Police Service Six with 2.5in Barrel

[spruce98lx]

I've had a Speed Six with a 2.75 inch barrel for a number of years. It's my favorite gun. About six months ago at a show, I spied a Police Service Six snub that had a round butt grip. Serial number was 159-xxxx. I hadn't seen a Police Service Six without the square grip frame so I thought it was maybee unusual. It looked virtually new but no box or papers. Bought it for $300 and brought it home. Momma was not to pleased so I stuck it in the safe. Tonight I got it out along with my Speed Six to wipe down. As I looked at them together, I noticed that the barrel on the Police Service Six was shorter that the Speed Six. Got out the measering tape and sure enough, the Speed Six measured 2.75in and the Police Service Six measured 2.5in.

Did I stumble upon something rare?

 

[9mmepiphany]

Are the ejector rods the same length?

My first thought would be that someone had a Service-Six, wanted a Speed-Six, and had his converted. This wasn't uncommon in the day.

Now a 9mm Service-Six would be something rare

 

[GRIZ22]

9mm, the Service Six was available from the factory in the 2.75" barrel. I owned one back in the 70s.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I remember, but I also remember that the 4" was more common. It was much like the fairly common practice of taking a 4" S&W M-13, shortening the barrel to 3" and rounding the butt, because they were so hard to get

I've personally never understood the reasoning behind offering a snubby with a square butt frame

 

[mavracer]

There were some odd special LEO runs Ruger did with the six series IIRC some actual 3" and 2 1/2" guns were ordered, I can't find a source.

 

[spruce98lx]

That's what I wondered. Maybe this gun was in a run of guns specifically for a large PD or Fed Agency.

 

[Lone Star]

That does seem rare. Ask Ruger. Tell us what they say.

 

[Deaf Smith]

I kick myself for missing out on 3 inch Speed Six US Postal Service guns they let go years ago.

And yes, a 2 1/2 version would be rare.

Bet some Federal agency.

Deaf

 

[Elm Creek Smith]

I remember, but I also remember that the 4" was more common. It was much like the fairly common practice of taking a 4" S&W M-13, shortening the barrel to 3" and rounding the butt, because they were so hard to get

I've personally never understood the reasoning behind offering a snubby with a square butt frame

Some folks prefer square butt guns. [emoji57] Not me, but some.

 

[Confederate]

Yes, Ruger was known for making special issues. I have a couple of 6-inch Security-Six revolvers with presentation cases. They're FBI Academy commemeratives. Ruger also made some .38 Spc Speed-Six revolvers (photo below). These were done only in the days when police were using revolvers. As police moved to autos, these special issues came to an ignominious end.

I paid almost nothing for the commemeratives, and when I took them apart I found out why. There was a thin layer of rust all over the insides. I sent both back to Ruger and they came back in great condition. As far as I know, they're worth no more or less than regular Security-Six models. I contacted the FBI Academy years later to see if I could sell them to anyone interested. No one was, so I installed some Millet sights in them and kept them.