60 years with Ruger handguns...

[PALADIN85020]

Yeah, I know, this is the Smith & Wesson forum, but I like other brands of firearms as well. I was musing today that Ruger handguns and I go back farther than when I first started using S&Ws. It all started about 1952...

My father and I had "gone shooting" as we loved to do together, with my first gun, a Winchester Model 69A .22 rifle. We were plinking at some tin cans on the desert near Lookout Mountain north of Phoenix, when a fellow came up on us, proudly displaying his brand-new handgun. It was a Ruger Standard .22 pistol, with a 4 3/4-inch barrel. I had read about these new guns; they were the first Rugers ever made. He let me shoot it; I was terrible with it (of course, the first handgun shooting I had ever done). Still I was impressed that it was an autoloader and one could trigger off 9 shots without reloading! In later years, I acquired a duplicate of that gun; this one made in the first full year of production (July 1950).



When I turned 21 and could legally buy a handgun of my own, I purchased another Ruger Standard pistol; it had the optional 6" barrel. It was $37.50 at the local Fed-Mart. I learned to shoot a handgun with it. This one is a duplicate of that first pistol of mine; the actual one was traded off as partial payment on a G.I. 1911A1.



When I was in the Army and a participant on a pistol team, Uncle Sam loaned me one of these - the Ruger Mark I target model. It was a pretty Spartan affair, but it shot as well as I could hold.



Around 1963, when I got off active duty, I felt the need for a big .44 Magnum. I couldn't afford a S&W Model 29, but did find a Ruger Super Blackhawk. It came in white cardboard box. And yes, I know that box will bring more than the gun these days, as it was made for only a short time. My wife threw it away in a household move. And yes, she knows never to do that again! I got started reloading .44 mags on a Lee Loader. I traded the gun off (serial 10030), and it's my fondest hope to find it again someday. In the meanwhile, I acquired a duplicate, one of the last "old model" Super Blackhawks, made in 1973.



I continued to shoot competitively in civilian life, and in 1965 I purchased a 5.5" "bull barrel" Mark 1 Ruger. I modified it a bit with an external overtravel adjustment screw and a trigger shoe. It gave me excellent service in indoor bullseye shooting.



Along the way, I've added other interesting Rugers to my collection. Here are some of them.

This is a Mark II 10"-barreled target pistol with the rare red ramp front sight:



I modified another Mark II with a lightweight compensated upper assembly. It shoots great; I taught my oldest grandson to shoot a handgun with it.



When the Mark II Government Model Target came out, I got one, and was amazed at its accuracy:



The big Ruger Super Blackhawk taught me to appreciate the old model revolvers. I added several to my collection.

This is an early "flat gate" Single Six:



And a "flat top" .44 magnum with original stag grips:



This is a .45 Colt/.45 ACP "convertible" Blackhawk:



A Super Single Six - shoots just about any kind of .22:



A .357/9mm "convertible" Blackhawk:



A .30 carbine Blackhawk:



I also picked up some collector Mark IIs. This first one is an overrun of a Navy SEAL contract - the gun is in blackened stainless steel. Only about 50 are known to be owned by civilians:



I also found one of the first 20 stainless production pistols made by Ruger:



I really liked the Vaquero revolvers in .45 Colt. However, I didn't like the loading system, so I modified these two to load at the half-cock with reverse-indexing cylinders for more precise loading and unloading. The best of both worlds - one can load six safely, yet still load them in the superior "old way":



While these aren't the only Rugers in my collection, these are the ones I've had the most fun with along the way. Ruger and I go way back - 60 years, and it's been a great ride.

John

[pawncop]

Outstanding.

I am a real fan of the Ruger Single Action revolvers, the "Six" series, and my Mark II always goes to the range with me.

[Ethang]

Very nice. You have a great collection there.

[labworm]

I should know better to enter a thread with your name on it.

Outstanding group of Rugers being displayed.

[Texas Star]

John-

Outstanding post, as ever! But good gosh: no double-actions?

The Security-Six series,the SP-101, and the GP-100 are all worthy of attention. And the rifles.

BTW, when we divorced, the only item that my wife wanted of my things was my Mk I bull-barrel .22 auto. I let her have it in exchange for a table that I needed. Thankfully, the divorce was pretty amicable.

It was replaced with the stainless MK II version, to which I've added wooden Ruger stocks.

Next Ruger purchase will one of the holsters they offer for the three-inch SP-101. Not a Lobo Leather item or what you'd get from El Paso Saddlery, but good for the money.

The late Bill Ruger deserves much credit for many things, one being the return of the classic style stock to hunting rifles. That was a risk when he brought out the M-77 in 1968, but it caught on big . I wasn't the only fan of Jack O'Connor's writing in, "Outdoor Life" ...

Again, terrific post. You really add a LOT to this board.

[tacreload]

Sir,first off thank you for your service.Thank you also for sharing what you have learned over the years.You are truly an asset to this forum and a fine example of a lot of the members here who share what they know and make this place an excellent source of information.Thanks again.

[230grfmj]

Originally Posted by labworm

I should know better to enter a thread with your name on it.

Outstanding group of Rugers being displayed.

I echo labworm's comments.

Another incredible post

[old bear]

John, as always thank you for the excellent captions with the photos. I had all but forgotten that my very first handgun purchase was the, then, current version of the Ruger standard .22. Bought it at Dave Cooks Sporting Goods in Colorado Springs, Co. Paid something like $85.00 way back when. Like a fool I soon sold it to finance a 2" S&W M-10, which like an even bigger fool I gave to a G.F. to defend herself from someone who was stocking her. Turned out she was the C.A.B. who had turned stocking into a fine art. Oh-well.

[Xfuzz]

That first pic of the red lable Ruger/Luger
is neat.
I had an Uncle up north(Minnesota) and that is what he
called his Ruger .22.
He was a WWI vet.

[pilgrim6a]

My first handgun was a Ruger Standard Automatic, 4 3/4" barrel. Worked a summer job to pay for it. My Dad had to sign for it.
That was 1970 and the price was $37.50! The same price it was 20 years before!

[Big Fred]

I too like Ruger handguns, but mostly the 3 screw versions. Here's the first revolver that was bought just for me. My Dad bought this Super Bearcat for me when I was 14. I have the box and all paperwork, even the bill of sale. He paid $42 for it new. Me and that Ruger put on a lot of miles together roaming my Uncles farm.




I have a few Flattops in .357 and .44. A few Blackhawks in .357/9mm, a .41, and a 30 carbine.

Here's a rather rare .357 10 inch Flattop, and it letters, that I picked up a few months ago.




John, I love to read your posts and the way you share your knowlege. Your pictures are beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

[Bat Guano]

Nice bunch of pistols with stories. A 4 3/4" .22 pistol was the first I ever shot, and a 6" was my first purchase. I foolishly sold it (to finance a 1st Gen. Colt SAA) and after a series of replacement Ruger .22s over the years found a used and abused 4 /3/4". I rehabilitated it--it remained ugly, though--and did a trigger job on it. It turned out great and shoots ridiculously well. When I take it out it's like I'm 17 again.

Great guns at affordable prices for working stiffs.

[bloo]

I have 14 S&W but my favorite is my flat top 44mag. Loaded with 44sp it goes with me each trip to the range.

[powderburns]

Great post, thanks for sharing with us.
Brings back lots of good memories.

[Dan M]

Very nice John, when it comes to Single Action Ruger is the best bang for the buck no doubt about it. I have owned my share of Ruger goodies too

Dan

[DWFAN]

I purchased this new in '74. It now sports a Bo-Mar rear sight, Clark trigger and sear and will shoot the wings off a fly. My go to gun for Bullseye for many a year. Thousands of rounds have been through this gun and it still runs like a clock.
DW

[627 city hunter]

I am not a Ruger fan, but yall get an A+ for effort.

[geoff40]

Love the 22 pistols! My first handgun also was a long barreled Standard with the fixed sights, a little newer than yours, now an older gun. Long ago I traded it off, and for 25 years wished I had it still. Then just a couple of years ago, I was able to pluck it out of the hands of it's owner and bring it home to where it belongs. Yep, got my first handgun back! I know I shot many 1000s of rounds through it when I owned it, I can't imagine the round count now, but it's up there for sure.

Great thread, you have a really nice Ruger collection there, with these .22s my personal favorites. Every gun owner in The USA ought to own at least one of them. Some of the models you have, I've never even heard of before.

[JcMack]

I've been carrying an SP101 DAO for a while. I'm on the hunt for a 2 3/4" Speed Six. I've had several Rugers over the last 50 yrs.

[labworm]

Never owned a Ruger until this year,

Walked into the LGS and spotted a 1968 Bearcat which never returned to the display case.

Last week a new SR1911 and SP101 .22 cal

S&W of course has the upper edge, trigger and appearance and I own a few.

But the Ruger is definitely a blue collar gun.

WARNING: Don't look at any Bearcats, especially if it has that brass colored trigger guard.

[mkk41]

I can contribute a few Rugers.

A pair of Old Army cap & ball revolvers. One with the rare factory brass dragoon grip frame.


My .41 Mag Redhawk and Blackhawk with stainless Super Blackhawk grip , Millett rear sight and super slick action job.


This new production Flattop .41 is also getting a Super BH grip frame to fit my mitts better. I think it's getting (faux) Ivories too.


Had this Mk.I since I was 15. Been back to Ruger once , and they totally refinished it. Found the NOS walnut grip panels at a show.


Got a few more buried in the safe , but no pics yet.