The Colt Trooper line, and its offshoots undeniably handsome guns, but whenever someone throws in the line, "...more soul than a _________ (in this case 686,GP-100 or Security Six" I chuckle a bit. First, these things are basically tools, and to me their viability and a significant part of my appreciation is derived at how well they perform their intended function. Second, "soul" in a firearm is a pretty ephemeral term. My interpretation of it is that it's a combination of aesthetic beauty and function, and how well the functional intent of the designers is carried out, plus the manufacturing, fit and finish quality.
My GP-100 and Security Six in my opinion do an excellent job of personifying the eye, intend and skill of William Ruger and his designers and manufacturers-both people and factories. Both have been subsequently worked on (especially my GP-100) by master gunsmiths, who imparted their accumulated wisdom, skill and techniques into improving the guns-both operationally and aesthetically. My Security Six is endowed with a grip personally modified by the late Jacques Trausch, one that he and I discussed personally that he made for me specifically (actually, two-Wayne Dobbs has the other one he gave me). Soul? Mine have it in spades, far more so than what I see is a somewhat compromised design made with somewhat compromised materials, assembled by a notoriously contentious workforce, which has been commented on for out suspect results provided due to the labor/management strife. In my mind, the "soul" of a machine is derives from many aspects. YMMV, of course...
Now don't get me started on a 1911 versus Glock "soul" discussion....
Best, Jon