3 Screw Ruger Single Six Serial

[aHFo3]

I found this Single Six locally and bought it. It’s a 6.5”, that was converted to a transfer bar, 3 screw with a serial number that seems to be out of range: 818878. Besides calling Ruger in Monday, can anyone shed some light on this? Am I missing something?

 

[chicharrones]

Interesting that Ruger's website doesn't come up with that number.

The center section of that revolver sure looks to be in fantastic condition. Congrats on the new-to-you Ruger!

 

[Ohen Cepel]

Looks like '57 or '58 if I am tracking right
Ruger Single Six Standard Serial Number History

 

[twarr1]

Nice revolver. Congratulations.
Yes, that serial number looks unusual but Ruger will be able to tell you the ship date. (Year). I have a few with serial numbers out of range.
Ruger will send you a Letter of Authenticity for $10.

 

[aHFo3]

Thanks for the help and suggestions! The $10 letter seems like money we’ll spent for this one. I forgot to mention that it came with the magnum cylinder inside the red cloth bag. The magnum cylinder is fluted.
I’m going to follow up with the seller to see if they have the original parts From when it was converted to the transfer bar.

 

[BigBlue 94]

That is odd. The only six digit, non prefix SNs i could find starting with an 8 were for O/M SS magnum. But it still doesnt fit. 1968 started with 4xx,xxx. They had been making 15k to 30k in the years prior. In 1969 they started with s/n 824407.

A clue may lie in the spare cylinder. A fluted magnum cylinder is i believe a pre-'73 only thing. All 3 magnum cylinders i have are un-fluted and roll stamped. Are both cylinders electropencilled with 878 on one face?

 

[Ohen Cepel]

BigBlue may be onto something. Maybe, the spare cylinder was married up later?

 

[Electrod47]

Thats an impossibly clean gun for that year of manufacture. Wow, What a find!

 

[aHFo3]

Are both cylinders electropencilled with 878 on one face?

Both cylinder faces are electropencilled with 878.

 

[Pat Riot]

I found this:
https://ruger.com/service/productHistory/RE-SSixMM.html

Perhaps yours is from 1969. You SS is stamped .22 Cal. The above site is for “Single Six Magnums”

 

[KevininPa]

'57-'58 models were .22 lr only. I know because I have one. The magnum cylinder came out later.

Nice Single Six btw!

 

[aHFo3]

I found this:
https://ruger.com/service/productHistory/RE-SSixMM.html

Perhaps yours is from 1969. You SS is stamped .22 Cal. The above site is for “Single Six Magnums”

That could be. Does anyone known if the single six magnums were marked differently?

 

[Pat Riot]

That could be. Does anyone known if the single six magnums were marked differently?

Well, my friend has one that is marked as a “magnum”, but it only has the one cylinder. His serial number from that table put his gun as a 1962 model. I recall reading that Single Six’s that came with two cylinders were only marked with “.22 Cal.”

 

[aHFo3]

Well, my friend has one that is marked as a “magnum”, but it only has the one cylinder. His serial number from that table put his gun as a 1962 model. I recall reading that Single Six’s that came with two cylinders were only marked with “.22 Cal.”

That’s exactly what I found on the Ruger Forum.

 

[Pat Riot]

Here is some interesting reading on the old Single sixes. Lots of good info on this site.
https://gunblast.com/Hamm_Old_Model_Single-Six.htm

 

[BigBlue 94]

That could be. Does anyone known if the single six magnums were marked differently?

They were marked magnum somewhere, barrel maybe. Some had different bore size from the standard 22LR. Some magnums came with a 22 LR cylinder, and in a velour type bag early on. Both cylinders being electropenciled with the last three of the serial says it was likely either sent in to be fitted, or more likely, a convertible from the factory.

Both of my convertibles are electropenciled on both cylinders. But my one 3 screw is just a 22LR only.

 

[BigBlue 94]

I found this:
https://ruger.com/service/productHistory/RE-SSixMM.html

Perhaps yours is from 1969. You SS is stamped .22 Cal. The above site is for “Single Six Magnums”

The problem with that is the gun in question is about 6000 guns too early to fit into that. But they also say there may be variances in that.

 

[BigBlue 94]

I just reread the first post. Since Ruger did the transfer bar conversion, its very possible that they fitted the second cylinder at that time too.

 

[Rubone]

The problem with that is the gun in question is about 6000 guns too early to fit into that. But they also say there may be variances in that.

According to that list it is a '68...
The range is between the '68 and '69 starting numbers.

 

[aHFo3]

Looks like it was sent for the conversion with both cylinders in 1987. The previous owner doesn’t have the original parts

 

[BigBlue 94]

According to that list it is a '68...
The range is between the '68 and '69 starting numbers.

Well yeah, but i dont think they made 320,000 guns in '68, when they hadnt been making more than about 20k per year prior.

 

[Rubone]

Well yeah, but i dont think they made 320,000 guns in '68, when they hadnt been making more than about 20k per year prior.

And why would you think they were continuous and consecutive?

 

[BigBlue 94]

And why would you think they were continuous and consecutive?

Im not sure i follow. Arent serial numbers supposed to be consecutive and mostly continuous, save for rejects and special blocks? Isnt that the point?

Now i can understand if SN blocks 500k, 600k, and 700k were reserved for regular single six or some models. Since i assume that they skipped those, it is frustrating that they dont note that after 499999, they jumped to i assume 800000.

 

[BigBlue 94]

One odd bit i found while looking is most guns went to the prefix serial numbers in '69 except the SS magnum and Super SS (which happen to be in that 500k serial block)

 

[aHFo3]

The Ruger customer service rep stated this was made in 1968.