Waveform

Nice Speed Six Quick Draw! Just added THAT to my want list.......

ptblank

If you'd like a snubbie with adjustable sights-then, a Security-Six is very nice in both blue or stainless:

ExArmy11b

I had a spare T-grip laying around, that I took off my 4" Redhawk and I added it to my stainless .38 Special 1982 vintage Service Six yesterday, also added the "po boy red insert" to the front sight, i.e. Testor's Red





Now I think it has that classic "80's cop gun" look



Here's the "beater" .38 Special Service Six from my previous post, the one I added the Bullseye springs to. I had to swap out the cylinder latch because for some reason, the Bullseye trigger spring doesn't always allow the latch to fully pop up through the window, luckily one of the spare latches I had laying around worked fine. IMO these Herrett's grips are butt ugly, but they feel right and they work, and also give the gun a "vintage" 70's look,along with the Tyler trigger shoe. I like to give my guns different "personas" so I imagine this gun to be something like a 1970's security guard who was a "gun guy" might have carried Someday soon I plan to polish and stone the action a little, to see just how slick I can get this one.

The Bullseye spring kits do feel just about perfect to me, I have 3 Sixes with them,soon to be a 4th, and they never fail to pop even CCI .357 primers, and the return spring is just snappy enough so the trigger return doesn't feel "spongy" or sluggish.



There is no "rule" as to what kind of grips you can use on a fixed sight revolver Most of my Sixes are pure "shooter grade" and many are trade-ins or former private purchase LEO carry guns. I have everything from Herrett's, Safariland, and stock "slim" and "big" grips on my Sixes.



These Ruger logo Sile grips were factory issue on this .38 Special Service Six, one of 5 former Cook County Hospital security guard guns that I bought. They are 1985 production and I assume were special order by the Cook County Security Dept. They are rarer guns, with the features they have, the heavy barrel, rubber grips and chambered for .38 Special.



This "low back" .38 Special Speed Six has rust all over the grip frame and in the action, and the original wood grips were ruined.........the rust and poor storage made the wood soft and when I removed the grips, they cracked and were all "mushy" on the side that sat against the rusty grip frame.......so, it looks like I'll be having Sack Peterson make a set of stags for this one at some point I plan to use the last set of Bullseye springs in this Speed Six, the condition of the gun makes it purely a non-collector, it has rust pitting all over it, but I got it cheap and it shoots great.



This is a beat up Speed Six I bought as a carry piece, the wood grips that were on it were pure firewood, so I stuck these rubber grips on for now. I dropped in a spurless "speed hammer", and I think I will go with Pachmayr Compac grips for this one. I love wood on my revolvers, but this one is purely a "working" gun, and you can't beat rubber grips for those kind of guns.

Waveform

ptblank - you have a Six museum! With a lot of NIB examples. Love the blue & wood snubbie w/adjustable sights.

Exarmy, you're a real Six-smith! I usually do something with the black front sights on my revolvers - I can't see them very well anymore at the range, especially against a black target. Dang older eyes....

You probably caught it from my earlier posts in this thread but just in case, and seeing how much you swap out grips, Ruger is selling a bunch of brand new old stock grips for the Sixes for a rediculous low price. If you buy a box of six sets it comes to $9.51 per set including the shipping. I assume they're all the same - target grips. That's where I got the set you see in my OP picture.

Thanks for mentioning the Bullseye kits. I'm familiar with the Wolff paks from my SP & GP projects and have a set of Wolff springs sitting on my desk for my Redhawk. I'll look into the Bullseye springs.

Great stuff - thanks for sharing!

Wave

ExArmy11b

I recommend trying just the Bullseye mainspring first, and leaving the stock return spring in place. Sometimes the Bullseye trigger springs get "finicky" and don't allow the cylinder latch to work right.

ptblank has many NIB and rare Sixes, stuff I'll probably never own

I'm more of a collector of shooter grade stuff and trade ins, and I just enjoy tinkering.

ptblank

Wave,

1)Thanks for the compliment.

2)My intention in posting specimens from my Six Series "Museum" was not to show off these revolvers-but instead, was to illustrate to you(and others)just starting out in acquiring these revolvers, a variety of examples of these fine guns. Although these "Sixes" are harder to find now-since folks are hanging onto them, they are out there and you just need to keep up the faith in looking for them-because sooner or later you will find some nice ones'. And this is exactly what I'd done to end up with my collection.

3)Since you liked the 2.75" blue high back Security-Six, following is the same in the only low back specimen that is in my collection:

Waveform

For what its worth - I called Ruger CS and got Gil this time (always enjoy talking to Gil - he's very friendly and helpful and actually listens to you). I asked to be transferred over to the Records Dept. and Gil told me they no longer will look up your serial number over the phone. You have to request a letter in writing.

So I guess I'll go that route and wait 30 to 60 days for the reply. THEN I will know what grips my Police Service-Six was shipped with.....

Wave

ExArmy11b

Wow you have to request info in writing?

The last time I called Ruger records was this summer.......I guess Ruger is doing what S&W does, with the "letters", but at least Ruger does it for free It would be neat to have some of my Rugers "lettered" even in the info is somewhat limited.

S&W letters give you the actual date the gun shipped, where it shipped to and in some cases who ordered it, as well as the configuration it shipped in. But for most of my S&W's, it's not worth the $35 or whatever they charge to find this out.

JonRugerInWA

Here's my 1978-vintage Security Six with its Trausch TJ84R grips; Trausch makes them for the round-butt models, but he'll happily modify them for the square-butt Security Six. On mine, he also whittled down the left grip's ridge, making it far easier to use speed loaders. The Trausch grips both handle superbly and absorb/dissipate recoil forces very effectively.









Best, Jon

Waveform

Jon - Nice Six and nice pictures! The Trausch grip does look comfortable.

Waveform

ExArmy - Gil directed me to the page on the Ruger website and the statement below:


"For serial numbers manufactured prior to our electronic records, or for an official letter confirming the details on your firearm please download and mail in the Request for Letter of Authenticity form."

Here's the webpage:

Ruger Instruction Manuals & Product History

So I guess that's they way it is now. By the way, S&W now charges $50 for Mr. Jinks to look up your serial number and write a letter. At least Ruger does it for free. (Arguably S&W gives you more detail - details about the gun, when it was manufactured, who it was shipped to, sometimes the person's name who ordered it, etc. I think they kept better records.)

Wave

Just downloaded the request form - there is a fee of $10 per letter for Ruger to look up your serial number and write a "Letter of Authenticity". Ruger does NOT do it for free.