Bill Ruger Dies

I noticed in another forum that Bill Ruger passed on July 5th. I rank him third behind John Browning and Paul Mauser as the leading innovators of the firearms we use today and regret his passing.

Paul, Are you sure? Nothing on the Ruger web site or on the AP newswire

Interesting. I regard Ruger as an innovator of manufacturing techniques, as well as the maker of some cagey marketing decisions over the years, but the arms themselves are rarely the best of their respective breeds. Good

Here is the link to the story on Ruger's web site: http://www.ruger-firearms.com/news.html#founder

approaches that jewel.

Micheal,

I would say you are right

Found it, guys
http://www.nandotimes.com/business/story/460139p- 3682288c.html

The Associated Press

PRESCOTT, Ariz. (July 8, 2002 9:35 p.m. EDT) - William B. Ruger, founder of Sturm, Ruger and Co. Inc., one of the largest firearms manufacturers in the United States, has died. He was 86.

Company officials said Ruger died Saturday at his home. The cause of his death wasn't immediately available. Ruger had been ill for some time.

The company, which has plants in Prescott, Newport, N.H. and Southport, Conn., makes rifles, shotguns, pistols and precision investment castings used in the aerospace, automotive, general manufacturing and golf markets.

Ruger, who was born in Brooklyn in 1916, had a hand in the design of every firearm his company ever produced.

He teamed with Alexander Sturm to form the company in 1949. His first firearm for the company, produced that year, was a .22-caliber target pistol that is still in widespread use today.

Ruger is survived by his son William Ruger Jr., the company's current chairman; a daughter, Carolyn Vogel; six grandchildren; and ten great-grandchildren. His wife, Mary Ruger, and a son, James Ruger, died before him.

Funeral services will be held Saturday in Croydon, N.H.

Thank you - It moved on the AP wires last night after I checked. To tell a story on myself, I work for one of the 'Big 3' networks (There are a few pro RKBA folks there - a FEW), so I have full access to reading ALL the major news wires - I questioned it when NONE of the wires had the story (BTW I work on the software that compiles the wires into one list for us)

Garrand? Smith, Wesson? Henry? Kalashnikov? Stoner? Come on, now.

No personal offense to Mr. Ruger (and my sympathy to his family) but one .22 pistol does not a giant make. And his comments that led to the hi-cap ban made me to lose any admiration I might have held for the man.

Yale,

I am not happy about Ruger's testimony on magazines. That does not say he did not have accomplishments.

As far as my comments did any of the names you mentioned work with as many diferent rifles, shotguns, pistols and revolvers or the variety of actions that he did? All the names you mentioned made significant contributions, none of them showed the breadth of knowledge in such a variety that Ruger did which is what I stated.

Ruger deserves some political animosity, but I suspect your's is applying a set of blinders from your .22 pistol comment.

Did we miss Hiram Maxim?