Ruger 06517 SSM-5F

[Ruger8r]

There is not much info out there on this model. Older forums say that they are a make-up gun with a run of only 99 or a Davidson's special. All the ones I've seen were shipped in 2015. Can someone she'd some light on the real story, please?

[chet15]

There is not much info out there on this model. Older forums say that they are a make-up gun with a run of only 99 or a Davidson's special. All the ones I've seen were shipped in 2015. Can someone she'd some light on the real story, please?

These are a 5-1/2" fixed sight Vaquero style Single-Six in .32 H&R Mag. There are are probably more than 99 but not sure how many more as they are known from 650-57571 to 650-57835 but there is one other model mixed in those numbers as well. Yes, Davidson's had these and the other model (a blue non case color birdshead) and a stainless .32.
Davidson's advertised these as a "rare find", but they were made with entirely model numbers and up to date serial numbering from the year they were made.
Either way, none of the three are common at all.
I'll see if I can figure out how many of each of the three were produced.
Chet15

[Ruger8r]

Thanks, Chad.
I have been watching these on GB for a while and just pulled the (auction) trigger on 650-57794. I can't say for sure but it looks like the barrel address on this one may be on the bottom. I won't be able to see it for a few days. Is that possible and would it be rare? Others I've seen sell are 577616, 577620 and 57804. All have rosewood laminate (?) grips. I think they may be under appreciated compared to the birdsheads. I'm also interested in the SSM-4FS but I don't think I have ever seen one - I'm curious about the short frame. Love the FS 32s.
Owen

[chet15]

Did a little research on these...

There were 358 of the SSM5F (Ruger model 6517) made in 2015...650-57519 to 650-57894. That 99 you remember on the Davidson's website is just the number that says Davidson's had more than 99 in stock at the time.

Other interesting info...
There were 363 of the KSSM5 made (Ruger model 6518), also in 2015...650-57152 to 650-57517.
There have been 612 of the latest version of the RB-32AW made. These are different than the earlier RB-32AW because the latest run has a blue carbon steel hammer and trigger. Lipsey's probably did all 612 of these. 650-57937 to 650-58550. Produced 2017 to 2020.
One of the jewels of this late .32 Single-Six production is an SSMBH-4F produced in 2016 and 2017. These are different than the earlier SSMBH-4F because these have a blued cylinder frame whereas all the earlier SSMBH-4F had the color case cylinder frame. There are only 57 like this! 650-57645 to 650-57934.

And my research pulled up another interesting nugget. In 2011 Ruger did a run of what they are calling Ruger model 6536. Well, the 6536 was the John Wayne "DUKE" model with 3-3/4" barrel and birdshead grip frame. But the Duke also had a special serial number sequence of DUKE00001 through DUKE01250. So what are these other 6536's that are noted between 650-57104 and 650-57133? Are they really 3-3/4" barreled guns or do they have the standard KSSMBH-4F barrel length of 4-5/8", and Ruger made a mistake calling them a 6536? I'm thinking they might indeed be an overrun to the DUKE with 3-3/4" barrel and so were not marked with the DUKE special features and were numbered in the standard .32 Mag Single-Six serial number sequence. So if that's the case, RARE GUN!!! Only 30 made!!! 650-57104 to 650-57133. Who will be the first to confirm?
Chet15

[Ruger8r]

Thank you, Chad, for that amazing research and great information.
Well, 1 of 358 isn't bad in terms of scarcity. And you can still pick one up for less than MSRP but more than the street price of 5 years ago. Here's a current listing from a seller who indicates he has more than one (he already sold another one recently):
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/880438187
And I certainly know what I'll be looking out for, now, in the SSM line.

[chet15]

Thanks, Chad.
I have been watching these on GB for a while and just pulled the (auction) trigger on 650-57794. I can't say for sure but it looks like the barrel address on this one may be on the bottom. I won't be able to see it for a few days. Is that possible and would it be rare? Others I've seen sell are 577616, 577620 and 57804. All have rosewood laminate (?) grips. I think they may be under appreciated compared to the birdsheads. I'm also interested in the SSM-4FS but I don't think I have ever seen one - I'm curious about the short frame. Love the FS 32s.
Owen

All of the SSM5F should look the same as far as barrel rollmark, Newport on the bottom. This just has to do with when the rollmark was changed (2011) and the SSM5F's were made in 2015.
Chet15

[Ruger8r]

So do all post 2011 sixes have the barrel rollmark on the bottom?
Got to look at the one I bought on Friday. Although it was sold as NIB on Gunbroker it was not wrapped and there was no lock or empty test fire case envelope included. There was also much more of a turn line than I would have expected. I have contacted the seller via GB. Should I ask for an adjustment or...? What would you do?

[chet15]

So do all post 2011 sixes have the barrel rollmark on the bottom?
Got to look at the one I bought on Friday. Although it was sold as NIB on Gunbroker it was not wrapped and there was no lock or empty test fire case envelope included. There was also much more of a turn line than I would have expected. I have contacted the seller via GB. Should I ask for an adjustment or...? What would you do?

Yes, once Ruger moved the rollmark to the bottom, they stayed that way. Doing that came about because of Ruger's "Studio of Art and Decoration" which was only around a couple years. having a masterpiece Ruger with the ungodly warning rollmark somewhere you could see it, then have to engrave around it, just didn't fit well with Ruger's master engraver.
For a gun that is supposed to be NIB I would really wonder why it doesn't have all the stuff with it. Even new guns will sometimes have quite a turn line on the cylinder because Ruger never has done a good job with eliminating that, but even so... no fired cartridge case envelope? Pretty sure the locks were being used at that time as well.
Chet15

[Ruger8r]

I finally had to call the seller after written communication failed. He listed it as new old stock but wrote new in box in the description (didn't think there was any difference). Offered to refund all if I paid for return shipping or fifty bucks as an adjustment. I took the fifty although I thought it should have been more.

[Ruger8r]

I got a chance to look more closely at the SSM5-F when I did the paperwork. It appears unfired and looks great. The last 3 SN digits appear to be machine stamped on the inside radius of the front face of the cylinder and there is a 3 stamped on the outer edge of the rear face. Pictures later.
Chad, regarding the John Wayne guns, I was looking around and discovered that there are two different model numbers; 6535 as well as 6536. Both seem to be the same but one may be blued stainless. Is that the case? Were there make-up versions of the 6535 too?