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Sturm,Ruger + Co is one of very few Amercan firearm producers whose management has not changed since starting in business. It had it’s beginnings in a small machine shop in Southport Connecticut. In January 1949, with an initial investment of $50000 and an idea the two partners started producing a 22 caliber automatic pistol. The Company started to compete in the popular Colt Woodman/Browning Challenger market with their Standard pistol. This design was so successful that it became the cornerstone, upon which one of the most comprehensive lines of sporting firearms ever made in America was established. Sturm, Ruger + Co took out it’s first patent (US 2655839) in 1953, the application being filed in 1946. The Ruger Standard was placed on the market in 1949 and became an immediate success. After Alex Sturm’s death in 1951, William B Ruger continued to direct the company alone and build the company into a sound and successful enterprise. Next the company got into the revolver business in the early 1950’s, making single action “western” revolvers for the “quick draw” craze of the time. Ruger then moved on to the police market with the Police six/Speed six. The Standard pistol is an unlocked blowback, all steel pistol. The Mk1 was made from 1949 to 1982, Mk2 was made from 1982 to 2005 and Mk3 fron 2005. The barrel is fixed to the frame, with a single action lock-work. The magazine with a single stack is located in the grip. The pistol has a good trigger with a crisp let off with a very pointable grip, making it very popular for plinking and informal target shooting. This led to the manufacture of a heavy barrel model with an adjustable trigger and a rail on the frame for optical sights. This is a Standard model pistol made in1957. This series was the first firearm produced by Sturm, Ruger and Company from 1949 and is still produced today. So this pistol is an important piece in the Ruger Company’s successful firearm line-up. This popular American pistol is not found in abundance in South Africa.

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