Ruger Security Six
Encyclopedia
The Ruger Security Six and its variants, the Service Six and Speed Six are a product line of double action revolver
s introduced
in 1971 and manufactured
by Sturm, Ruger & Company
. These revolvers were marketed
to law enforcement
duty issue
, military
, and civilian
self-defense markets.
for most parts in an effort to hold down production costs
. As with all Ruger firearms, the Security Six revolvers were robustly designed with large, heavy-duty parts for durability and to allow for investment casting. The "six series" line enjoyed sales success because of their basic features, solid construction, and competitive pricing.
Various models were issued by US government
agencies
as diverse as the former Immigration and Naturalization Service, the Postal Service
, Border Patrol
, and numerous police agencies. The Security Six and its derivatives also became the standard issue service weapons of a large number of police departments, in addition many were export
ed overseas. While Ruger’s Security Six line has been out of production since 1988, a total of over 1.5 million revolvers were produced and they remain well-liked and respected, as well as highly sought after in the second-hand market.
The Ruger GP-100 replaced the Security Six in the Ruger product line.
in size, these revolvers were initially manufactured in a blued
carbon steel finish; in 1975 stainless steel
versions of all models were added to the lineup. Featuring six round
cylinder
s, the Security Six series represented one of the first modern revolver designs to feature the safer transfer-bar based lockwork, and was chambered for a variety of centerfire ammunition
cartridges including .38 Special
and .357 Magnum
, as well as .38 S&W
and 9x19mm Parabellum (9mm Luger). All Security Six series revolvers came with original equipment manufacturer (OEM)
supplied wooden grips
, however, some of the Speed and Service Six models were shipped with rubber Pachmayr grips containing the silver Ruger emblem in the 1980's.
shooting
style square butt grips, and most were chambered for the .357 Magnum cartridge which also allowed for the firing of the .357's predecessor, the shorter .38 Special. However, a number of dedicated .38 Special models were also built during early production. Barrel
lengths available on the Security Six included 2.75, 4, and 6 inches.
ed sprung cylinder ring which engaged the grooves of the rimless 9mm semi automatic cases. Barrel length options for the Service Six included 2, 2.75, 3, and 4 inches.
The Speed Six pistols mainly differed from the Service Sixes in that they were equipped with compact round-butt grip frames. The standard barrel lengths available for these models were the same as those for the Service Six. An attribute unique to the Speed Six model is that it was offered in .38 S&W chambering (in England known as the .380 British or .38-200
) and exported to British Commonwealth countries such as India
.
Revolver
A revolver is a repeating firearm that has a cylinder containing multiple chambers and at least one barrel for firing. The first revolver ever made was built by Elisha Collier in 1818. The percussion cap revolver was invented by Samuel Colt in 1836. This weapon became known as the Colt Paterson...
s introduced
New product development
In business and engineering, new product development is the term used to describe the complete process of bringing a new product to market. A product is a set of benefits offered for exchange and can be tangible or intangible...
in 1971 and manufactured
Manufacturing
Manufacturing is the use of machines, tools and labor to produce goods for use or sale. The term may refer to a range of human activity, from handicraft to high tech, but is most commonly applied to industrial production, in which raw materials are transformed into finished goods on a large scale...
by Sturm, Ruger & Company
Sturm, Ruger
Sturm, Ruger & Company, Incorporated is a Southport, Connecticut-based firearm manufacturing company, better known by the shortened name Ruger. Sturm, Ruger produces bolt-action, semi-automatic, full-automatic, and single-shot rifles, shotguns, semi-automatic pistols, and single- and double-action...
. These revolvers were marketed
Target market
A target market is a group of customers that the business has decided to aim its marketing efforts and ultimately its merchandise. A well-defined target market is the first element to a marketing strategy...
to law enforcement
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
duty issue
Service pistol
A service pistol is any handgun issued to military personnel.Typically service pistols are revolvers or semi-automatic pistols issued to officers, non-commissioned officers and rear-echelon support personnel for self defense, though service pistols may also be issued to special forces as a backup...
, military
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
, and civilian
Civilian
A civilian under international humanitarian law is a person who is not a member of his or her country's armed forces or other militia. Civilians are distinct from combatants. They are afforded a degree of legal protection from the effects of war and military occupation...
self-defense markets.
Development and history
The introduction of the Security Six and its variants marked Sturm Ruger’s first attempt to enter the double action revolver market. The corporation's earlier designs had been Colt Peacemaker style single action revolvers. Ruger used investment castingInvestment casting
Investment casting is an industrial process based on and also called lost-wax casting, one of the oldest known metal-forming techniques. From 5,000 years ago, when beeswax formed the pattern, to today’s high-technology waxes, refractory materials and specialist alloys, the castings allow the...
for most parts in an effort to hold down production costs
Cost-of-production theory of value
In economics, the cost-of-production theory of value is the theory that the price of an object or condition is determined by the sum of the cost of the resources that went into making it...
. As with all Ruger firearms, the Security Six revolvers were robustly designed with large, heavy-duty parts for durability and to allow for investment casting. The "six series" line enjoyed sales success because of their basic features, solid construction, and competitive pricing.
Various models were issued by US government
Federal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
agencies
Government agency
A government or state agency is a permanent or semi-permanent organization in the machinery of government that is responsible for the oversight and administration of specific functions, such as an intelligence agency. There is a notable variety of agency types...
as diverse as the former Immigration and Naturalization Service, the Postal Service
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
, Border Patrol
United States Border Patrol
The United States Border Patrol is a federal law enforcement agency within U.S. Customs and Border Protection , a component of the Department of Homeland Security . It is an agency in the Department of Homeland Security that enforces laws and regulations for the admission of foreign-born persons to...
, and numerous police agencies. The Security Six and its derivatives also became the standard issue service weapons of a large number of police departments, in addition many were export
Export
The term export is derived from the conceptual meaning as to ship the goods and services out of the port of a country. The seller of such goods and services is referred to as an "exporter" who is based in the country of export whereas the overseas based buyer is referred to as an "importer"...
ed overseas. While Ruger’s Security Six line has been out of production since 1988, a total of over 1.5 million revolvers were produced and they remain well-liked and respected, as well as highly sought after in the second-hand market.
The Ruger GP-100 replaced the Security Six in the Ruger product line.
Features
The Security Six and its variants were more or less identical in basic design, with the differences between the various models being expressed by the exact options and features available. Medium-framedReceiver (firearms)
In firearms terminology, the receiver is the part of a firearm that houses the operating parts. The receiver usually contains the bolt carrier group, trigger group, and magazine port. In most handguns, the receiver, or frame, holds the magazine well or rotary magazine as well as the trigger mechanism...
in size, these revolvers were initially manufactured in a blued
Bluing (steel)
Bluing is a passivation process in which steel is partially protected against rust, and is named after the blue-black appearance of the resulting protective finish. True gun bluing is an electrochemical conversion coating resulting from an oxidizing chemical reaction with iron on the surface...
carbon steel finish; in 1975 stainless steel
Stainless steel
In metallurgy, stainless steel, also known as inox steel or inox from French "inoxydable", is defined as a steel alloy with a minimum of 10.5 or 11% chromium content by mass....
versions of all models were added to the lineup. Featuring six round
Cartridge (firearms)
A cartridge, also called a round, packages the bullet, gunpowder and primer into a single metallic case precisely made to fit the firing chamber of a firearm. The primer is a small charge of impact-sensitive chemical that may be located at the center of the case head or at its rim . Electrically...
cylinder
Cylinder (firearms)
In firearms terminology, the Cylinder refers to the cylindrical, rotating part of a revolver containing multiple cartridge chambers. The cylinder revolves around a central axis in the revolver to bring each individual chamber into alignment with the barrel for firing...
s, the Security Six series represented one of the first modern revolver designs to feature the safer transfer-bar based lockwork, and was chambered for a variety of centerfire ammunition
Ammunition
Ammunition is a generic term derived from the French language la munition which embraced all material used for war , but which in time came to refer specifically to gunpowder and artillery. The collective term for all types of ammunition is munitions...
cartridges including .38 Special
.38 Special
The .38 Smith & Wesson Special is a rimmed, centerfire cartridge designed by Smith & Wesson. It is most commonly used in revolvers, although some semi-automatic pistols and carbines also use this round...
and .357 Magnum
.357 Magnum
The .357 S&W Magnum , or simply .357 Magnum, is a revolver cartridge created by Elmer Keith, Phillip B. Sharpe, Colonel D. B. Wesson of firearms manufacturer Smith & Wesson, and Winchester. It is based upon Smith & Wesson's earlier .38 Special cartridge. The .357 Magnum cartridge was introduced in...
, as well as .38 S&W
.38 S&W
The .38 S&W is a revolver cartridge developed by Smith & Wesson in 1877. Though similar in name, it is not interchangeable with the later .38 Smith and Wesson Special due to a different case shape and slightly larger bullet diameter....
and 9x19mm Parabellum (9mm Luger). All Security Six series revolvers came with original equipment manufacturer (OEM)
Original Equipment Manufacturer
An original equipment manufacturer, or OEM, manufactures products or components that are purchased by a company and retailed under that purchasing company's brand name. OEM refers to the company that originally manufactured the product. When referring to automotive parts, OEM designates a...
supplied wooden grips
Pistol grip
On a firearm or other tool, the pistol grip is that portion of the mechanism that is held by the hand and orients the hand in a forward, vertical orientation, similar to the position one would take with a conventional pistol such as the M1911....
, however, some of the Speed and Service Six models were shipped with rubber Pachmayr grips containing the silver Ruger emblem in the 1980's.
Security Six
Introduced in 1968, the Security Six was the original model of the new series. The majority of these guns were manufactured with adjustable open iron sights but a few were sold with fixed sights. Security Sixes could be ordered with either service or targetBullseye (shooting competition)
Bullseye, also known as conventional pistol, is a shooting sport in which participants shoot handguns at paper targets at fixed distances and time limits. A number of organizations, including the NRA and Civilian Marksmanship Program in the United States, have established rules and keep records for...
shooting
Shooting sports
A shooting sport is a competitive sport involving tests of proficiency using various types of guns such as firearms and airguns . Hunting is also a shooting sport, and indeed shooting live pigeons was an Olympic event...
style square butt grips, and most were chambered for the .357 Magnum cartridge which also allowed for the firing of the .357's predecessor, the shorter .38 Special. However, a number of dedicated .38 Special models were also built during early production. Barrel
Gun barrel
A gun barrel is the tube, usually metal, through which a controlled explosion or rapid expansion of gases are released in order to propel a projectile out of the end at a high velocity....
lengths available on the Security Six included 2.75, 4, and 6 inches.
Service Six
Brought out shortly after the Security Six, the Service Six model, or alternatively the “Police Service Six” was an attempt to capitalize on the lucrative law enforcement service revolver market. The Service Six was a basic fixed sight model, and like the Security Six mostly manufactured in .357 Magnum, however some police departments specified .38 Special-only and 9mm Luger chamberings. 9mm models boasted a cleverly designed patentPatent
A patent is a form of intellectual property. It consists of a set of exclusive rights granted by a sovereign state to an inventor or their assignee for a limited period of time in exchange for the public disclosure of an invention....
ed sprung cylinder ring which engaged the grooves of the rimless 9mm semi automatic cases. Barrel length options for the Service Six included 2, 2.75, 3, and 4 inches.
Speed Six
.38-200
The .38-200 was a British military revolver cartridge identical to Smith & Wesson's .38 S&W cartridge but with specific loadings for military service....
) and exported to British Commonwealth countries such as India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.