Game-Changer
My life was changed forever in 1956 when I purchased my first Single-Six for $63.25. My original version had a 5-1/2" barrel and fixed sights (well, except for the fact the rear was drift-adjustable for windage). The one-piece grip frame was aluminum and the loading gate — instead of being beautifully contoured like the Colt’s — was flat. This was quickly changed to a standard contoured loading gate. By 1960 Ruger began offering Convertible Single-Sixes with two cylinders — one chambered in .22 LR, the other in the recently introduced .22 Magnum. The latter used a slightly larger bullet than the former, so Ruger compromised with a barrel diameter of 0.219" to handle both.
In 1964 Ruger introduced one of the best versions of the Single-Six with the Super Single-Six that had adjustable sights. It too was a Convertible Model with both cylinders and was offered in both 5-1/2" and 6-1/2" barrel lengths with an uncataloged 4-5/8" offered rarely. Up to this time all Ruger SAs had a Three-Screw action, which mandated carry with the hammer resting on an empty chamber.
In 1973 the New Model Ruger arrived with a transfer-bar safety that allowed safe, fully-loaded carry for the first time since cartridge-firing single actions arrived in the 1870s. Over the years Ruger has added stainless steel versions as well as a New Model Single-Six Hunter version with a heavy ribbed barrel that accepted Ruger scope rings and even a 10-shot Single-10 .22 LR version.
