Ruger Security/Speed/Service Six: Current Market Value

[jad0110]

I am in the market for a 2.75" or 3" (I know, they are rare) Ruger Six series (security, speed or service) in 357 Magnum for IWB carry. I prefer blued, but stainless is fine too.

With the current gun buying craze on, I want to be sure I do not overpay. There are some MAJOR ripoffs out there. For example, just the other day I saw a used 4" stainless Ruger GP100 for $640 , a 4" S&W Model 10-5 for $500 and a 1942 Izhevsk Mosin Nagant M38 for $750 !

I did see a 2.75" blued Security Six that was in pretty solid condition. Nice, tight lockup with about 90-95% of the bluing remaining. It had big, butt ugly rubber grips, but those can be swapped out for some nice wood furniture. The DA trigger pull was reasonably smooth with just a hint of stacking (no biggie), however it had a tremendous amount of creep and the letoff was pretty sloppy; nowhere near as crisp as my Smiths. The creep itself made up about 10 - 20% of the total trigger pull distance. Asking price $425. It would definitely need some trigger work.

My instincts say that $425 would be okay (still on the high side) if the trigger wasn't so bad. What are your thoughts? What would it cost, roughly, to get the trigger cleaned up? What should a gun like this really cost?

As a side note, I am open to an equivalent S&W K-Frame in 38 or 357, but I know they are probably priced into the stratosphere these days.

 

[ChemicalArts]

There are some MAJOR ripoffs out there. For example, just the other day I saw a used 4" stainless Ruger GP100 for $640

Yikes, I got a used GP100 4" SS earlier this year for $275. It seemed like a good deal at the time. Now it seems like a steal.

 

[Bearhands]

I paid $325 for my 2.75" 95% (barely a turn line) Speed Six this past fall here in PA. My suggestion is to shop elsewhere. I've had the best luck in mom and pop gunshops.

 

[jd70]

I bought a 6" security six for 325.00 just a few weeks ago. Stainless, sweeeet gun!!

 

[madcratebuilder]

My instincts say that $425 would be okay (still on the high side) if the trigger wasn't so bad. What are your thoughts? What would it cost, roughly, to get the trigger cleaned up? What should a gun like this really cost?

That sounds like a $300 revolver at most. The short barrels are harder to find, but are around. About six months ago I picked up a 2nd design Security Six in stainless, 2 3/4 barrel with very nice custom target grips, box and papers for $400. At the time I felt that was top dollar. It seems that the price of revolvers has gone up and there is a glut of used semi's on the market.

 

[Invisible Swordsman]

I bought a 6" stainless Security Six two weeks ago for $200.00--at Gander Mountain!!!

Earlier this year I bought a stainless 4" for $289. At gun shows I've seen them at $400 and more. It's difficult to pin down an average price.

 

[stormspotter]

I just sent a M.O. off for this 4" one today. I have a 2 1/2" Model 19 but actually prefer 4" revolvers for CCW.

 

[Fat Boy]

I saw a stainless, short barrel sec six and a blue steel with the same length barrel at a gun show recently; the stainless was $375 and the blue steel gun was $325. Both in awfully nice condition. I think anything below $300 is pretty good money, at least in the midwest

 

[wnycollector]

I picked up my 97% SS 2.75" Ruger Security Six 2 years ago for $275. Up until this fall, I regularly say "sixes" of various barrel lengths in the $250-300 range at gun shows and gun shops. I still see them but the price has crept up to the $300-350 range.

 

[scotjute]

I just bought Security Six with short barrell for $350 in Texas. The ones with longer barrells are usually around $300 and up.

 

[Bozo]

Around here a 2 3/4" stainless six would be about $350.00. At some shows though recently I have seen people asking over $400.00 for them.

 

[jad0110]

Thank you for all the replies. Sounds like $425 for a 2.75" blue security six that needs trigger work is a bit much. Seems like $375 and under would be a fair price to pay.

I may yet get a 4" for carry, but I just like snubs and I've only got one thus far .

 

[Old 112]

Last fall, at my main gun store, I stumbled onto
a short sevice six stainless.

(The blind pig and the acorn thing).

It looks as good as Madcratebuilder's, and had the
original stocks wrapped up seperately and were perfect.
No box.
I will not write what the price was, but it was just under
$250.01. On my next trip there, they said they
really messed up on that one. I said I thought I
could let go back for about $400.

Good quality Short revolvers are in demand now.

On the auction sites some Short K frame S&W are starting at around
$400 and some are ending at $500 and sometimes higher.
But, a short 10,13,15,19,66 is really really sweet.

Regards
Old 112

 

[OldWolf]

I bought a nice blue 4" Security Six with a Don Hume holster last week for $250 OTD.

 

[ilmonster]

Our local police supply store had a few dozen Security/Police Six's with fixed sites, 4" barrels in stainless for $250 a few weeks ago. They were police trade in's, but were in nice condition.

 

[Blue Brick]

Just paid 379 for a Mint SS Service Six 4 inch 38.

 

[liljohn]

They've got to be the butt-ugliest revolvers in existence. Unbreakable and potentially accurate, but d*mn they are ugly.

I have one, too.

 

[finfanatic]

Gun show

I was looking for an AK-47 at a gunshow in Dothan, AL last Saturday. All the AKs were shockingly high-priced, but I saw a pile of used revolvers that were higher than I thought they should be but not shockingly overpriced.

I came REAL close to buying a 4" S&W 586 that had $375 as the haggle starting point, but the dealer seemed more interested in selling used watches than selling the pistol, so I walked away disgusted.

Found a Ruger Sp101 for $440 but by this time, there were so many people crowded into the aisles, it was hard to breath and there was a line of people at the table filling out the Infringement Form (4473) to buy from the dealer, so I kept my AK money and am still looking.

I can remember when you could actually talk a dealer down on a price at a gunshow, but lately, there are so many people and demand is so high, haggling is almost impossible.