Breast Plate Drill Grip Type

[T.A. Workman]

Gentlemen,
For those of you fortunate enough to own a Ruger Corp Breast Plate Drill.
Which type of grip is on yours ? The picture below shows the original grip with the "wedge" on the right, the one on the left is the second type with the "dimple" .



Thank you for your help.
Terry

[d findley]

While displaying my auto pistols in Houston a few years ago, I had a pistol grip drill included. A guy brought this one in the next day. Not mine. I did try to buy it but no luck.

[T.A. Workman]

That's the best example of one that I have ever seen. I have seen pictures of two others and they also have the Type l grip.
I don't blame the gentleman, I would not have parted with it either.

Terry

[d findley]

I'm pretty sure John Dougan has one. Check out his latest book. I can't remember if he has a picture of it in there.

[T.A. Workman]

You are correct, John's is pictured on page 31 and it is a Type l. I know Radical has one also and I think it also has the Type l pistol grip. The reason for my post is that I believe that of the 7 or 8 known, all were made early in the 1st year of production. Now if one of them would show up with a Type 2 pistol grip it would mean 2 different variations and my theory would be wrong.

After reading my posted reply I thought I better clarify that there are 2 Types of Breast Drills that were made. The straight shaft with no pistol grip and the model with the pistol grip. Sorry if I confused any one.

Finally found one of my old pictures on these drills I have another one but have not located it. Up until Don's picture this was the best example that I had ever seen. Keep hunting they are out there!!



Thanks
Terry

[radicalrod]

TA......here ya go

[T.A. Workman]

Thanks Radical, Very nice piece! I remember when you bought it, have not seen another one for
sale since.
Terry

[radicalrod]

Terry this was the only one I have ever seen for sale.....

[chet15]

Yes, all shoulder drills seem to have the same grip frame with rectangular arbor.
They also all seem to have the aluminum handle with long arm.
The next question would be... Are all rollmarked the same? The earliest stick drills had the Ruger Corp rollmark only on the thin arm that is attached to the top of the gear wheel. Then Ruger added the rollmark at the top front of the gear housing near the chuck. Then the rollmark disappeared from the thin arm altogether.
How do all the known shoulder drills look?

One other note... Every drill I can remember with the long thin arm also has the rollmark on it. I do not recall any long arms without the rollmark. The long arm only appears on the breast drill and the earliest stick drills.
Chet15

[T.A. Workman]

Thanks Chad.