clean it up. If anything, that piece now has some character. If the mechanics still function, you probably have years of service left. Think of it as the "Non Slip" finish, although you probably do not handle it much from that end.

 

[sgt127]

Hand sand to get the majority of the pitting smoothed out. A pretty coarse bead blast and parkerize it.

If the bore and chambers are decent, ride on.

 

[Panzerschwein]

Looks good to me. Rub some oil on it and reassemble. It's a Ruger! They're indestructible!

 

[CajunBass]

I don't think Ruger will be able to help you. It seems I've read they stopped supporting the "six" series revolvers years ago. Rather that includes refinish or not I don't know. A phone call costs nothing these days.

Barring that, I'd contact one of these outfits that puts all these modern baked on finishes. I don't even know what they're called. Either polish it yourself, or have them do it. Let's face it, it can't look much worse.

 

[Merle1]

I don't think Ruger will be able to help you. It seems I've read they stopped supporting the "six" series revolvers years ago. Rather that includes refinish or not I don't know. A phone call costs nothing these days.

Barring that, I'd contact one of these outfits that puts all these modern baked on finishes. I don't even know what they're called. Either polish it yourself, or have them do it. Let's face it, it can't look much worse.

Not 100% true. About two years ago I sent my 9mm Speed Six in & they fixed it. They are out of some parts, so it all depends on what you need.

 

[Salmoneye]

From Ruger's website:

http://www.ruger.com/service/partsService.html

There are no parts and no service available for the below discontinued products that were produced in Newport, NH.

Red Label Shotguns (serial # beginning with "400-" or "410-") 10/22 Magnum Rifles New Model Single-Six SSM
Trap Shotgun Single Six .17 Hunter Convertible Mach 2 Cylinders .44 Magnum Carbine Rifles (original model)
Red Label Wood Side M77 Mark II Rifles in Short Ultra-Mag Calibers 96 Series Lever Action
Gold Label Shotgun M77 Mark II Express Rifles Old Army
AC-556 77/50 Blackpowder Rifles Deerfield
.357 Maximum Revolvers Security Six Revolvers Hawkeye Pistols
180 Series Mini-14 rifles (serial # beginning with "180-") No. 3 Rifles Tang Safety Model 77 Rifles
"Old Model" (three-screw) single-action revolvers - (Free Factory Safety Offer)

 

[Jim in S.A.]

I've seen that there is a shade of Duracoat that is a gunmetal blue, that looks for all the world as if it's actual bluing. Would it be possible to polish or bead blast this down to reduce the pitting, then Duracoat it? Not certain, just wondering out loud, so to speak.