Case Hardened Single Six?

[rWt]

I am not familiar with this version. www.gunsamerica.com/901114009/RUGER-N-M-SINGLE-SIX-IN-32-H-R-MAGNUM.htm

As I vaguely recall, Ruger tried case coloring some years back and found that it wore off to quickly. Is that a correct recollection?

What's the word on the above revolver? Stay away?

[tdbarton]

Ruger used a chemical wash to give an appearance similar to color case hardening.

I have a New Vaquero with the treatment and it’s holding up really well, but others have had different experiences. If you like the revolvers, go for it and then you always have the option of a re-blue or the well-used look.

[Encore64]

They were made quite a while back. I never added one because I prefer adjustable Sights. But, never heard anything bad about them.

[needsmostuff]

Rugers case color was an applied finish not true case hardening done with heat. Yes it will wear off with use . How fast depends on how hard you use it.
Possibly of equal concern that gun looks to have the shorter grip frame that you may or may not like.

[contender]

Using the pictures,, the serial number & all,, it appears to be a correct Ruger. Made in 2002,, and IF,, IF,, the model info is correct on the box shown,, it's a SSM-4 FSI model. Which stands for; " Single-Six .32 H&R Magnum, blue finish, Fixed sights, Short grip frame, simulated Ivory grips. And yes,, it has the SIMULATED color case hardened finish.
Note,, the grip frame has a shorter length,, which was done for the smaller hands of the ladies in SASS. The picture makes it appear to have a bit longer barrel,, but that could be due to the g/f. And the internal shape of the box looks a bit off. But,, the label info seems to match the gun.

Not a commonly found gun.

[rWt]

Thanks for the information.

[CraigC]

No reason to avoid them. You have to judge by its appearance, they tell no lies.

Ruger's color case was hit and miss. Some guns turned to rust fairly quickly, despite their owners' best efforts. Others faired okay. I have examples of both extremes. The Bisley below is one of the best examples I've seen, which is one of the reasons I bought it. I also have a Single Six just like the one in the link and it is terrible. Can't keep it from rusting. The original Vaqueros were done that way and the early New Vaqueros. Shortly after they replaced the old one in 2005, they stopped doing the color case finish. They got tired of having to refinish them.

[jpglsg]

I have several Vaqueros and New Vaqueros that has the Ruger color process on that have held up extremely well for years now. I'm with Craig though on one that I had, large frame, you couldn't keep the rust from showing up on the frame. I even one time removed the grips soaked the gun in Rem oil wrapped it in clear wrap and it still rusted. Sent it back to Ruger and had them blue the frame and the problem still persisted, couldn't find out what was going on with that gun. Finally made parts out of it and trashed the frame.

[zeus]

Jan 30, 2021 11:30:31 GMT -5 CraigC said:

No reason to avoid them. You have to judge by its appearance, they tell no lies.

Ruger's color case was hit and miss. Some guns turned to rust fairly quickly, despite their owners' best efforts. Others faired okay. I have examples of both extremes. The Bisley below is one of the best examples I've seen, which is one of the reasons I bought it. I also have a Single Six just like the one in the link and it is terrible. Can't keep it from rusting. The original Vaqueros were done that way and the early New Vaqueros. Shortly after they replaced the old one in 2005, they stopped doing the color case finish. They got tired of having to refinish them.

Probably the best I’ve seen of their versions right there.

[tdbarton]

My Vaquero is holding up well. Almost wish it wasn’t - I’ve been waiting for the finish to go to give it a re-blue 

[needsmostuff]

This one did give it up . It got buffed to shiny and a quick patina with a fast rub of rust blue . No problema , back on the road again.
Like the OPs picture it's another 32 mag Vaquito .

[woody]

Jan 30, 2021 9:48:16 GMT -5 rWt said:

I am not familiar with this version. www.gunsamerica.com/901114009/RUGER-N-M-SINGLE-SIX-IN-32-H-R-MAGNUM.htm

As I vaguely recall, Ruger tried case coloring some years back and found that it wore off to quickly. Is that a correct recollection?

What's the word on the above revolver? Stay away?

You could always apply lacquer like the do on true CC hardened guns.

[CraigC]

Jan 30, 2021 21:28:36 GMT -5 zeus said:

Probably the best I’ve seen of their versions right there.

Same here. I 'had' to buy that one. Even if it had been a puny .357.

[taffin]

Jan 30, 2021 9:48:16 GMT -5 rWt said:

I am not familiar with this version. www.gunsamerica.com/901114009/RUGER-N-M-SINGLE-SIX-IN-32-H-R-MAGNUM.htm

As I vaguely recall, Ruger tried case coloring some years back and found that it wore off to quickly. Is that a correct recollection?

What's the word on the above revolver? Stay away?

I was in Bill Ruger's office prior to the arrival of the Vaquero and he had the prototype on his desk. He said it was not going to be released until the case hardening looked as good as what was found on a Colt. Of course this could never happen as Ruger was not case hardening but chemically coloring. Apparently they finally gave up on trying to rival Colt and just brought out the inferior imitation. A Ruger done with case hardening correctly can be as good or better than a Colt. However it takes a custom finish not a Ruger factory finish Ruger factory finish.

[princeout]

The top revolver is a well-worn, large frame 45 Colt with Ruger’s factory chemical CCH.  It began rusting pretty quickly.  I just keep wiping it down with gun oil and keep shooting it.  It is an everyday carry/working gun and much abused and has had 1,000’s of rounds run through it.

The bottom revolver is a 32 H&R Single Six that started life with a Ruger factory chemical CCH.  It too rusted quickly.  About 10 years ago it passed through Alan Harton’s shop and received a few upgrades.  One upgrade was real CCH by Alan’s preferred finish vendor at that time, John Powers.  I like the muted colors it has. 

Tim.