RUGER OWNERS & COLLECTORS SOCIETY, INC
2016 ROCS Display Show at the Wanenmacher Tulsa Arms Show
Nov, 12th & 13th
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ROCS MAY 2016 LOUISVILLE NRA DISPLAY |
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Lee's outstanding display of these special "21 Club" No. 1 rifles, all of which were engraved by Master Engraver Alvin A. White, was simply breathtaking!! These are all special presentation rifles, no engraved No. 1s were ever sold by the factory. It is thought that up to about 35 of these special rifles were made.
Several of these rifles were made for the noted and well known gun writers of the time. Fourteen of these A. A. White engraved rifles were displayed. Two were privately commissioned and custom stocked by name stock makers of the era. These two were engraved in the same style of the factory 21 Club rifles.
Icluded were:
- #8 Herb Glass engraved & gold inlayed rifle in .243 Winchester.
- #13 Warren Page engraved & gold inlayed rifle in .222 Remington.
- #15 Elmer Keith engraved & gold inlayed rifle in .375 H&H Magnum. Won NRA's coveted "Best 10 Weapons" Award Louisville May 2016.
- #18 Roger Barlow engraved & gold inlayed rifle in 7mm Remington Magnum.
- #19 Pete Kuhlhoff engraved & gold inlayed rifle in 7mm Remington Magnum.
- #20 Jack O'Connor engraved & gold inlayed rifle in .375 H&H Magnum.
- #23 Edwards "Pete" Brown engraved & gold inlayed rifle in 7mm Rem. Magnum.
- #222 Bill Ruger, Sr. engraved rifle in .222 Remington.
- #954 N. R. A. Show rifle, Washington D. C. 1967, caliber .308 Winchester.
- #962 N. R. A. Show rifle, Washington D. C. 1967, caliber .308 Winchester.
- #3370 R. L. Wilson gold inlayed rifle in 7mm Remington Magnum.
- #3437 "RR" engraved & gold inlayed custom stocked rifle in 7mm Rem. Magnum.
- #6716 Gov. Walter E. Peterson, Jr. engraved rifle in .22-250 Winchester.
- #7989 Dr. J. W. Cavallaro engraved & gold inlayed rifle in .25-06 caliber.
No finer group of Ruger No. 1 rifles exist anywhere in the world!! We were very fortunate to have been able to see them and this part of Ruger history.
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DISPLAYERS: TOM'S ROCS BROTHERS & SISTERS
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This display was in the memory of our recently passed brother, Tom "Tommygun" Braden. Tom truly loved and sought after the beautiful .357 "Flattops"!! His displays were of the finest content. Displayed were #51 .357 Flattop that came from the Fred Davis collection and two fine .357 Flattops that once belonged to Tom which he traded to find other variations or numbers to fit into his collection.
Tom is sorely missed.
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Displayer: Mike Kamler, Awarded 1 st Place Novice Class
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Mike's display consists of a consecutive pair of very low numbered single-digit OLD ARMYS, plus a single-digit prefix gun with the same number. The serial numbers were 4, 5 and 140-00005. Also displayed were boxes & paper work, several books signed by Bill Ruger, Sr. and other items of interest.
A great showing of these fine Ruger black power revolvers.
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Displayer: Ryan Meyer, Novice Class
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Ryan's display shows the African hunt he won last year at the ROCS Tulsa Auction. There is a slide show, detailing the trip, set up on the table along with the Ruger rifle used and miscellaneous pictures.
This is a very interesting display of a very successful African hunt with Ruger firearms.
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Displayer: Dan Vande Griend, Awarded 1 st Place Intermediate |
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Dan's great No. 3 rifle display consisted of several single and double digit No. 3's and information about the important men that once owned them.
Most of the guns on display were gifted to these men by Bill Ruger, Sr. They were close friends or business partners.
Dan's display also contains a few "One of a kind" No. 3's. There was a prototype that was used in early testing. The "Guns & Ammo" gun that was shot, then wrote about by Payton Miller. The only known No. 3 chambered in .30-06 to exist outside of Ruger's doors that was built especially for Bill Ruger. And finally the No. 3 chambered in .30 Carbine Viper that was used in the military.
Dan really took home the Awards!! This was only his 2 nd time displaying with ROCS. What a great showing of some very rare and unique Ruger No. 3 rifles!!
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Displayer: Byron Hunsinger, Intermediate Class
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Byron's display consists of early No. 1 rifles that were especially equipped with "Blocks" to accept the "Unertl" type target scope. They were only produced on the early non-prefix rifles.
Included in his display is a prototype rifle in 6mm Rem. with the heavy "D" weight barrel. This is the only rifle ever produced in this configueration.
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Displayer: Steve Adamson, Awarded 1 st Place Advanced Class
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Steve's display shows a consecutive representation of the different Single-Six marked guns in each of the different barrel lengths made from the first Single-Six Flatgates to the last New Models being stamped a center fire Single-Six 32 H&R.
Three consecutive Single-Six "Flatgates" with standard 5-1/2" barrels; #458, #459 and #460. All have factory stag grips with their proper boxes and paper work.
Three consecutive, rare and seldom seen Single-Six "Lightweights", #200082, #200083 and #200084. All have either factory stag or very rare factory Ivory grip panels. These "Lightweights" are commonly known by collectors as "Tri-Colors" for the 3 different colors on these fine revolvers. All Lightweights were shipped with the 4 5/8" barrel only. There even more rare boxes are also on display.
A consecutive pair of Ruger Single-Six's in the Win. .22RF MAG., #300022 and #300023. Number 300022 was a proto-type and has the original black hard rubber grips and shows wear from being fired and handled by many. #300023 is LNIB with factory stag grips. All RSSM's were shipped with a 6 Â" barrel. The early guns were .22 Magnums only. Boxes and paper work are also shown.
A consecutive pair of Ruger Single-Six's, model RSS9X, #442766 and #442767. The RSS9X stands for a 9-1/2" barrel Ruger Single-Six with an extra .22 Mag. cylinder. One gun is out of the box to show how it was packed some 50 years ago.
A consecutive pair Ruger NM "Colorado Centennials", #76-00009 shipped to John Amber and serial #76-00010 shipped to Leonard Brownell. Both have their shipping sleeve and fitted Walnut display cases.
A consecutive pair of NM Ruger Single-Six "Center Fire" revolvers chambered in .32 H&R Magnum, both with 6 Â" barrels, #610-00018 and #610-00019. Both shipped in the Yellow one piece box with shipping sleeve.
This is a fine display full of rare numbers!! Great display Steve.
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Displayer: Jerry Hertel, Advanced Class
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Jerry's outstanding display consisted of seven "OLD" model .30 Caliber Blackhawks.
Displayed were a single-digit gun, #5, once owned by Tom Ruger, four two-digit guns, one three-digit gun and an extremely rare "S" marked prefix gun. This is the only known "S" gun in .30 Caliber.
Also shown are related item to round out his display.
A very fine display, highlighting the old model 3-screw .30 Caliber Blackhawk with very early rare guns.
Excellent display, this is a very fine showing of some rare .30 Caliber Blackhawks!!
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Displayer: Terry Wolosek, Advanced Class
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Terry's display consisted of two very special M77 rifles. The first is a model M77R in .243 Cal. This is the very first rifle produced in 1969 after the passage of the 1968 Gun Control Act. It is serial number 70-00001. The second is a model M77RLS in .270 Cal. This gun is exactly 1,000,000,000 guns away from the first, serial number 771-00001.
It is quite a feat to put this unique pair of fine M77s together!!
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Displayer: Bill Ridge, Advanced Class
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A historical display of the Birds Head Vaquero and most models including Single-Six and Bearcat fixed sight Birds Head models. The display is divided into three sections.
- 1. The left section had the Original Vaquero models in .45 LC and .357 Magnum.
- 2. The center section showed several of the Single-Six models in .32 H&R Magnum, Bearcat Shopkeeper .22 LR, and Single Six .22 LR/22 MAG convertible.
- 3. The right section showed five models of the NEW MODEL VAQUERO BIRDS HEAD.
Blued with case colored frame and High Polish Stainless models are displayed some with factory simulated Ivory Grips. A blued TALO "Last Cowboy" with TALO marketing items and box with LC insert.
A single blued and a consecutive serial number set of Stainless 45 LC AcuSport Exclusive models with unusual 4 5/8" barrels is displayed. The standard Ruger Birds Head .45 LC had 3 3/4" barrels.
Featured is a TALO .32 H&R Magnum "Last Cowboy" with the factory supplied Hunter holster that shipped with each gun (only 143 made). A consecutive serial number set of TALO John Wayne "DUKE" guns with TALO Marketing items. Three variations of the stainless .32 H&R Magnum with the roll stamp on the side of the barrel and both Southport and Newport "Clean Up" models with roll stamp on the bottom of the barrel. A SSMBH-4F #650-57896 "Newport" shipped in 2016, with new black laminated grips and a blued cylinder frame rather than case color and the box is marked case color.
Consecutive serial number set of the TALO .22 LR/.22 Magnum Stainless Convertibles (400 made), and a Lipsey's Exclusive Stainless Bearcat SHOPKEEPER accompanied by its Ruger Bearcat holster.
They are all TALO Exclusive. Variations displayed include .45 LC blue and stainless, .45 ACP blue and stainless, and a pair of the stainless TALO .44 Magnum with 2 digit consecutive serial numbers 59-00052 and 59-00053.
Boxes, special TALO John Wayne Packaging, ammunition, the book "Ruger and His Guns" RCA member number issued and signed by the author are also displayed.
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Displayer: Tom Hutton, Advanced Class
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Tom displayed fifteen of the fine No. 1 International stocked rifles. Ruger introduced the No. 1 International, or RSI, in 1983. It was a logical addition to the No. 1 lineup after the 10/22, .44 Carbine and M77 had been previously offered with a full length forearm. It was originally offered in four calibers: .243 Win, .270 Win, 7x57 and .30-06. The cataloged calibers remained unchanged until the .243 Win was dropped in 2007. In 2011, the 300 RCM was added to the catalog, but it too was dropped in 2012.
In 2013, Ruger began offering only one caliber in each of the variations, and are as follows: 2013 - 7x57, 2014 - .257 Roberts, 2015 - 6.5x55 and 2016 a stainless .308 It is worth noting that just because a particular caliber was cataloged for a certain year, does not indicate any were produced. There were many years that no rifles would be made in a cataloged caliber.
There also are a very few calibers that were never cataloged. These include the 7mm-08, .275 Rigby for the Dallas Arms Collectors Association, .303 British and the 30-40 Krag (for the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation). The 7mm-08 in this display is the only one known. There are estimated to be around 20 rifles chambered in.303 British, 104 of the .275 Rigby's and 60 of the 30-40 Krags.
The stainless .30-06 is thought to be an overrun from the RMEF series and is the only one known. The blue .308 is one of five that were made in 2014, prior to the introduction of the stainless .308.
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Displayer: Jim Schafer, Masters Class
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As this is the 60th year of the .44 "Flattop", Jim decided to bring out his collection of 44s for us all to see and enjoy.
His display included 17 Flattops from 3-digit guns to 5-digit guns. Included were: Four 3-digit guns. Included in these was a pair of consecutive guns, #456 & #457. #457 is a very rare Type 1 with its small seriated ejector button and #456 is a Type 2 with a concave/dimpled button.
Thirteen guns in the display were BKH4/BKH46s with 6 1/2" barrels.
One BKH47 with its 7 1/2" barrel.
Three BKH40s with their 10" barrels.
Also on display were three sets of factory Stag grips and one set of carved grips.
This was certainly a fine showing to commemorate the 60 th birthday of the great Ruger .44 "Flattop".
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Displayer: Mike Womble, Masters Class
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Mike's great .44 Magnum revolver display features 4 Ruger Single Action revolvers each owned by a "VIP" of the Ruger world.
- 1. Serial number 25 Ruger Blackhawk owned by Ruger VP Ed Nolan, Bill Ruger's right hand man in the 1950's. The gun is complete with original box shipper and all its papers paper. It wears a pair of engraved factory walnut grips in acorn/oak leaf pattern that are believed to be a sample pair done by Charles Jerred, the Ruger engraving contractor at the time.
- 2. Serial number 26 Ruger Blackhawk .44 Magnum "Flattop", owned by Wayne Fleming , marketer at Brownell's Inc. Of Iowa. This gun is complete with original box, paper work and shipping sleeve. It wears an original set of fine Ruger stag grip panels.
- 3. Serial number 58 Ruger Super Blackhawk .44 Magnum, owned by Tom Ruger, Bill Ruger's son. Tom worked at Ruger for many years until his untimely passing. This gun was made in 1959 but not assembled and inspected until 1965. It has all of the 1965 period features (aluminum sight, aluminum ejector rod housing, high polish finish, oiled walnut grips and period rollmark). This unique gun is also complete with its original (1965) era) two piece box, paper work, and shipping sleeve.
- 4. Serial number 64 Ruger Super Blackhawk .44 Mag., owned by Walter Sych,
a Ruger chief executive from the very beginning of the company. This gun is
as new and complete with mahogany presentation case and paper work.
The display is rounded out with biographical information on each VIP, along
with examples of period advertisements and ammunition. Simply a
fantastic display of great pieces of Ruger History!!
Displayer: Lee E. Sundermeier, Masters Class
EARLY .44 TRIPLETS
REMINGTON, RUGER AND LAWRENCE LEATHER
Lee's great .44 display showed many related items that he added to his collection of Ruger's first Blackhawk .44 Magnum "Flattop". In November, 1956 the first shipments were made of this famous, 60 year old, big bore revolver by Ruger. As its popularity grew, the public wanted more options and accruements to enhance the use of the big .44 caliber single action revolver. An example of all of the items described below was included in this display.
Ruger already offered several grip options for their first Single-Six and .357 Blackhawk revolvers. Checkered hard rubber, walnut, stag and ivory were eventually added to the lineup as factory options for the .44 Flattop as well.
Barrel length options were offered after three years' production. These include the original 6-1/2", 7-1/2", and 10" lengths. Next, boxes and shippers had to be made to ship the three different barrel lengths. Hand gun shooters wanted to carry their revolvers in quality leather holsters. Lawrence was quick to respond with several styles of holsters to safely carry the three different barrel lengths.
The .44 Blackhawk was capable of shooting three different commercial calibers of ammunition. Remington was already producing the .44 S&W, Russian and the .44 S&W Special. They announced the new .44 Remington Magnum in 1956 that can also be fired in their .44 Blackhawk.
Ruger advertised their products every month in the NRA publication, AMERICAN RIFLEMAN. Three new Ruger ads appeared in the fall issues of August through December, 1956 for their new Blackhawk in .44 Magnum caliber.
A set of triplets for any collector is an accomplishment, whether they are three consecutive serial numbered guns, three holsters for the same gun with different barrel lengths, or three different sets of factory grip options. Having all of these in one display certainly was something to see and enjoy!!
Ruger Blackhawk "The Brass Option"
Displayer: Vincent Carabetta, Masters Class
Vince's outstanding display consists of all 9 models of the "factory" installed "Brass" grip frame made available to the public. There are 6 Blackhawks, one in each barrel length, in the following calibers: .357 Mag., .41 Mag. and .45 LC. All were shipped in 1972. In addition there are 2 Super Blackhawks, a non-prefix shipped in 1968 and a prefix gun shipped in 1972. And last is an Old Army shipped in 1973.
The brass grip frame was first made available in 1965 on the Super Blackhawk only and discontinued in 1968. There were only about 60 produced and about 10 known today. In 1972 they were made available to be ordered on all Blackhawks (except convertibles) and the Old Army. The rarest being the Blackhawk .41 Mag. with a 4 5/8" barrel, only about 60 produced and about 12 know today. The one shown here is "NIB" with the very rare white shipping carton.
Also shown were the boxes, paper work, catalogs, and a grip frame and trigger comparison, patches, pins, and misc. items.
These "Brass" frames really are eye catching and very desirable to collectors.
HERE
SUPER RARE
Displayer: Bill Hightower, Masters Class
Bill's display shows the four rarest non-prefix super Blackhawks that are known.
#13716 was shipped as a factory second or used gun and is 1 of only 2 that are known. These are commonly known as a "S" gun.
#36012 was shipped with a Brass grip frame and was in the first lot to be inspected on April 30, 1968. It is 1 of 20 that were made and is shown with shipping sleeve, box and all paperwork.
#3111 is a high polish Super without the Eagle Logo on the barrel and is shown in its mahogany box. It is 1of 11 that are known.
#2672 is a long grip frame Super without the Eagle Logo on the barrel and it is shown in its mahogany box. It is 1 of 10 that are known.
We sure appreciate Bill bringing out these real rare fine Super Blackhawks!!
RUGER P-85
Displayer: Don Findley, Masters Class
Introduced in 1987, the P-85 was Ruger's first centerfire pistol. Don's outstanding display of the P-85 consisted of a backboard full of early drawings, invoices and Factory Advertisements.
There were 4 pistols, all 9mm, all P-85s:
1. V000022 prototype 2. V000048 prototype, former owner Bill Lett, Bill Ruger's childhood friend and grip manufacturer. 3. 301-58855 - Factory marked "T.C. POLIS"-made for the Turkish government. 4. 300-00005 - original owner Tom Ruger, Bill Ruger's oldest son.
What a great display of some extremely rare early Ruger centerfire pistols.
"A FEW COOL CATS"
Displayer: Bill Hamm, Masters Class
My display included two 2-digit Bearcats and six non-typical Cats. It also included a Remington 1858 New Police Revolver that it is said to have influenced Bill Ruger in his design of the Bearcat.
#15 shipped to Elmer Keith and #16, One-Of- A-Kind inscribed shipped to Herb Glass. Both of these men's original holsters that they carried their Bearcats in while in the field were also on display.
#R221 Alphabet and British Proof marked. Factory letters as shipped to England.
#1066. It was long thought that all Bearcats between #1002 - 1999 were scrapped except #1130 that was made for a special friend of Bill Ruger. John Dougan's extensive research of factory records while writing his great book, "Ruger Pistols & Revolvers, the Vintage Years, 1949-1973" revealed that #1000 - 1099 were not scrapped. This may be the only one known to be found to date.
#61500 "S" marked second or used gun. Only 180 or so believed made.
#75428 "Blackguard". Only 79 guns with black trigger guards were made.
#80198 "Duplicate" serial number with a "D" Suffix, only 250 believed made.
#D98164 "Duplicate" serial number with a "D" Prefix, only 365 believed made.
Period advertisements and catalogs were shown. An "as cast" example of a Super Bearcat cylinder and grip frame, an un-roll marked cylinder and Bearcat cylinder scene roll die were also shown. A Pewter shot glass with the Bearcat roll mark was displayed.
Clayron "
Displayer: Davie Lortscher, Masters ClassByBuy the Book"
David's display featured one each of the available versions of Joe Claytons Number One book.
The Linen edition is the Rarest of all the Number One books. This book was hand signed by Mr. Clayton. 25 or less are believed to have been printed.
The leather edition is the most luxurious of the Number One books. The leather editions were completely covered in rich brown leather. Most, if not all were sold by Joe himself. It is hand signed by Mr. Clayton. Only 82-85were printed.
The first edition hard cover Number One books had within them a limited edition. The limited edition was the first 100 copies. Each had a signature page included and they were individually signed and numbered by the author.
Other than this signature page there were no other differences between this and the rest of the first edition books.
The Second edition paperback was released in 2007. 2000 copies were printed. The edition is long since sold out and prices are climbing on the secondary market.
The centerpiece of David's display was Joe Clayton's Personal Number One Hunting Rifle. The rifle was built by Pete Grisser and features custom quarter rib, recessed safety and Kiplinger set trigger. Special "Action Only" built for ASSRA (American Single Shot Rifle Association) was the main building block for the rifle. It featured a 1/2 round 1/2 octagon 26" Krieger barrel chambered in 300 H&H The stock work was done by master stock maker Sonny McMillan and is Exhibition grade English Walnut. The scope is a Schmidt and Bender 3x12x50 in Talley Rings
If you shoot, carry, hunt with or collect Rugers, join our team!
