Attached is a photo of my recently acquired Ruger Police Service-Six revolver in .38 Special. According to internet lore, Ruger introduced their popular "Six" models in .38 Special in response to departments which were prohibited from carrying .357 Magnum revolvers. At some point, these .38 Special versions became standard Ruger catalog items along side the .357 Magnum offerings. Other than barrel markings and chambers which are bored slightly shorter, the revolvers are dimensionally identical to their more potent counterparts. If any of our Ruger members would like to chime in, I would be very interested in learning more about the history of the .38 Special "Six" models. Thanks for looking.

Actually you have a Service Six. And it’s beautiful.

The Security Six has adjustable sights and a square butt, the Speed Six has the fixed trench sight and a round butt, and the Service Six has the fixed trench sights and a square butt.

The Service Six is the only one of the three I don’t own and probably the one I want most. Yours looks like a really nice example.

Well, here's some for you to look at.

On the left are two Speed Sixes- top one is in 9x19, bottom one in the much, much more common .357 chambering. On the right is a somewhat scarce GP100, with the "short shroud" barrel.



And then there was the Security Six, with adjustable sights.

quote:

Originally posted by Pale Horse:
Actually you have a Service Six.

Yes, thank you. I've corrected my post. For some reason I often conflate the two model names.

quote:

Originally posted by hjs157:

quote:

Originally posted by Pale Horse:
Actually you have a Service Six.

Yes, thank you. I've corrected my post. For some reason I often conflate the two model names.

Of course. I wish I owned a larger collection of them but there’s that whole money thing. I love the guns.

Here’s my current set of Six series guns. A .357 Mag Security Six, a .38 special 4” Speed Six and a 2 3/4” Speed Six in 9mm.

Can anybody outline the differences between the Security-Six, Service-Six, and Speed-Six?

In my experience, the Security-Six has adjustable sights, and the Speed-Six has fixed sights, but is there more to it than that? And where does the Service-Six fall in that regard? The OP's gun (a real beauty, by the way!) has fixed sights...so what sets it apart from a Speed-Six?

If I understand correctly, the Security-Six has adjustable sights & a square butt, the Service-Six has fixed sights & a square butt while the Speed-Six has fixed sights & a round butt.

quote:

Originally posted by 92fstech:
The OP's gun (a real beauty, by the way!) has fixed sights...so what sets it apart from a Speed-Six?

Square butt vs. round butt

Gotcha, thanks. I've always wondered about that. I really like the six-series revolvers...it's like a slightly trimmer GP100 with a better ejector rod.

Well, Ruger didn't introduce the strengthened GP100 for nothing. Just like S&W introducing the L Frame, there was a need.

I don't have much to offer as far as history goes as I'm new to the Ruger ___ Six game myself. I picked up my first revolver, a Security Six, locally about 2 months ago. I made a post about it HERE. I picked up another one locally 2 weeks ago. Both are used shooters, but I like 'em. I also picked up a "parts kit" on the auction site. I haven't contact Ruger yet to see the approximate year. The one with the orange front sight is obviously newer. To be honest, before I took them out to snap these pictures I haven't had them side by side before.

I haven't had a chance to shoot either of them yet...too busy with my kids and an ongoing kitchen remodel.

My humble collection:

Only have one now, but I like it. Speed Six from 1976 " Made in the 200th year of American liberty "

I picked up a nice NYCPD spurless hammer serivesix that has the little star stamped on the inside of the crane , they are very nice and you don`t see them much anymore .

When Ken Waters did a Pet Loads article on .38 S&W, he shot them in a Security Six as made in .38/200 for an Indian police order.

So there is something you need to complete your DA Ruger collection.

quote:

Originally posted by triaxle:
I picked up a nice NYCPD spurless hammer serivesix that has the little star stamped on the inside of the crane , they are very nice and you don`t see them much anymore .

The star indicates what? A police gun?

quote:

Originally posted by hjs157:
I would be very interested in learning more about the history of the .38 Special "Six" models. Thanks for looking.

I'm no expert on the SIX series, but NYPD did authorize the .38 special version. There is also a good book on Ruger history, titled Ruger and History. It's got a section on the 6 series. numerich arms has parts if you need them.

I've always liked the six series revolvers. I often troll GB searching for them trying to find a deal.

Here's my 1978 Speed Six .357....

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
[QUOTE]The star indicates what? A police gun?

Inside the crane, there will be a 5 point star stamp if it was NYPD. They were stamped by the firearms unit after initial inspection and approved for use.

Very few revolvers, in modern times, were “issued” by the NYPD. They were purchased by the Officers while in the academy and delivered prior to graduation.

My Service Six was purchased from a Nassau County Officer who carried it when he was NYPD. According to him, they had “Gun day” at the academy. They were offered a Smith Model 64 or the stainless Service Six. You were allowed to handle it, futz with it a bit, picked one and, it was ordered for you. Paid for out of your first years uniform allowence.

quote:

Originally posted by hjs157:
If any of our Ruger members would like to chime in, I would be very interested in learning more about the history of the .38 Special "Six" models. Thanks for looking.

A lot of agencies forbid the use of the .357 Magnum as it was deemed overkill and inhumane.

Lots of armored car companies, prisons, security companies, also only allowed .38 Special, as, of course, the NYPD. I think some states even had Laws that Private Security could only carry .38 Special.

And, for export, the .38 was popular.

It only made sense to offer the Ruger Six Series as .38 Special only as the only difference was to drill the chambers less deeply and, mark the barrels.

Even the CHP ordered S&W model 66’s chambered in .38 Special, designated the Model 68.

The “Maginum” designation created much angst among politicians of the era.

So, you wound up with the .38 Special “Treasury Load” that was a +P+ 110 gr hollow point that was, for all practical purposes, a .357 Magum..but,acceptable.

Depending on what you are carrying it for, I’d get a couple boxes of one of these and, feel well armed.

https://www.buffalobore.com/in...l=product_list&c=104

https://www.buffalobore.com/in...product_detail&p=108

This refers the the Model 68, but the reasoning is the same.

https://revolverguy.com/missin...ith-wesson-model-68/

I have a 6 inch stainless Security Six and a 4 inch blue one.