Ruger Single Six Question and Possible Trade

[firme67]

My local gun shop has 3 Single Six's in stock. All are used and each show a little wear (I have not handled them, just looked at them in the case), but appear to be in decent condition. One is tagged as a "Single Six" for $375, and shows the most wear, the other two are tagged "Single Six 3 Screw" and look to have a little less wear, one for $425 the other for $435. All three have wood grips. I do not know if any of them come with the 22 Mag cylinder. I can see why the "3 Screws" are so named, but what is the real difference between them and a non three screw? Anything major that makes them better or worse?

I would really like a single six and a possiblity would be to offer him a trade either for a Taurus 24/7 Pro DS .45 with 2 mags and approx 250 rounds ammo, (this gun just really isn't the right fit for my hand), or a Ruger SR22 with 3 mags, (reality hit that I like revolver .22's better than semi's).

So I was just wondering what you all thought:

1- please educate me on the Single Six 3 Screw vs non

2- what is a fair trade? Straight across?.......Money to boot?.......Other ideas?

Assume there is no .22 Mag cylinder

Thanks

 

[rcmodel]

Ruger tree-screws are built with conventional Colt SAA type lock-work, and are not safe to carry fully loaded with a round under the hammer. They were made from 1953 to 1973.

At that point, Ruger re-designed the lock-work to incorporate a transfer bar safety system and that made them safe against impact when fully loaded. From that point foreword, the 'New Model' Ruger single-actions all had the transfer bar safety system.

Lots of folks prefer the traditional Colt design used in the three-screw, and also feel the trigger pull is better on them then the later New Model.
As a result, they bring more money.

Since 1973, Ruger has offered a recall to install a transfer bar safety in the older guns.
But a lot of people won't ever let them touch their older three-screw guns!

http://ruger.com/pdf/safetyOfferAd.pdf

 

[bannockburn]

I have a Single Six and a Blackhawk, both 3 screw models with the more traditional style Colt SAA set-up. I really like they way they work and would never even consider having Ruger install the updated safety lock-work. Just my personal preference and I don't have a problem with loading them with 5 rounds because of the safety concern.

If it were me I would take the best of the 3 screw models, making sure that besides the external appearance everything else checks out okay with the actual workings of the gun.

As for your trade values you might want to check some online sources (Gunbroker or Gunsamerica), to get an idea what guns that are similar to yours are bringing nowadays. You're probably not going to get a really decent offer form the gunshop on your trade-in so you may want to consider doing a private sale, either locally or at a gunshow. Hope everything works out for you and let us know which one you get (with photos too!).

 

[JJE]

...and also feel the trigger pull is better on them then the later New Model.

I've never shot a 3-screw Single-Six, but I own and have shot a new Single Six quite a bit and the trigger is excellent out of the box, as you would expect from a single-action revolver.

If you were a collector, you would opt for the 3-screw, but if they have obvious wear, they may not have much collector appeal (although the shop is obviously charging more for them).

I would pay less for the new model and shoot the heck out of it. Mine has the 22 mag cylinder, but after I use up the case of 22 mags I bought just to shoot with this gun, I'll probably just stick to 22LR - a lot cheaper and just as much fun.