Ruger Security Six 150 Series History
When I EOD'd (Entered On Duty) in 1969 there were ~1500 Border Patrol Inspectors (Name Later Changed to Agent). At that tine there were about 500 M&P heavy barrel .38's, 500 Colt .38 Special Border Patrol models, and about 500 Model-19 S&W's in service in the field.
As you might imagine, the most senior Inspectors had the Model-19's. The INS then purchased approx. 500 Colt Trooper MK-III's and then the 150 frame Ruger to replace the .38 Special revolvers in the field.
When I arrived at the academy as an Instructor in 1977 there were quite a few 150 frame Rugers locked away in the armory. They suffered from two problems that kept me from issuing them to the trainee Agents. One problem was the rear sight assembly was made of Aluminum and 90%+ of the 150's that came in for repair had broken rear sights. (The sight blade and screw were steel, but the remainder was Aluminum.) The second was the lack of a recoil shoulder on the grip. They were fine for .38 Wadcutter shooting, but when fired with then duty round, the .357 158 grain JSP, they rotated badly through the hand, prohibiting fast follow-up shots.
One day by the Chief at the Academy called me and "ordered" me to issue my next class the 150 frame Security Six, period. Sadly I complied, but looked for some source of after market grips that might help. At that time, only Herrett (I believe) made any that would fit and the students' budgets weren't up to such a purchase.
I ended up putting grips adapters on the 150's as shown in a prior post and putting sand paper over the back strap by trapping the ends of the paper under the grip panels.
Some time later, the second in command at Ruger, Steve Vogel, stopped by to visit, and the armorer and I explained the problems we were having with the 150’s. He made an offer to replace the 150’s we had with 151’s with a recoil shoulder at no cost! I also asked for the all-steel Redhawk rear sight assembly and he agreed. We knew that there was no possible way for the government to “swap” guns, but in a few weeks I received a call that it had been approved!(?) I immediately called Steve and asked if we could possibly have Stainless Steel 152’s instead, and he stated that he’d try. In the end, INS paid $15.00 / gun in the swap to get the stainless Security Six and the rest is history.
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