Ruger Service Six

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popeye

popeye

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Yesterday I bought this Police Service Six. I've had both Security and Speed Sixes many moons ago. They seem to be getting harder to find. Maybe cause they only made the "six" models from '72-'88. Looks lke it was made in '85. I got the gun for $375 inc. tax, which seems to be pretty reasonable considering it's great condition.

Hav97tl.jpg
 
Very nice. I regret not snagging a service six cheap a few years ago. I still have a 4 inch Security Six that does all anyone should ask of a 4 inch .357.
 
A three inch DA revolver in a caliber of .357, .44, or .45 is my definition of the ultimate combat handgun for the citizen, that gun looks great and at a fair price to, I wanted a model 13 or 65 smith but with the three inch barrel theyre hard to find, the 586 L Comp I have had the rear sight changed out for a fixed sight so now I have what I want, but if I found a "six" series gun like yours Id be all over it.
 
Very nice!

I did not know the fixed-site short-barrel with the square-butt was an available combo.

I bought my first Service-Six on my 21st B-Day, driving from the Drivers License office to the LGS with $185 cash in-hand for a pristine blued 4" example in 1997.

It's not so pristine anymore, and was discharged by my father to prevent a violent attack, earning the right to permanent ownership in my family.
 
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Good find.

Older fixed sight revolvers are getter harder and harder to find as more people (re)discover the advantage of having a simple, no frills handgun for home and self-defense. California is driving up the demand for revolvers since the big gun manufactures have quit submitting their semi-autos to the DOJ for approval.
 
The Evangelist Cowboy said:
A three inch DA revolver in a caliber of .357, .44, or .45 is my definition of the ultimate combat handgun for the citizen, that gun looks great and at a fair price to, I wanted a model 13 or 65 smith but with the three inch barrel theyre hard to find, the 586 L Comp I have had the rear sight changed out for a fixed sight so now I have what I want, but if I found a "six" series gun like yours Id be all over it.
Click to expand...

Speed_Six.jpg

Here is mine! Three-inch, bead-blasted US Postal Inspection Service gun.
 
That's a great find and a great price.The Ruger Six series are just classic examples of old school "meat and potatoes" revolvers. Around my neck of the woods you can occasionally find a decent condition Security Six model but the Service Six and Speed Six not so much. A few years ago I passed on a fine example of a stainless Service Six in .38 SP because I thought the price was a little much at $400. :notworthy:
 
popeye said:
The 3" US Postal Inspection Service is the Holy Grail of Six collectors. Yours is an excellent example.
Click to expand...

I looked for two years before I found one... There are two on GunBroker right now that are in worse condition but have the boxes and USPIS manuals. Wish I could pick up another.
 
I bought this service six new in 1976. I have the original grips too. I almost sold it but I am glad I kept it. It looks scratched badly on the close up but it is in fine condition to the eye w/o magnification.

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I have two Security-Six's with 4" barrels. One with adjustable sights and one with iron sights. Still enjoy shooting them. That's a real nice Service-Six you have there. Good luck with it.:)
 
My dad carried one during a stint as a rural Colorado deputy back in the eighties. I was doing a stint in LE myself, here in southern Florida, and he and I were not in contact at the time. We re-connected around 1999, and he passed on in 2010. His Police Service Six is with me now (along with the one other gun he still owned, a Charter Arms Undercover dating from 1966.)

Great, solid tank of a revolver. You have a fine gun there.
 
The gun's junk. I'll give you a hundred bucks for it and use it for parts....

Uhhh, I'm sorry. What was that you said about my mother?

Speed-Six_4.jpg
This Ruger Speed-Six started life out as a .38 Spc. I later had it reamed out to accommodate
the .357 Magnum, and because the smith was well known and did a superlative job, the gun
now shoots better than many .357s. It's dead on with iron sights. Never saw another 3-inch
until now and it's a very desirable gun.

 
Confederate said:
View attachment 787479
This Ruger Speed-Six started life out as a .38 Spc. I later had it reamed out to accommodate
the .357 Magnum, and because the smith was well known and did a superlative job, the gun
now shoots better than many .357s. It's dead on with iron sights. Never saw another 3-inch
until now and it's a very desirable gun.

This Ruger Speed-Six started life out as a .38 Spc. I later had it reamed out to accommodate
the .357 Magnum, and because the smith was well known and did a superlative job, the gun
now shoots better than many .357s. It's dead on with iron sights. Never saw another 3-inch
until now and it's a very desirable gun.
Click to expand...

Must have been a parts gun? The USPIS Speed Sixes were the only guns from the factory with 3" barrels, but they were all bead-blasted as opposed to brushed stainless. Ruger did make some guns from the leftover parts and release them, though. I don't think any of the USPIS guns were .38 Special.

A lovely gun. I love the Pachmayr Compaq grips. The most comfortable, ergonomic grips I've had on a revolver. I wish they were a bit prettier.
 
I was not aware that there were contracts (US Postal Inspection Service) that are rare enough to be collectible.
I always looked at the Ruger Six line as plain Jane people's guns.
 
I have a "Police" Service Six in 38 Special in superb condition. I understand these can be reamed to .357? What do I need to do that?

Mine:

IMG_4166.jpg

3C
 
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I bought a Service Six a few years ago; paid too much at $400+, but will never be getting rid of it. Had to go through a few grips before I found the Pachmayr Gripper grips. It's my blue-collar shooter. Given that military and police forces all use semi-autos now (meaning that's where the money is) technology in the revolver realm will advance pretty slowly for the foreseeable future.
 
A clymer chamber reamer. Not cheap. But easy enough. Go slow. Do not turn it counter clockwise. Slow, steady. Let the guides center the tool. Lots of oil. Good clean up after on the throats and chamfer the chambers. Go slow. Might as well re crown and recut the forcing cone.

Second thought. Send it to a good Smith. Cheaper than buying the tools. That and the learning curve is pretty steep. I ruined one or two. Take the smart route.
 
Carl N. Brown

I was not aware that there were contracts (US Postal Inspection Service) that are rare enough to be collectible.
I always looked at the Ruger Six line as plain Jane people's guns.​
Click to expand...


I believe Ruger also had a contract with the Indian Government to supply Service Sixes in .38 S&W.​
 
I'm not absolutely sure anymore but there were companies that rented reamers specifically to use on firearms. I rented one years ago to ream a .32 Det. Spec. to .32 H&R. Try gagleing revolver reamer rentals.
 
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