However, the similarities ended with the outward appearance, for the Ruger’s operating mechanism and blow-back action were nothing like that of the toggle-locked, recoil-operated Luger. This was not a negative, as the Luger was one of the most famous and recognizable guns in the world.
Not only were the names similar, the overall look of the new handgun-the profile, angle of the grip, shape of the trigger guard, the tapered barrel and design of the front sight-said “Luger.” to an industry that one day would be dominated by the company.Īt a glance, the image of the Ruger pistol was very familiar it bore a striking resemblance to the German Luger. The ad presented the very first Ruger 22 pistol to the shooting public, and it also introduced the name Sturm, Ruger and Co., Inc. When an advertisement for the “.22 Ruger pistol” appeared in the August 1949 issue of the National Rifle Association’s American Rifleman magazine, firearms history was made. Here are Gun Digest's top picks of Ruger rimfire handguns. Ruger hit a grand slam with its first Ruger 22 pistol, introduced to the shooting public in 1949. Updated A first-year Standard Model, serial number 0194, from the first shipment from the Ruger factory in October of 1949.
