Rising prices of Ruger Police and Service Six why?

I have 2.
One was issued to me way back and I was allowed to buy it when we switched to automatics.

The other is a Century import from some foriegn PD. Not thinking of selling anytime soon.
They are reliable, accurate, weapons, and Im told they make a good impact weapon also, not that I would know any thing about that.

The whole "they're not making them anymore" thing is particularly powerful among revolver buyers, and it's not a coincidence. Revolvers are somewhat old-fashioned by nature, and their fans (including me!) will tend to have an outsized reverence for "how things used to be." So when the relevant buying population is prone to nostalgia, the value of things that are no loner in production (or no longer made the same way) will increase.

Meanwhile, most people who are more drawn to the "new hotness" will be getting jazzed about new semi-autos.

ATLDave said:

The whole "they're not making them anymore" thing is particularly powerful among revolver buyers, and it's not a coincidence. Revolvers are somewhat old-fashioned by nature, and their fans (including me!) will tend to have an outsized reverence for "how things used to be." So when the relevant buying population is prone to nostalgia, the value of things that are no loner in production (or no longer made the same way) will increase.

Meanwhile, most people who are more drawn to the "new hotness" will be getting jazzed about new semi-autos.

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I'm a younger revolver shooter/collector, and I can see this in myself. I think you may be right.

I don't relish the thought, and I sure am not wishing this on anyone, but I wonder what will happen when some of the older revolver loving generation starts to die off. Will the young heirs sell these guns off in favor of taking the money and running, or will they fund future modern guns? I wonder if we are heading for a flush of used vintage revolvers hitting the market. Their are certainly plenty available now, but prices may come down a bit when that begins to happen. Or the dealers will keep the prices high, and the consignment sellers will sit on them until they get the price they want.

Simple. They are darn good guns, strong, simple, and some of us won't let go of them. 3 1/2", 4"-200year, and 6" first model. My go-to gun for trips to the farm. Gave a 6" to one son and another to a nephew, they won't give them up either. GP is as good but unnecessarily large.

I bought my 4" Security Six in 1985, I won't be giving it up either.

IMO, it's because of the low QC with newly made Ruger revolvers. Ruger use to make good revolvers for great prices, but if you buy a new Ruger today you're taking a chance.

I'd rather buy a used Ruger than a new one today. Sorry, but I don't think people making $10.50/hr really know or are really interested in what it takes to make a good gun.

Almost 20years ago when everybody was switching to semi's revolvers were cheap. Got a S&W 27 for $250.000 and some mod 10's for $125.00 each.

Great guns, good luck finding a quality holster. Galco recently told me the only holster they currently offer for a Speed Six is a shoulder holster. Bianchi said they aren't offering anything.

No difference in frame, cylinder or barrels. Main differences were in sights and barrel diameter. And grip....square or round butt.

Yep.

Service six= fixed sights
Security six= adjustable sights and longer barrel options
Speed six= fixed sights and round butt

I love love love the idea of a highly durable medium frame revolver. However, the Security Sixes have caught up in price to used GP-100's. But the GP-100 seems downright morbidly obese in comparison. It makes me nervous that Ruger doesn't really service the Six series any more, though, even if the revolvers are durable.


I've let two stainless 6" Security Sixes slip by. I'm thinking real hard about getting the next one I see for at a fair price.

Actually, about 5 years back, I scored a blue 3" Police Service Six at a local funshow. It caught my eye on some dealer's table because the blue looked so clean, as did the original grips. $350 out the door.

It turned out to be a retired cop's off-duty piece, and hardly ever shot. At first I thought $350 was a bit high, but again that was 5 yrs ago. I always wanted a handy 3" .357, with fixed sights, that could handle a regular diet of magnum loads. This one shoots quite accurately too, once I figured out the sight picture for 158gn loads. For a Ruger, I would rate the trigger pull decent, but not great. It's manageable. Ser. # traces to a born-on date in late 1984.

I bought my mom a Ruger Security Six for her personal protection back around 1980.

I bought a box of 38 Spl and a box of CCI Lawman 357 Mag ammo. We went to the local gravel pit, and put a few cylinders of 38Spl downrange. Mom caught on fast.

This revolver recently came back to me. I don't think it has had 100 rounds through it. I'm definitely keeping it.






Shane

460Kodiak

I don't relish the thought, and I sure am not wishing this on anyone, but I wonder what will happen when some of the older revolver loving generation starts to die off. Will the young heirs sell these guns off in favor of taking the money and running, or will they fund future modern guns? I wonder if we are heading for a flush of used vintage revolvers hitting the market. Their are certainly plenty available now, but prices may come down a bit when that begins to happen. Or the dealers will keep the prices high, and the consignment sellers will sit on them until they get the price they want.

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I would argue that's already happening. In my area (Southwestern Idaho) there was a proliferation of Colt and S&W double-action revolvers starting about seven years ago. Now some of it had to do with folks liquidating their collections ,due to the recession, but I don't think that was the sole reason. During this time I came across models that I had only seen in books, movies or the Internet. These are the ones that I was able to purchase. There are a few others as well, but the ones listed below are classics that I couldn't believe I actually found for sale at local shops and auctions.

Pre-war S&W Heavy Duty, pre-war Colt Officer Model Target with the 6" heavy barrel, Colt Lawman Mk III snubnose, Webley Mk VI, S&W pre-Model 14 four screw transitional, WWII British contract Colt OP (38/200), pre-war/pre-depression Colt Woodsman Target (I know it's a pistol not a revolver), post-war S&W M&P transitional and a really nice Colt New Service 1917 Army.

I know that a couple of those pieces came from collections in which the previous owners had passed away and I suspect that's true of some of the others as well. I think I should add that I didn't really see prices drop though.

Plan2Live said:

Great guns, good luck finding a quality holster. Galco recently told me the only holster they currently offer for a Speed Six is a shoulder holster. Bianchi said they aren't offering anything.

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Any k frame S&W holster will do for a security six.

I use a Don Hume for my speed six.

Deaf

Bought my Service Six in '75, gave it to my son almost 25 years ago. He has taken excellent care of it, and knows what a nice gun he has. Over the decades the frame has turned a nice plum color, which some like, some don't.

Good solid guns that aren't being made anymore.

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Couldn't have said it better.

Did anyone see the Service-Six on gunbroker this week?
It was a 9mm - that sold for over $2,300.
I mean, I know it was cool, but WOW - that's just crazy.

Thomas43 said:

So what is a "fair" price for a Six?

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As others have noted, there are three different models of "Sixes" and I would expect them to be priced differently. Add in stainless vs. blued and various barrel lengths so there are lots of variables. I think, my opinion only, that the stainless Speed Six with the 2 3/4" barrel is one of the most desirable versions. Perhaps because I have one and carry it regularly. I seldom see any Six in decent condition for less than $300, and as someone posted, the rare variants can go for over $1000.

"Fair" is what you are willing to pay and the seller is willing to accept.

The prices on newer revolvers have gone up as well. So used revolvers are bound to see a price increase as well. One of the things i like about gunbroker is that you have private persons selling through FFLs, so it's not a store with overhead to cover but a private person trying to make a small profit or get most of what they put into a gun when selling it.

I have two Security Sixes, great guns. I like my GP100s (made in the 90's I think) better, but those Sixs are great guns.

Ruger is exploiting their new-found market position as a leader and really pushing pricing, in my opinion. As the new revolvers go up in price, the value of the used revolvers gets dragged up. I own a bunch of revolvers, including three Security Sixes. If I could have only one, it would be my six inch stainless Security Six! That thing is very carryable and has a lot of capability.

I got my Service Six for a price I'd never demand anyone pay. It was my dad's, and rode duty with him when he patrolled the mean streets (okay, the peaceful but rough trails) of San Juan County, Colorado back in his day.

It became mine when he died in 2010. Thing is built like a tank, and handles even hotter Magnum stuff pretty well, in my hands, at least.

Haven't seen any for sale lately, either..

Well I guess I`ll keep the two 150 series guns I own!

MagnumDweeb said:

The prices on newer revolvers have gone up as well. So used revolvers are bound to see a price increase as well. One of the things i like about gunbroker is that you have private persons selling through FFLs, so it's not a store with overhead to cover but a private person trying to make a small profit or get most of what they put into a gun when selling it.

I have two Security Sixes, great guns. I like my GP100s (made in the 90's I think) better, but those Sixs are great guns.

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The GP-100 series is what finally moved me to buying and shooting Ruger DA's. I was never that interested in the older ones. But I think the dominant driving mechanism for these two revolvers (Speed Six and Secuity Six models) is the price of new guns going up. Most people don't collect these; they're shooters.

I realize they don't make them anymore and sometimes people covet what used to be over what is offered now. This affects price as well.

1984 Shooters Bible. Just based on inflation, the gun is worth a little over $300. Add in that they don't make them anymore...

And, there weren't as many of them made as S&W Model 10's and Colt OP's.

I would give $400 for good condition Ruger Six series all day long.

I don't think people really appreciated the Rugers for what they were when they were in production. Alot of folks, me included, kind of thought of them as the second tier guns.

I was wrong and, I think alot of others feel that way. I've tried to fix that error and now own a Police Service Six (ex NYPD gun in .38) and a .357 Magnum Speed Six. I'm ok, but would happily add to the pile.