Speed Six -- born on? and grips?

[DouglasW]

Just picked up a new-to-me 2 3/4" Ruger Speed Six and was hoping someone could tell me:

• the date of manufacture (s/n 151-108xx)
• what the correct grips would be (and any good source for them).

I took it straight from the store to the range. A bit of holster-wear on the muzzle, but locks up solid and fun to shoot :

Thanks!

 

[Confederate]

You want the 151- or latest style grips. You can round off the butt and use Pachmayr round butt grips or get a standard set of Pachmayrs. I find the easiest and cheapest way to buy grips on eBay.

 

[slick6]

Your Speed-Six was made in 1974!

 

[DouglasW]

Thanks for the replies, guys. Confederate, are the pachmayrs you're referring to aftermarket rubber grips (like I enjoy on my 642)?

I keep reading that the Speed Six was a round-butt, but it looks much squarer than my S&W Model 65 round butt. Can anyone confirm that it truly is a round butt...for when I go grip-shopping



Once I figure this out, I'll check out the offerings on eBay.

Slick6, your advice that my revolver was manufactured in 1974 piqued my interest about when Ruger switched from 150- to 151- series. A little Googling quickly revealed that 1974 was the actual year that Ruger changed them (i.e. they started the year making 150- and finished the year with 151- prefix Speed Sixes.) 1975 began with serial number 151-21780. Neat.

 

[slick6]

DouglasW:

1)Thanks! And, I knew that your Speed-Six was in the first group of the 151 S/N Series that had been produced in 1974 on the tail end of the 150 S/N Series! That's pretty neat, finding a Speed-Six that was in the first produced batch of the 151 S/N Series!

2)Yes, I can definately confirm for you, that your Speed-Six has the round butt grip frame! And, Ruger's round butt, is NOT as rounded off as much as an Smith and Wesson K-frame!

 

[slick6]

DouglasW:

1)Thanks! And, I knew that your Speed-Six was in the first group of the 151 S/N Series that had been produced in 1974 on the tail end of the 150 S/N Series! That's pretty neat, finding a Speed-Six that was in the first produced batch of the 151 S/N Series!

2)Yes, I can definately confirm for you, that your Speed-Six has the round butt grip frame! And, Ruger's round butt, is NOT as rounded off as much as an Smith and Wesson K-frame!

3)Following, is a picture of an extremely rare(150 Series)Speed-Six, that is NIB, in the .38 special caliber, that I just recently obtained from an Ruger Estate gun collection(Model SS-82! It was also made in 1974!:

 

[dbarale]

The factory grips should look like this (sorry for the pic quality):

If you need more information you can try: http://www.rugerforum.com

 

[bestseller92]

Find out when your Ruger was made here:
http://www.ruger.com/Firearms/PS-SerialNumberHistory.html

 

[DouglasW]

Follow-up question

I'm looking on eBay for grips and am seeing ad text like:

Grips for Speed Six Round Butt Revolver. Fits: m207, m208, m737 and 738

What do those last numbers represent? Model numbers? How do I determine what "m" my 2 3/4", 151-series, Speed Six round-butt revolver would be?

Hoping to get grips that fit...the first time

Thanks!

 

[Confederate]

Well, I'll say this for the skinny grips: they make the gun concealable as hell. Put a couple of rubber bands around the grips and tuck it in to your waistband and you are good to go.

The rubber bands keep the gun from moving down, which really isn't a problem with the Speed- or Security-Sixes.

 

[Confederate]

By adding the Pachmayr rounded grips, the gun really sings. For square butt guns, you'll have to grind them into the right shape. But boy, does it rock and roll!

 

[Coyote3855]

Original Speed Six Grips

I've been looking for an original set witout results. The auction sites and lists have aftermarket grips, no originals. My advice, if you want the OEM grips is be patient and keep looking.

 

[DouglasW]

Pachmayr Grips

Confederate: I was originally planning to get the checkered wood grips for my new Speed Six, but since none are quickly available (thanks, Coyote for that input) I've decided to give the Pachmayrs a try for now! (I have a set on my S&W 642, and love 'em).

Edit: they're on their way to me. Gotta love e-commerce

 

[dbarale]

I just wanted to add, the factory grips, skinny as they are, do not allow for using a speedloader. I do not care as I carry Bianchi speed strips but I thought that might be useful information to somebody.

 

[slick6]

DouglasW:

1)All of the(151 and up, serial number prefix)Speed-Six grip frames are identical(They all have the same round butt grip profile!). This chart does NOT apply to the earlier(Old frame, 150 Series)Speed-Sixes! The Model numbers above: 207, 208, 737, and 738, has nothing to do with different fitting grips, for the Speed-Six! Following are the meaning of these various model numbers, which mostly refer to grip type(Wood or rubber(Pachmayr)?)reference to either a blue or a stainless gun, caliber, and for all of the available barrel lengths for any of these given model numbers:

Model: Caliber Catalog Number: Barrel: Sights:

207 .357 Mag. SS-32(Blue) 2-3/4" Fixed
207 .357 Mag. SS-32P***(Blue) 2-3/4" Fixed
207 .357 Mag. SS-34(Blue) 4" Fixed
208 .38 Spec. SS-82(Blue) 2-3/4" Fixed
737 .357 Mag. GS-32(Stainless) 2-3/4" Fixed
737 .357 Mag. GS-32P***(Stainless) 2-3/4" Fixed
737 .357 Mag GS-34(Stainless) 4" Fixed
738 .38 Spec. GS-82(Stainless) 2-3/4" Fixed

***(Refers to having the Pachmayr rubber grips as installed on the gun at the factory originally!)!

 

[DouglasW]

Model: Caliber Catalog Number: Barrel: Sights:

207 .357 Mag. SS-32(Blue) 2-3/4" Fixed
207 .357 Mag. SS-32P***(Blue) 2-3/4" Fixed
207 .357 Mag. SS-34(Blue) 4" Fixed
208 .38 Spec. SS-82(Blue) 2-3/4" Fixed
737 .357 Mag. GS-32(Stainless) 2-3/4" Fixed
737 .357 Mag. GS-32P***(Stainless) 2-3/4" Fixed
737 .357 Mag GS-34(Stainless) 4" Fixed
738 .38 Spec. GS-82(Stainless) 2-3/4" Fixed

***(Refers to having the Pachmayr rubber grips as installed on the gun at the factory originally!)!

Thanks for the info, Slick! The level of knowledge of THR members never ceases to amaze me!

[edit] So it looks like I have a "207 SS-32"...though I have no way of knowing with what grips it left the factory.

 

[slick6]

DouglasW:

Since your Speed-Six was an early production(151 Series)Speed-Six, made in 1974, at that time, only the checkered wood grips would have come on your revolver-because, the Pachmayr rubber grips were not yet available from the Ruger factory!

 

[Confederate]

Thanks for the replies, guys. Confederate, are the pachmayrs you're referring to aftermarket rubber grips (like I enjoy on my 642)?

Yes. I got all mine on eBay...cheap.

 

[Revolver Ocelot]

corect me if I'm wrong but I thought the single six was sa only, I noticed on dbarale's it looks like it has a bobbed hammer.

 

[DouglasW]

corect me if I'm wrong but I thought the single six was sa only, I noticed on dbarale's it looks like it has a bobbed hammer.

You are correct Rev, that the single six is a single-action revolver. However, in this thread we're discussing the Speed Six, (and its brothers the Service-six and Security-six). These are well-regarded Ruger double -action duty revolvers that pre-date the GP100 series...

 

[Revolver Ocelot]

oops I should have saw that, thank you.

 

[Cosmoline]

corect me if I'm wrong but I thought the single six was sa only, I noticed on dbarale's it looks like it has a bobbed hammer.

Single Six is a totally different revolver than Speed Six. The Speed Six was the fixed sight variation in the Security Six line of double action wheelguns Ruger made during the 70's and early 80's.

Mine's a 1975 issue. The single finest short barreled .357 ever made, IMHO.

 

[DouglasW]

Hey Cosmoline, what is on your front sight? sight-paint? nail polish? just reflection off the camera flash? Looks bright.

Thanks.

 

[Cosmoline]

Just some white paint. I'd like to find a Trijicon type for it, but so far no luck.

 

[DouglasW]

Pachmayr Compac Grips

Confederate: I was originally planning to get the checkered wood grips for my new Speed Six, but since none are quickly available (thanks, Coyote for that input) I've decided to give the Pachmayrs a try for now! (I have a set on my S&W 642, and love 'em).

Edit: they're on their way to me. Gotta love e-commerce

The Pachmayr Compac grips arrived today and seem incredibly comfortable -- hand filling, and yet still concealable. Can't wait to get to the range and try them out...



p.s. I promise to give this Speed Six a thorough cleaning once the weather warms up a bit...my garage (gun cleaning area) is colder than my freezer right now