Speed Six rescue

I got my Speed Six last week and started the restoration process. It needs more work than I thought it was going to but I did make some progress. I couldn't really tell from the pictures online but it does have some pitting. I'm not really sure where to go from here.
I will say this, it looks 1000x better than it did before I cleaned it up some. It has a long way to go so any suggestions would be appreciated.
I'm considering replacing the cylinder and trigger guard so that will help the situation to some extent. There would still be pitting on the frame but that would take care of most of it. I'm also considering some refinish options, it's not worth alot in the shape its in plus I don't plan to sell it. I do have the option of returning it but I want to see what my options are and if I can rescue it without spending more than it's worth first.
If this thread is still ongoing I'll post further results and updates here. If not I'll start a new thread for part 2.
Before:

During:

Looks like a job for member RoninPA to me!
I'd reach out to him for advice and guidance.

hittman said:

Looks like a job for member RoninPA to me!
I'd reach out to him for advice and guidance.

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I've been talking with RoninPA for a while about this actually. Just wanted to give the others here an update.

Looking forward to this restoration. I'm a black powder guy and found a stainless Old Army at an auction that was mint in the box, on one side and flip it over and solid pitting on the down side.. Broke my heart.. How it got that way is anybodies guess. It was stored in a safe along with many other Rugers and they were all perfect. The estate was of a gun shop owner who bought them new and put 'm in the safe. I did score big time. but that Old Army haunts me... and I still don't own one...

That is really sad, I've heard of the Old Army but never seen one.
I'm still not sure how to go about this one, I cleaned it up further and it looks a little better but it's about as far as I can take it with scotch brite and solvent. Maybe a different grit scotch brite will help.
I even broke out the brass brush.
Replacing the cylinder and trigger guard would make the process alot faster but I'd still have to figure out what to do with the frame.
I'm going to do some more research and see what I can do.

Your Speed Six would be a great truck / tool box / tackle box / hide-away all purpose gun just AS IS.
I'd shoot the ba-jeezes out of it, have fun and not one worry about scratching it!

For crying out loud it's not some rare collector edition or anything special. Clean and lube it. Polish it up if it really makes you feel better. 25 minutes with a Dremel and some polishing compound should do it

hittman said:

Your Speed Six would be a great truck / tool box / tackle box / hide-away all purpose gun just AS IS.
I'd shoot the ba-jeezes out of it, have fun and not one worry about scratching it!

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I got it mainly to carry so I'm not necessarily worried about scratches or anything like that. Just don't want the pitting to get any worse.

Hvymax said:

For crying out loud it's not some rare collector edition or anything special. Clean and lube it. Polish it up if it really makes you feel better. 25 minutes with a Dremel and some polishing compound should do it

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That's actually not a bad idea, I know it's not rare or anything but I still want it to look as nice as possible. I plan on carrying it so I'm not worried about scratches or wear or anything, just want to prevent the pitting from getting worse and make it somewhat presentable.

I would have it bead blasted and carry / shoot it.

See my PM to you.

Well, seeing an abused Ruger like that is saddening. BUT,, seeing someone trying to restore it to a much better shape is heart-warming!
And if anybody can offer any advice to help,, Ron is one of the good ones!

And I agree with others here. Restore it as best as you can, and enjoy it as a good shooter.

I've got an Australian police trade in Service Six that's really rough. I've started scratch and dent removal and clean up. It's a stainless gun that has been carried enough to wear the muzzle. Cop guns are always pretty rough.

It will also need a new taller front sight and fresh springs. The end shake needs shimmed. The barrel looks like it is an exercise in what not to do with all the chatter marks in it.

Even with all that, it shoots 2" 50yd groups. I want it to look as good as it shoots.

Bigbore5 said:

Cop guns are always pretty rough.

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That's a HUGE understatement! We had a family friend that was an Idaho State Police armorer in the 70's and part of his job was to travel around the state and do inspections on officer's duty weapons. There was a ISP detective in eastern Idaho that carried a snub nose revolver and when it was inspected, it was found to be rusted shut. Our friend had to beat the cylinder open.

Bigbore5 said:

I've got an Australian police trade in Service Six that's really rough.

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I'd be interested to see that and whatever markings it has. I have a Western Australia Police Speed Six that is recognized as likely the only one left in the world since by the time they transitioned to autos, there was a law that made it illegal resell or export old guns, so all the others were destroyed. The one I have was a "cabinet" gun held back at Ruger as an example of the model.

I would love to see that one as well…very rare specimen regardless of condition!

contender said:

Well, seeing an abused Ruger like that is saddening. BUT,, seeing someone trying to restore it to a much better shape is heart-warming!
And if anybody can offer any advice to help,, Ron is one of the good ones!

And I agree with others here. Restore it as best as you can, and enjoy it as a good shooter.

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Yeah the pitting is just depressing
Like how could someone let it get to that point ya know?
The site I got it from has a lot of old revolvers in bad shape like that, some worse than others, some are in really good shape too. I've seen a few with what appears to be case numbers etched into them so I'm beginning to think at least some of them sat neglected in a police armory or in evidence.
Looking at the front of the cylinder I'm thinking mine may not have ever been shot. The good news is the internals are perfect, lock up is bank vault tight too.

I've been going back and forth with Ron since I came across it and decided to get it. He's been a huge help!

Bigbore5 said:

I've got an Australian police trade in Service Six that's really rough. I've started scratch and dent removal and clean up. It's a stainless gun that has been carried enough to wear the muzzle. Cop guns are always pretty rough.

It will also need a new taller front sight and fresh springs. The end shake needs shimmed. The barrel looks like it is an exercise in what not to do with all the chatter marks in it.

Even with all that, it shoots 2" 50yd groups. I want it to look as good as it shoots.

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Should be fairly easy to clean up, you can fit an aftermarket SP101 sight to it but you'll have to drill it.
I would ask RoninPA about the endshake, both my Security and Speed Six have excellent lock up and timing so I can't really offer any advice on that one. The only thing I would think besides shims is maybe replacing the pawl and the internal parts of the cylinder assembly, the ejector rod, star, washer, etc. There are full cylinder assemblies out there and the prices aren't too bad. I'm considering a new cylinder myself but might say screw it and work with what I got.

idsubgun said:

That's a HUGE understatement! We had a family friend that was an Idaho State Police armorer in the 70's and part of his job was to travel around the state and do inspections on officer's duty weapons. There was a ISP detective in eastern Idaho that carried a snub nose revolver and when it was inspected, it was found to be rusted shut. Our friend had to beat the cylinder open.

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Wow! Good thing he didn't need it or that could've been a horrible situation. That story actually reminded me of something.
We had a family friend way back who was a cop, he was telling a story (I forget the details exactly, had something to do with drawing his duty weapon) and my cousin told him "yeah right, your gun is glued to your holster" . If you knew the guy it was actually pretty funny, he was a captain and the town we lived in was pretty quiet back then so a cop drawing his gun wasn't a regular occurrence in those days, it was especially rare for the captain. I believe he was still carrying a model 10 at that time and that was around 2003 or 2004. I should see how he's doing actually.