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My answer to this timeless dilemma?

Of course!

Clean it after getting it all smoked up!

Thanks to a Ruger Forum member I was able to acquire this 1968, 4 5/8" barrel Ruger.

My very first pistol at age 17 was a 1967 model just like it. Sadly, it was later stolen, and I hadn't shot a Single Six for about 40 years until this afternoon.

Gee, was that ever fun! After 100 rounds all that was left was a paper massacre.

wow...great gun. In my opinion there's not a better made 22 cal revolver than the old three screw Single Six. My Dad bought one at Otasco for $69.50 in 1971 (with both cylinders) that he never shot more than 25-30 rounds through. I carried it some for copperheads and small varmints when I was bow hunting some really nasty bottom land back in the early 70's, but probably didn't shoot over 50 rounds through it then. Dad kept it in the original box, with the original sales slip and all the papers. I inherited it (along with a few others) when Dad died in 2003. My grandson (and my son) fell in love with it the first time I took it to the range with us.... so....I figured why make them wait for me to die (grandson already tells me which of my collection is his when I die ) and decided to pass it down to them and let them fight over it. I have tried to convince my son to keep the gun in a padded case and pack the original serial numbered box away inside another box for safe keeping. If I'm not mistaken, right now the box can add $50-100 to the value of a well maintained 3 screw model.

Another thing to consider (I opted not to) is sending the gun to Ruger for a retro fit of the modern safety features. They will preserve all the original parts, and the gun can be returned to it's original condition at any time. Not sure if the offer is still good (I think it is) but they used to do this work for free.

Shoot it, and take care of it and that revolver will put a smile of several generations of young and old shooters.

For what it's worth, I was offered $500 for mine a few years ago.... but it ain't for sale.

Congrats on a really nice find.


surv

I think a Ruger Single Six was the first handgun I ever shot. I now have a Mark I that left the factory in 1969 according to the serial number and it's a joy to shoot. Some things just get better with age.

serv, you're right about ths safety conversion and the value of the boxes.

Here's a 5 1/2" 1960 that's been converted but retained all the original parts:




nice box, huh?

Sweet! That there is a fine shootin iron!

here is my 1975 new model blackhawk. in .357 great pistols! congrats

Fantastic. And I thought my 36 year old Mini-14 was ancient.