Lucky Derby
Member
I'm just wondering what the differences are between the Speed-Six, Service-Six, and the Security-Six revolvers.
Ruger -SIX series revolvers
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MCgunner
Member
IIRC Speed Six is short barrel Service Six. Service Six is fixed sight, Security Six is adjustable sight. Basically the same gun otherwise.
Speed Six-Fixed sights, round butt, 2 3/4" barrel.
Security Six- Adjustable sights, square butt, 2 3/4", 4", and I believe a 6" was also available in barrel lengths.
Service Six-Fixed sights, square butt, and I'm not sure on barrel lengths for this one, I believe it was only 4" and 6".
Good guns though, smaller than the current GP series from Ruger, about the size of S&W K-frame, maybe slightly larger. They do handle magnum loads a little better than the K-frame though, and they are usually cheaper than Smiths as well. I recently got a LNIB 4" blued security six for a hair under $300, and a NIB stainless security six 2 3/4" for about $350.
If you're thinking about getting one, and see one at a good price, you won't be disappointed.
Security Six- Adjustable sights, square butt, 2 3/4", 4", and I believe a 6" was also available in barrel lengths.
Service Six-Fixed sights, square butt, and I'm not sure on barrel lengths for this one, I believe it was only 4" and 6".
Good guns though, smaller than the current GP series from Ruger, about the size of S&W K-frame, maybe slightly larger. They do handle magnum loads a little better than the K-frame though, and they are usually cheaper than Smiths as well. I recently got a LNIB 4" blued security six for a hair under $300, and a NIB stainless security six 2 3/4" for about $350.
If you're thinking about getting one, and see one at a good price, you won't be disappointed.
Bob79:
Except for some special(Odd-ball)barrel lengths-or otherwise some rarer barrel lengths, your information is correct above, except as follows:
1)Speed-Six: Some of these were also made in the 4-inch barrel length. Following is a picture of my 4-inch Speed-Six:
2)Service-Six: These were also made in the 2.75-inch barrel length. Following is a picture of my 2.75-inch Service-Six:
Except for some special(Odd-ball)barrel lengths-or otherwise some rarer barrel lengths, your information is correct above, except as follows:
1)Speed-Six: Some of these were also made in the 4-inch barrel length. Following is a picture of my 4-inch Speed-Six:
2)Service-Six: These were also made in the 2.75-inch barrel length. Following is a picture of my 2.75-inch Service-Six:
Confederate
Member
Nice guns, slick6. Pity they don't still make them. They were just too expensive to make for the price. I was just playing with my stainless 6-inch Security-Six (never been shot) and I couldn't get over how nice the balance was. Unlike the full underlug models they make today, a 6-inch Ruger I think would be the ultimate outdoor handgun.
I love older handgun models. They bring back lots of memories.
I love older handgun models. They bring back lots of memories.
MCgunner
Member
I gave $179 for a brand new Security Six in 1978 at a Gibson's discount in Lake Jackson, Texas. Wish I still had that revolver. It was a good shooter with magnum loads, a little less so with any .38 spl stuff, a 4" stainless model with a hard nylon Hogue grip installed.
JohnBT
Member
Speaking of oddball, from the '99 Standard Catalog of Firearms:
Security Six - "Early guns with fixed sights and square butt were also marked Security-Six. The model was later termed Service-Six and so marked."
"Fixed sight guns marked Security-Six and round butt Security-Sixes with adjustable sights are worth a premium."
Speed-Six - "There are some with factory bobbed hammers."
Security Six - "Early guns with fixed sights and square butt were also marked Security-Six. The model was later termed Service-Six and so marked."
"Fixed sight guns marked Security-Six and round butt Security-Sixes with adjustable sights are worth a premium."
Speed-Six - "There are some with factory bobbed hammers."
Confederate
Member
I've used rounded Speed-Six grips as a template to score and then grind several Security-Sixes to round-butt configurations, then put rounded Pachmayr Compacts on. This gives the guns a feel that no other .357 has been able to match. All it takes is a little grinding.
There were various rare and odd-ball configurations of the Security/Service/Speed-Sixes throughout their life span! However, one other thing should be noted, in that there were heavy barrel versions of the standard 2.75", the 4.0", and the 6.0" barrel lengths! There were also some heavy barrel 3.0" versions of these revolvers also(But, these are more uncommonly seen)!
OP
OP
Lucky Derby
Member
Thanks all. I appreciate the answers.
I had one of those Speed-Sixes with the bobed hammers back in the early 90's. I traded it for some bottlm feeder. :banghead: If I had known then what I know now.
I had one of those Speed-Sixes with the bobed hammers back in the early 90's. I traded it for some bottlm feeder. :banghead: If I had known then what I know now.
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