Just found a Ruger fitted cylinder...need advice

[doc540]

My dad's getting up in the years, and from time to time I help clean and inventory his firearms and ammo.

Tucked away in a box I discovered a new, stainless Ruger extra cylinder for a Single Six.

I bought this probably 30+ years ago, but never used it in my Single Six since it was stolen from me.

The box has this note: "The number on the cylinder must be identical with last 3 digits of serial number".

Does this, perhaps, have value or could it be of use to another Ruger owner out there? Or is it just another of many miscellaneous parts that isn't worth anything to anyone?

thanks

 

[moosehunt]

I sure hope someone truly knowledgable addresses this. Of course everyone is familiar with what you said is stated about each cylinder being gun specific, and in parts books, it specifies that cylinders are only sold "installed at the factory", but is this really that critical? I'm not saying it's not, but I sure would like some good "non-factory" information. I emphasize information, not speculation. I might be interested in purchasing your cylinder.

Say, maybeso you should run some ads listing your numbers on the cylinder, requesting whoever has the matching gun to contact you! They might really want that cylinder, or maybeso they'd offer to return your gun, with apologies!

 

[Old Fuff]

Cylinders are made in slightly different lengths, and the "right" length for each revolver is picked out, assembled and checked before being numbered to that gun. Putting the cylinder in another gun is sort of of hit & miss sort of thing. Sometimes they work fine, or if long enough can be made to fit. If it is too short you're probably out of luck. But anyway the reason they are numbered is because they aren't considered to be interchangeable between guns.

 

[doc540]

Thanks, Fluff, that helps a lot.

moose, I'll post some detailed pics as soon as possible.

The box clearly says the numbers on the cylinder must match the last three numbers of the gun's serial number.

Problem is, the third number on the cylinder isn't very clear, and all three look like they were engraved by a vibrating, electric hand tool.

Pics to follow soon.

thanks again

 

[Old Fuff]

Doc540:

If it is your intention to sell the cylinder I suggest that either you, or a gunsmith or machinist measure the overall length – from the back of the ratchet to the front of the hub – with a dial caliper. If a potential buyer does the same with the cylinder in his or her revolver you will have some dimensions to work with.

If the two cylinders are the same length it should go into the second gun. If your cylinder is longer it can probably be fitted to the second revolver. If your cylinder is shorter you’d likely be best off to forget it.

 

[ACORN]

Post this on the www.Rugerforum.com. Somebody there may be looking for one.

 

[rcmodel]

In practical terms, it is likely the cylinder would drop right in another Single-Six and work just fine.

It is unlikely anyone set around the Ruger factory and faced off cylinders in a lathe to fit them to every gun flowing off the assembly line!

Ruger factory fitting probably consists of putting the cylinder in the gun and using a range rod to check if the holes line up with the bore.

What I would be more concerned with is the slight differences in hands & ratchets over the years between the three-screws and later New-Models.

And there is some speculation that the .22 RF barrels are tighter then the .22 Mag bores on the convertible guns.

Accuracy testing I have done with .22LR and .22 Mag in a convertible would seem to bear this out.

rcmodel

 

[doc540]

thanks for the info

been busy this week and have done nothing but measure it with calipers

 

[moosehunt]

If it's out of a three screw, I have a three screw and might be interested in it if you're interested in parting with it. We'd have to compare some measurements. I pretty much agree with Mr. model--I can't see Ruger doing any significant "fitting" of each and every cylinder.