Author Topic: The smartest thing that Ruger ever did (Read 790 times)

Questor · « **on:** February 22, 2006, 04:37:23 AM »

The smartest thing Ruger ever did was leaving New England and moving their operations to Arizona. It probably saved the company more than once, and the tax and labor savings probably fund research and development.

Witness the demise of the Winchester models 94, 70, and 1300 as the Winchester plant in Connecticut closes for good in March. They stuck it out in the formerly industrial Northeast and probably wondered what the heck was going on as the company spiraled down into oblivion. In the world of bolt action rifles, the effect has been most tragic because in recent years companies like CZ emerged with better products (i.e., products without lawyer triggers) at competitive prices. The whole thing reminds me of Colt, which blew every opportunity it's had since the end of World War II and now is remembered mostly in nostalgic terms and as a company that risked everything to develop products that only anti-gun activists, bureaucrats, and some big-city police chiefs wanted. They lost.

ricciardelli · « **Reply #1 on:** February 22, 2006, 05:08:44 AM »

Actually Ruger is still in the New England states:

Corporate Headquarters:
Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc.
Lacey Place
Southport, CT 06890
Telephone: 203-259-7843
Fax: 203-256-3367

Newport Manufacturing Facility:
Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc.
411 Sunapee Street
Newport, NH 03773
Telephone: 603-863-3300
Fax: 603-863-3253

Prescott Manufacturing Facility:
Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc.
200 Ruger Road
Prescott, AZ 86301
Telephone: 928-778-6555
Fax: 928-778-6633

Investment Casting:
Pine Tree Castings
411 Sunapee Street
Newport, NH 03773
Telephone: 603-863-2000
Fax: 603-863-4118

Ruger Investment Casting-Prescott
200 Ruger Road
Prescott, AZ 86301
Telephone: 928-778-6555
Fax: 928-778-6633

Ruger Sportswear Products:
Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc.
200 Ruger Road
Prescott, AZ 86301
Telephone: 1-888-220-1173
Fax: 928-541-8850

Swamp Yankee · « **Reply #2 on:** February 25, 2006, 01:24:05 PM »

The smartest thing that Ruger ever did was to build a quality gun that the working man could afford......Jim

PaulS · « **Reply #3 on:** February 26, 2006, 06:32:52 PM »

And then they outdid themselves by actually standing behind their product even when it wasn't their problem.

A quality gun, inexpensive enough to be affordable and then backing up the product so you never had to worry about the quality.

Yep, I think I might buy another one.

Jack Crevalle · « **Reply #4 on:** February 27, 2006, 01:10:33 AM »

I guess I don't understand the "lawyer triggers" part about American vs. CZ bolt actions. Savage makes the "accu-trigger". Is that more lawyerly than the CZ set trigger?

Questor · « **Reply #5 on:** February 27, 2006, 05:23:57 AM »

Jack Crevalle:

The accu trigger is the best thing that's happened to rifle triggers triggers in decades. I'm convinced that Savage saw what the foreign companies were delivering and decided to do something that could compete. Remember, the accu trigger is a very recent innovation and has only made it into big game rifles during the past year. CZ and other foreign companies have offered excellent triggers all along. It was the main reason that we bought CZs instead of American guns. It's about time that a good American company woke up to the competition. If the accu trigger had been available when I bought my big game rifle 3 years ago, I'd have a Savage instead of a CZ. Savage is shaping up to be America's premier rifle manufacturer.

ricciardelli · « **Reply #6 on:** February 27, 2006, 08:11:17 AM »

(Shhh....quiet....Lazzeroni or Dakota might hear you...)