Looking for help on a 4 digit flatgate

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Vanesse
Posts: 2
Joined: Mon Apr 03, 2017 3:56 pm

Looking for help on a 4 digit flatgate

Post by Vanesse »

So I have a Ruger .22 Cal Single Six Flatgate Revolver with a 4 digit serial number. 24**
I would like to know a fair value on it, I've taken it to gun shows and I'm pretty sure most people lowball me, telling me it's only worth 300-400 dollars.
I would also like to know if I'm right when I tell my husband NOT to take it shooting!
I believe this is from the second year of production, it looks like it was taken very good care of, little bit of holster wear and a small nick.
Its got the black plastic or maybe bakelite grips.
If anyone can give me the history of this gun and a fair value, I'd really appreciate it! Thanks.
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flattop44
Posts: 2555
Joined: Tue May 06, 2014 2:31 pm
Location: Alabama

Re: Looking for help on a 4 digit flatgate

Post by flattop44 »

Welcome Vanesse,
You are correct, your Single-Six "Flatgate" was made and probably shipped in 1954, the 2nd year of production. Without having it in my hands its hard to tell the exact condition or give an accurate estimate. I see some blue loss on the left receiver recoil shield and some scratches on the grip frame anodizing . It is still a nice old fairly early Type 2 Flatgate. From what I see in the pics I would estimate its value to be in the $550 range.....This of course is just my estimate from what I can tell about the pics.
FT44
Vanesse
Posts: 2
Joined: Mon Apr 03, 2017 3:56 pm

Re: Looking for help on a 4 digit flatgate

Post by Vanesse »

My dad is a Ruger collector, he was drooling over this thing.

He told me that he thinks it was only fired a few times at most. He said the finish inside the barrel and the cylinder is really nice and original, but the wear you see is holster wear. Rubbing from having been kept in a holster. He is a collector, but not a dealer or anything, he just likes to hoard them because he loves them, so I dont know if he's familiar with current values.

He did tell me that any good condition flatgate is worth about the going rate of current production Rugers, but that was before he knew of the four digit serial number and black grips. He told me he has bought those grips for other guns and they aren't cheap.

If its only a 500 dollar gun then its ok if my husband uses it for a shooter?
flattop44
Posts: 2555
Joined: Tue May 06, 2014 2:31 pm
Location: Alabama

Re: Looking for help on a 4 digit flatgate

Post by flattop44 »

In my opinion since it already has some holster wear I do not think that it will hurt to let your husband enjoy it. Just tell him to always let the hammer down from full cock only, never from 1/2 cock. This will help keep it from getting a turn ring on the cylinder. And of course always clean and wipe it down after a shooting session to maintain its finish.
FT44
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