I gotta say that when I read the title of your thread I was quite intrigued, and when I opened the thread you did not disappoint me in the slightest. Nice predicament that you are in. First, you are fully aware that you about stole the Single-six, no insult intended because he set the price and you paid it. Secondly, the stainless steel MKII Target is also a very desirable handgun. I wont beat around the bush, since you already own a nice Single-six I personally would jump on the MKII Target that is being offered to you. Of course, as you said, there is a period of time between now and when you can make the trade, and the variables may change. Anyway, I have cast my vote, and I enjoyed your post.

 

Heck yeah, make the trade!

A good transaction leaves all parties satisfied

Frank

 

So why are revolvers brining that kind of money, when we are seeing the prices on the semi-autos coming down a bit

My WAGs…

1. Semi-autos are ubiquitous, but if you want a quality revolver, you’re largely limited to Ruger & S&W.

2. Many revolvers have cult-like followings, and members of the cult are often willing to pay.

3. The operation of a revolver involves lots of interacting pieces that all have to fit perfectly & work in perfect time, so they likely cost more to make.

All together, then, if one were to offer a MkII in a straight-up trade for a nice blued vintage S&W revolver, they’d likely just get laughed at 😉.

 

Sometimes it just depends on what a guy wants and what he has to trade. It’s not always about the market value. I have seen some very fine firearms traded to get something the guy thinks he really wants or needs other than the fact he would enjoy it more or use it more he made a step back financially. But if it makes him happy, who cares.

 

Wow

 

Sorry no disrespect intended, if a Mark II stainless 6 7/8” was new in the the box, a nice Single - 6 with both cylinders and a vintage S&W 19 4” were all sitting on a table and it said choice $400. And I only had $400

I would have a hard choice. But having owned all of them at one point, I would take the Mark II. I am sure the others wouldn’t last long but that would be my personal choice. Would it be the best choice for the money? Maybe, Maybe not. But I would use it much more.

Your circumstances may be different maybe you need a trail gun or a home defense gun or just something you have pride in owning.
I guess getting older has changed my perspective on what the value of things are.

I have owned a variety of guns in my lifetime, many were excellent, many would have cult status today, but due to personal preferences or guns that didn’t live up to the hype, I have culled them down to a select few. They are all different brands and designs, in terms of use they all serve a purpose. I would probably rate them as need and what memories I have made with them, before actual value.

 

What a choice you have...personally I own two of each ..both MK II's are pre-1978 (blued 6/78" tapered target's) and both of the single-six's are '71 (blued) & '84 (ss) and I have to say I enjoy both style....they are just fun to shoot....IMO the MK II's are a more accurate gun

 

Funguns made some good comments. I want to expound on mine just a bit. My .22 caliber handguns are as follows. I have 2 Ruger MKII Target pistols, one with 3.5 inch heavyj bbl and the other with a 5.5 inch heavy bbl, a Smith & Wesson Victory Target pistol 5.5 inch heavy bbl, a Smith & Wesson model 617 revolver with 4 inch bbl, and a Ruger Single-six Convertible with 4 5/8 inch bbl. I like all of them very much, but 90 % of the time when I go out to shoot I will grab one of the semi-autos. They are much faster and easier to load and I normally can shoot them better. The other 10 % is with the revolvers, more often the Single-six than the Smith & Wesson model 617. The 617 has a superb trigger and is very accurate, but when I do shoot a revolver I go with the super slow and deliberate Single-six. It is very relaxing and therapeutic.

 

Value has never been a factor for me. I have traded more expensive guns for cheaper ones and vice versa countless times over the years. It was about making a deal, and the thrill of it. Over time the deals always seemed to wash one another.

 

I would keep the Single Six..You got a great deal on it..I would have fun with it and enjoy it.. And buy a MK series if you really wanted one.

 

I have a Single Six and I like it. The MK II Target/Competition I have is fun to shoot and may be the most accurate 22 pistol I have shot including a 41 Smith. It’s fun to have a choice of what you want to shoot that day. There seems to be something about those MK II’s to me that sets them apart from the other variations. What you intend to use it for is always a factor as well.

 

At least in my area, Single Sixes are much harder to come by than any of the Mark series of Rugers, I have some of both.

 

I looked at my collection of handguns and what I keep on hand for a moment's notice the bulk are revolvers I have a few auto's but seldom use the 9.mm or .45 as I once did, and the ones that I use are mostly 22s for fun. recently I got back into black powder for the fun of it ever heard or seen a semi auto black powder pistol other than reloading the black in modern hand gun. for me a Ruger single action revolver would be my gun of choice, nothing to lose no magazine to load no slide to rack look at the new rendering from Colt mostly revolvers. yes and look at the prices WOW.
then again it's a matter of choice.

 

Not enough info on the Single-6. Maybe old model? Which model, etc. I don’t follow market on new model S-6 or Ruger autos newer than what is now considered MK1. I own quite a few 22 revolvers and autos and I have noticed shows are full of Ruger auto & Brn Buckmarks but very light on quality revolvers. Of course tables full of Roughriders, Wranglers Diamondbacks and that’s about it. Even second rate types are scarce. This is also true with CF revolvers. Last show I was at 150-200 tables size, I had about a dozen revolvers. S&W, Colt & Ruger and not counting the low end single action 22s I had more than the rest of the dealers put together.
So I would find out more about what S-6 I had before trading.

 

MKII 67/8' probably more accurate . The revolver is more flexible, with two cylinders , worth more than double what you paid, which you can shoot from CCI CB shorts to 22 mag ammo out of extra cylinder. Both guns are fun to shoot . Which do you like , that's the one for you!

 

That's a conundrum!
The first really good pistol I ever owned was the stainless Single Six. I've had it 44 years now. I added a 2 x 6 scope on it and really found out what a fun squirrel gun was! Off a rest or shooting stix head shots at fifty yards are possible.
Semi autos weren't legal for hunting then but are now.
Some years later I bought a 6 7/8 Slabside stainless MKII. With the same scope mounted and a Volquartzen trigger set installed nine shots under a dime at fifty yards rested, with the tenth just outside the dime, with standard velocity CCI isn't hard to do.
The Slabside became my Bullseye pistol with an Ultra Dot but the Single Six still wears the scope.
I wouldn't sell either one!
What's your version of fun?
gunr

 

Since I have a Guvernment Target and a 5.5 Bull Barrel Target and a 1974 Pre-Warning Singel Six, I have both bases well covered. So I will likely trade the revolver for the Semi-auto, its not because I like one more than the other...its more because my friendwants the Single Six, and I can always shoot or trade the MKII... thank you for all your thoughts and info

 

Around here, a mostly clean single six with extra cylinder, (especially an older and unmolested one) would bring $450-$500. You can have your choice of ANY MK II/III semi auto's for that. Me, I feel any rimfire enthusiast "needs" a couple of each so won't advise you beyond that. P.s. As to cost of a revolver, it takes allot more precise machining to make a quality revolver. Allot more than most bottom feeders these days. That's why they aren't cheap and hold their value.

 

I bought my single six convertible in 1976 ,maybe 77 for $150. It was the first handgun I ever purchased. I haven’t shot it in at least 15 years. Never shot it much when I first got it either. I found it too slow in loading/unloading.

 

This post kind of intrigues me as to why you still own it. Are you the kind of guy who just don't like to sell guns, or do you get enjoyment from owning it even though you don't shoot it? I am not asking because I think you have done anything wrong, I was just interested. I will say that I have sold some guns because I wasn't using them only to later regret it.

 

I can't believe this thread got all the way to the second page before the voice of reason spoke up.

You got a great deal on the Single Six. Keep it.

Buy a Ruger Mark II to scratch that itch.

Easy Peasy. You're welcome.

 

Great Question!

I like using "True gun value.com" for what people are actually paying for a particular gun. The site lists what guns have sold for over the past 3 months usually with photos, I asume these are auctions because how would they get the info. The also list the city where the gun was sold.

The following is just for info and no way represents any suggestion on my part as to what action to take regarding the trade.

Single Six with dual cylinders
$380
409
479
475
280
406

Mark II
$385
585
305
338
490
299

 

I have read all the comments here at least a couple of times and I appreciate the responses. I love the Ruger Single Six and I love the Ruger MKII pistols. I am going to let my friend make the call. We have been gun show buddies for almost 20 years. I know he doesn't have much money in his MKII and he knows I don't have much in the Single Six. If he likes the revolver its his & I'll be happy with the MKII if not I'll likely keep the Single Six.

Thanks again

Scott

 

Well the Gun Show was last weekend, and I spent some great time with my buddy. He had aquired a different Single Six and now wanted to keep the MK II...that was a great outcome as far as I was concerned. I will keep the Single Six and it will become my cabin .22...It is a 5.5 inch barrel and should be perfect for summer plinking and packing in the high country.

 

I picked up an older new in box single six 6.5" with both cylinders a few years ago for $400. No factory conversion. I traded it straight across for a very good Marlin 1894CS 357 magnum. Your single six is probably worth about $600 or more.

 

Don’t think you can lose either way