Click here to download the catalog as a PDF file. To view this site you need Adobe Flash Player and your browser must allow javaScripts. Go here to get the latest Flash Player. Single Action Army. The blue finish of the Single-Six was certainly adequate but nowhere near the beautifully blued and case-hardened look of the Single Action Army. Then, as now, Ruger products were aimed at the so-called “blue collar” market consisting of those shooters who wanted every day working firearms capable of lasting for generations. A Legend The first Ruger Single-Six arrived in 1953 with a standard 51/2" barrel, an all blue finish, and a price tag of $57.50. The original prototype Single-Six had a case-colored frame, however Ruger decided to go with the all blue finish. Many of the early guns had a somewhat reddish or purple colored mainframe, so if you see that on an old gun, it may not mean it’s a re-blue. During the show the machine broke — the Single-Six did not. In 1957 the flat loading gate was changed to the Colt-style contoured loading gate. Two years later, two new barrel lengths were added, 45/8" and 91/2" and the shortest is the rarest. This same year, 1959, saw the first Convertible Model Rugers offered with two cylinders, one in .22 Long Rifle one in .22 Winchester Magnum. Single-Sixes were also offered in .22 Winchester Magnum alone. During the late 1950s and early 1960s Ruger also offered the Lightweight Single-Six. Both steel and alloy-frame versions were offered, however the alloy cylinder proved to be inadequate and was soon replaced with a steel cylinder. In 1962 production of the original .22 Single-Sixes ended as we entered what is commonly known as the Old Model versions when applied to the centerfire Ruger single actions of the time. The grip frame was changed to allow more room behind the trigger guard. The original grip frames, identical in shape and size to the Colt Single Action Army, were marked XR3; the newer frames were became XR3-RED. Original grips had been checkered black rubber with black eagle medallions, however in 1960 these were phased out in favor of walnut grip panels, and all of the “2nd Generation” Single-Sixes are fitted with walnut stocks. Most of these also came with extra .22 Magnum cylinders. The Single-Six became even more versatile in 1964 with the introduction of the Super Single-Six with adjustable sights. This certainly made sense, as any Convertible sixgun WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM • JULY/AUGUST 2009 www.riograndecustomgrips.com The Image Your Gun Wanted. 303-330-2812 78